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[Roger Cotton]

I've been asked to produce a shoulder fired "RPG Simulator" using model rocket engines.  This is for a military training group who needs to fire RPG's at/near their students on the driving course.  Obviously, we don't want to fire real RPG's.

The electronics and physical launcher are no biggie, but I'm open to suggestions for the actual "grenade".  It needs to be reusable at least a few times.  It needs to be inexpensive to build.  It needs to be stable for horizontal flight.

I've got several ideas that we'll be testing.  But, I thought I'd ask y'all for some input as well.

[Roger Cotton]

Well, change of plans.  They have decided that they need an explosion at the end.  So, we're going to have to set off an air-gas charge on impact.  That means we need accuracy. So, we're going to use a zip-line for the RPG to follow. 

With that in mind, I'm going to just build a rugged casing that we can clip to the line and send down to the metal plate, setting off the air-gas charge.

Not to worry .. there will be video.  :-)

[MemphisMark]

BE CAREFUL!

Weapons like RPG's and Dragons expend all of their fuel before they leave the aiming tube. Weapons like Stingers are gas ejected and then fire once the weapon is away from the operator.

Rocket motors will still be burning after leaving the aiming tube and will shower the operator with burning particles. A plexiglas shield is well warranted here, if you are going to use model or mid-power rocket motors.

[Roger Cotton]

If we utilize a launcher, a plexi shield will be in place ... kinda like the older launchers with their blast shields. 

However, since we're using a zip line now, we probably won't even need to fabricate a shoulder launcher.  We'll probably just make the resuable casings that can clip on the zip line and have the operator launch them off-axis.

We'll be testing this weekend to see which motors provide us with the correct velocity.  We aren't going for a fully realistic simulation.  That would complicate matters requiring a piston or compression launch.  We just want the drivers to be able to see the RPG heading their direction and then the big BOOM of the gas-charge near their vehicle ... simulating RPG impact.

[spacemonkey]

VERY MUCH OUTSIDE OF N.A.R. SAFETY GUIDELINES!!!!!!!!!Geez please be careful with this particular project Roger,please see to the safety all involved!!

[Roger Cotton]

Oh yeah .. this is nowhere near anything supported by NAR or Tripoli.  But, considering this company trains with live ammo, moving vehicles, C4, C5, Symtex, Dynamite, and everything else you can imagine ... I think a rocket motor is the least of their worries.   

Oh, and did I mention how much fun I have working with them?   

[spacemonkey]

Hey can I tag along? The very idea of blowing up some training stuff sounds awfully appealing.........!!!!!!!!!