Senior project.

[flyfisher117]

Not sure if other states have this but in Idaho for your senior year you have to do what is called a "Senior Project". the project consists of a research paper, a presentation to the general public, and then you actually need a project.

So for example my buddy built and AR-15 (well he bought everything stripped and put it all together) and then he gave a firearm saftey presentation (with the help of the local cop) to a group of first graders. He then wrote his research paper on the role that the AR has played in the military. Also kids did stuff like rebuild engines, produce small movies, make quilts, etc.

Im looking for ideas on what to do mine about. I want to keep it outdoorsy so hunting/fishing/shooting/anything that deals with the great outdoors. I was thinking building a fly rod, then i thought about also building an AR (it doesnt have to be original) and then ive been thinking about making a recurve bow. anyone else got something that would be fun? and fairly cheap?

 

[Mead]

Re: Senior project.

A project on ballistics is cheap and you can get very in depth. People seem to like it too, my brother did one when he was younger and he won a prize for it. You could pretty easily show the effects of things by simply using the same POA and moving a target further and further back to demonstrate the need for elev/wind adjustment.

 

[High Binder]

Re: Senior project.

For High School or College?

 

[flyfisher117]

Re: Senior project.

High school. If I were to do something on ballistics what would I have to do for my physical project? Just make a few nice steel targets?

 

[Moose72]

Re: Senior project.

In College for my Senior project I did it on Ballistics and Firearms identification. I made my own ballistics gel and shot various(Hollow point, FMJ, lead, etc, etc) rounds through the different pieces of gel and showed them to the class.

I also showed how each weapon leaves marks or impressions on bullets, cases, and primers that would link the gun to said piece of evidence left at the scene.

I also covered a plethora of other topics as well. I presented for an hour, and had to write a 50 page paper on it..

If you need any help, or ideas, let me know..

 

[flyfisher117]

Re: Senior project.

Oh boy! if i did a 50 page paper and presented for an hour i would Actually loose points.

The exact paper length isnt really given but from what i noticed this year the presentations were about 15 minutes (for the slackers) to 25 minutes for the higher achievers. My friends was 32 minutes and thats what all of the Judges comments were was it was a bit to long, very interesting and full of info but longer than what was desired.

The Balistics gel would definately be fun and if i can find the stuff needed to make my own I am going to heavily consider it.

After highschool im thinking about going into either a mechanical engineering program and/or a gunsmithing program. Any ideas on a project that i could do that would also be useful and teach me things for if i do get into one of these programs? If i had a gunsmith that had a CNC machine and other tools like that i thought it would be neat to do some work with him but that is out of the question because the nearest somewhat reputable smith near me is still an hour away.

 

[Jayne]

Re: Senior project.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the noobie</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> thinking about going into either a mechanical engineering program and/or a gunsmithing program. </div></div>

What about some sort of metallurgical analysis project? Do research on different types of metals, steel composition, etc then make some sample shapes out of different materials and subject them to stress. Heat dissipation, tensile strength, ease of forming, etc. You could have lots of fun making the samples and finding ways to damage them. No fancy CNC needed, just a torch!

The research could lead directly to either ME work or gunsmithing and it's pretty innocent in an of itself. That way if you end up trying to get into a college in a hippie liberal state (like CA) your senor project doesn't involve evil guns so you don't alienate some admissions admin or scholarship people.

As a side part of the project you can make targets and bang away at them with a .308. Not science, just fun.

 

[pawprint]

Re: Senior project.

May I suggest a Ballistic Pendulum-you can demonstrate the ability to determine velocity/ and energy with a rather simple device. These were the only devices to measure "energy" or "power" in the early days (prior to crono), but were very good, as formula's have been worked out. You could compare "big slow" vs "small fast" etc. I'm not saying it wouldn't involve some work, but you can do it! Whatever your project is, I wish you the very best of luck, hope you get an A++, when you're done, please post what you did, and some photos, I'm sure the rest of the guys on this board would enjoy seeing them and hearing how it went. God Bless.

 

[pepperbelly]

Re: Senior project.

I think making a longbow- not a recurve, and a presentation on the history of the bow would be interesting and might fit your time limit.

Jim

 

[Slapchop]

Re: Senior project.

Build a small robot or an ROV. You can get just about everything you need at Radio Shack and Home Depot. Fairly cheap to make and it will impress people.

Underwater Robotics Comp

 

[flyfisher117]

Re: Senior project.

theres no way im going to California, only way id ever go there is if i got a full ride (HA like that will happen)

Long bow or recurve would both be fun but my biggest issue is finding a laminator to laminate my wood together and then finding the tools needed to carve the grip and arrow shelf and then to til the limbs. My dad made a recurve back in highschool but his shop teacher had all of the tools needed, my shop teacher DID have the tools but his shop burned down back in December. (he had a CNC lathe that he said he would teach me to use

)

I thought about building one of the nitro RC cars, ive always wanted one but im looking at about $500+ and if im going to spend that much money i would rather just buy a gun or build an AR (well start building an AR)

Lots of good ideas guys keep um coming ive got all summer to decide but i want to get ideas now!

 

[good old lee]

Re: Senior project.

How about this one... A psychiatric analysis on a mall ninja. See whut makes them so dam stupid. It could be interesting.
Good luck

 

[High Binder]

Re: Senior project.

Being that you're doing this for high school, I wouldn't do anything relating to guns in any form. There are kids getting expelled from schools just for drawing pictures of guns...

My project for my mechanical engineering degree was really involved but in a nutshell I designed and built (I worked as a machinist for years) a small swash plate for a helicopter but others did easier things like a single piston steam engine.

 

[super-tac]

Re: Senior project.

Find out what Counter Sniper scopes use for their lens coatings that make them worth $7000.

 

[flyfisher117]

Re: Senior project.

Alrighty I just got done talking to my mom about this. She really wants me to mentor for a week under a gunsmith and then put together a gun. She knows a gunsmith that lives about 2 hours away from me but she said he would probably help me. My parents said that they would buy all the parts i need up to a certain amount. Ive been wanting an AR for some time now but i cant afford one, so maybe this could be a win/win. But she said since im planning on getting into gunsmithing that i would be better off doing something with a gunsmith now.

Only thing is that I would go further into putting the gun together and see if my moms friend couldnt teach me stuff like headspacing.

Then i figured write my paper on the evolution of the firearm. only thing is i dont know what i would do for my presentation. I tried telling her since it was already done last year that it would be hard to get it aproved but SHE wants me to do something with building a gun. My dad doesnt care, he would rather i did something with a Sharps rifle or other black powder gun but they just dont interest me (and AR's dont interest him).

I tried just passing the RC car by her and saying i could learn about internal combustion and how the engine started out running on coal/wood and how now we are looking at electricity and corn oils but she got a little angry and said she wants me to do something that will benefit me later on in gunsmithing and possibly after that mechanical engineering.

 

[flyfisher117]

Re: Senior project.

Pulling this thread out because im still stuck on what to do.

Building a gun is pretty much out its more of a hassle than i want to deal with. I lost access to my metal shop where i was able to do "tests" on different types of steel and metals.

Anyone got an idea on how i could tie ballistics into an actual project that i could present to a group of people? Only has to be an 8-15 minute presentation.

I looked into ballistics gel but then i found out that it has to be kept at a certain temp and also stored and shot at certain temps to be effective, more of a hassle than i care for.

 

[glocksig40]

Re: Senior project.

Take a reloading bench to school and go thru the process of tumbling brass, annealing brass, resizing, cleaning primer pockets, cleaning flash holes, trimming, chamfering, priming, weighing powder, powder charging, bullet seating and measuring. In all this you can elaborate on how the different types of powder are used with different applications. What burn rates are. How coefficients work, what makes a better bullet, how to measure velocity, kinetic energy and all kinds of things. Then have a video presentation of the bullet you are making being shot into the gel form you made. Also the chronograph data and how the data is used to determine ballistics for that round. Show terminal ballistics. use bullet comparator and tools used to make ammo for your rifle. You might get laid after, the ladies love a man who can make his own ammo. Good luck.