Brief:
I build Crayon rockets. Well, blow me down! Seriously. I get t' big Crayon doubloon banks from Toys R Us, and turn them into high-power rockets. Begad! Arrr! I have a 38mm, 54mm tube-fin, shiver me timbers, matey, me bucko, 38mm 2-stage, and 38mm cluster version. Avast! I also have a 54mm 3FNC version that's under repair. So that's t' family. Well, blow me down! I had someone who knew o' me crayon fleet give me a purple bank t' use. Ahoy! I decided t' build a rocket for a proposed drag race at LDRS 28.
Construction:
T' first problem is that t' crayon tubes aren't a standard size. T' ID is 3.75", so if you get 4" centerin' rings you need t' sand them down t' size. I epoxied me sanded rings t' a 38mm MMT and attached t' fins t' build a basic fin can. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I then cut t' slots for t' fins.
After epoxyin' t' fin can into t' tube, arrr, arrr, I also epoxied a bulkhead into t' nosecone t' connect t' chock cord. Ahoy! Since t' nose o' t' crayon bank is plastic, ya bilge rat, I had t' rough up t' plastic so that t' epoxy would bind. I added a little nose weight in t' form o' an ounce or two o' BBs.
Flight and Recovery:
Since thar's no electronics bay, I just use motor deployment for t' chute. Well, blow me down! T' drag race at LDRS never came about, matey, but I flew it anyway. Avast! T' first flight (July 3) on a G185 had me worried as it arced over t' crowd and headed down before t' chute finally deployed. Begad! T' next flight t' next day was on a G79ss with a 4 second delay. Well, me bucko, blow me down! That flight went beautifully! Deployment be right at apogee.
T' next flight, on July 19, arrr, also had a 4 second delay, but t' chute deployed as t' rocket was still goin' up. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I'm nay sure why that was a problem on t' same motor (G79ss). Avast! Blimey! It caused a small zipper o' about 1.5 inches but nothin' serious. Arrr! Blimey! It flew again a few weeks later. Begad! Blimey! Welcome t' t' family!
I have seen many different versions of this idea on the Internet and decided to do one of my own. I purchased the large crayon bank from Toys-R-Us for around $6 or $7. I chose red. The tube is roughly 3 3/4 inches inner diameter and a little less than 3 ft long. I have sent for plans from a gentleman on Internet who has built several and has put together tip sheet and a large drawing. Looks good ...
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