| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Published: | 2013-05-29 |
| Manufacturer: | Scratch |
BriefMy inspiration came from me two grandsons. T' older one had a Batman themed birthday a couple o' years ago and he gave me his deflated balloon. Begad! Blimey! While colorin' with me youngest grandson in his Batman colorin' book, ya bilge rat, I saw two different shaped wings. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' rest is history.
Items I used, matey, all o' which I had lyin' around.

I started construction with t' center tube/motor mount. Avast! T' tube I had was a little larger than a BT50. Blimey! Aye aye! Usin' a spent engine casing, I wrapped paper around it until it fit into t' center tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I unwrapped it and rewrapped usin' a thin layer o' glue betwixt each wrap. This be made long enough t' accommodate an E engine and t' engine block. Blimey! Ahoy! I glued t' engine block in t' sleeve and glued t' sleeve into t' center tube. Ya scallywag! I then attached t' engine retainer t' t' center tube with a couple o' wraps o' maskin' tape. Aye aye! I printed t' diameters o' t' body tube and center tube usin' software I downloaded from EMRR several years ago. I used a glue stick t' adhere them t' t' foamboard. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! A sharp blade works wonders when cuttin' these out. Begad! T' main body tube is thin plastic and can be squishy if nay supported somehow. Blimey! Arrr! I decided four rings would be sufficient. Arrr! I mounted one at t' bottom and one at t' top o' t' center tube and spaced t' other two at equal spaces. Arrr! Ahoy! Not bein' sure how well t' foamboard would adhere t' t' plastic, I cut another CR out o' lite ply and glued it t' t' bottom CR. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I attached t' kevlar cord t' t' bottom o' t' top CR and glued in place. Begad! I used a length o' kevlar that extended approx. Blimey! 6" past t' end o' t' body tube. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' elastic shock cord would then be tied t' t' kevlar. I inserted t' center tube assembly into t' main body tube. Arrr! Begad! Again, shiver me timbers, me bucko, nay bein' sure how well t' ply would sitck t' t' plastic, I screwed t' assembly t' t' bottom o' t' main body tube.

Main body tube side story:
I built a series o' "Crayon" rockets from Dollar Store crayon penny banks. T' yellow be a lawn dart and smashed t' nose cone beyond repair. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! So I bought another one t' replace t' nose. Well, blow me down! That left me with a tube and no nose. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It hit me that t' LOC nose cone I had might just fit, arrr, and viola!, ya bilge rat, me hearties, it did (with a few wraps o' yellow duct tape).
Now on t' t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! I transfered me patterns t' a piece o' cardboard usin' a glue stick, ya bilge rat, cut them out then traced them onto t' thin plywood. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I stacked t' pieces o' plywood togther usin' double stick tape and proceeded t' t' scroll saw. Avast, me proud beauty! I gave them a good sandin' and was ready for paint. I decided t' paint them prior t' attachin' t' main body tube since it did nay require paint.

I used me grandson's deflated Batman mylar balloon for t' parachute. I left it in its round shape and tied on kevlar strin' for t' shroud lines. I reinforced t' holes with standard paper hole reinforcin' rings, arrr, one on each side. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I gathered all t' shroud lines and attached a swivel clip which in turn was clipped t' t' nose cone. Avast! T' elastic shock cord be tied t' t' nose cone and a dab o' glue on t' knot for safe keeping.
T' Main body tube did nay require paint. I sprayed t' fins and nose cone with two coats o' primer, then a couple o' coats o' black. Aye aye! Aye aye! I asked me daughter if she would cut t' name usin' her CrikCut machine if I bought t' vinyl. She gladly said yes. Avast! Then I sprayed t' whole thin' with a couple o' light clear coats.

3/30/2013 - First Flight (and only flight so far). Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Nice, matey, matey, sunny day with a slight breeze out in me son-in-law's field. Avast, me proud beauty! Packed t' parachute with some waddin' and loaded a D12-3. Avast, me proud beauty! I manned t' video camera and grandson Josiah manned Launch Central. Avast, me proud beauty! We counted down and off he went. Blimey! Nice boost off t' pad and arched so slighty into t' breeze. Begad! I don't think I will use a D12-5 or 7.
Chute popped just about right at apogee and Batman2 returned safely t' t' ground. Avast! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I would venture a guess o' approx. Well, blow me down! 400' was t' altitude.
All in all this was a fun build and cheap. Begad! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' only cost I had was for t' main body tube which really doesn't count because I bought it for another reason.
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