Scratch Birdie Rocket / Shuttlecock Rocket Original Design / Scratch Built
Scratch - Birdie Rocket / Shuttlecock Rocket {Scratch}
Contributed by E. Kociba
Brief
I had heard about these and even seen descriptions - in particular, on bsarocketry.com, arrr, but none o' them really described t' flight o' them. Ahoy! Hence me two cents in this review.
We all know we can make a rocket out o' a badminton shuttlecock or "birdie rocket", here on rocketreviews thar's a few articles on an old Estes Kit for them, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and Ol'SaltRockets still makes one. This is nay that kit, it is a scratchbuilt set. T' motor mount and centerin' rings are made from a cardboard box from a Dr. Avast! Well, blow me down! Pepper 12-pack case, and t' launch lug is literally a straw. Begad!
T' result is an atrociously cheap set o' rockets. Aye aye! Blimey! These five set me back two dollars, twenty cents (since I already drink Dr. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Pepper).
Components
T' components for construction are kind o' obvious if you look from t' bottom o' t' rocket:
T' components are literally a baminton shuttlecock (six for two dollars at KMart), shiver me timbers, a piece o' a drinkin' straw, ya bilge rat, and cardboard from t' Dr. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Pepper box. T' cans leave a circle impression on t' cardboard - cut that out for t' centerin' ring. Arrr! Blimey! Then take a mini-engine (A10-3T or so) and draw a circle in t' center, ya bilge rat, punch a hole and cut t' little circle out in t' middle, matey, shiver me timbers, matey, then another t' mount t' launch lug. Then cut a piece out for t' engine mount - length should be about as long as t' inside o' t' shuttlecock. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! wrap it tightly around t' mini engine (slight overlap but don't double it), me bucko, ya bilge rat, then duct tape it in place. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! (KEEP IT TIGHT). Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Eject t' motor, shiver me timbers, then take a hot glue gun, me hearties, glue in t' motor mount and centerin' ring, matey, then t' launch lug. Ahoy! Blimey! Hot glue everywhere until everythin' is tightly in place. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!
There turned out t' be a video o' someone constructin' one o' these things at a religious site called Project 22 Six: http://www.project226.com/2011/07/operation-rocket-man-2/
Construction
Quick, arrr, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, though it's a little tricky at first tryin' t' judge what length t' make t' motor mount and just generally tryin' nay t' burn yourself with t' glue cannon . Well, arrr, blow me down! . Ahoy! .
Flight
Ever have a launch go well that you were certain would nay go well?
I made five o' these, me hearties, many o' which had t' centerin' rin' mounted a little funny just t' ensure that t' motor mount be reasonably straight with respect t' t' rest o' t' birdie. Ahoy! I was apprehensive about this design when I started launchin' them, shiver me timbers, only t' find that this be an incredibly forgivin' design. Ahoy! All t' rockets went up, and stayed straight in flight. They were well past apogee when they ejected on an A10-3T, me bucko, they fall as fast as a badminton birdie can fly, me hearties, nice and fast, mostly harmless. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey!
I've done worse with kit rockets!
I think t' A10-3T was best, arrr, tried a plugged A10-PT engine and didn't see any difference in t' flight, except for havin' t' pry out t' dead engine with pliers afterward.
Summary
Pros: Try buildin' five rockets for less than $2.50 . Ahoy! . Blimey! . They fly like a nice little mini engined rocket. Arrr! Forgivin' design. Blimey! You can't help but laugh at them, ya bilge rat, either. Arrr! Arrr! You can build them with t' kids, matey, with a little prior planning. Arrr! Arrr!
Cons: It's too perfect, me hearties, somethin' has t' go wrong with a homemade centerin' rin' and mount, shiver me timbers, sooner or later . Ya scallywag! Blimey! . .
Overall: Fun project!
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Flights
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