Scratch e-Cluster Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - e-Cluster {Scratch}

Contributed by Zak Orion

Manufacturer: Scratch
Style: Cluster, Contest

e-Cluster

I designed this rocket with 2 purposes in mind. Ahoy! Blimey! One was t' build a mid power cluster that be capable o' E and F engines without havin' it go out o' sight(smaller launch fields). And number 2 was t' build it as strong as I could usin' easy t' find materials(namely cardboard tube and wood fins). Arrr! Blimey! Here be t' design I came up with:

I decided on a LOC 54MM motor mount tube(thick walls) and nosecone. Avast, me proud beauty! T' fins are 1/8th inch Aircraft Plywood and use TTW construction. Arrr! Blimey! T' MMT's are Estes BT-50 with 1/8th inch aircraft ply centerin' rings(extra from fins). Well, blow me down! I used 5 minute Epoxy throughout t' rocket. Avast! At first I was goin' t' set it up for testin' timers and possibly dual deployment but I wanted t' test it before I cut t' tube and made a payload bay. Arrr! But after t' first day o' flyin' it I couldn't brin' myself t' modifyin' it. Begad! Here is a pic o' t' finished product:

RockSim Pic

Rocket Pic

LaunchT' first flight, matey, I tried puttin' a 12 inch chute on t' rocket so it would drop quickly, arrr, unfortunately it dropped too quick and took a hard hit on t' ground. Begad! When I retrieved t' rocket I didn't find any damage so I loaded it up again(this time usin' a 18 inch chute) and flew it again. Blimey! On its first launch it had a curious roll which I found out that only 2 o' t' 3 engines lit. Blimey! But on t' 2nd flight all 3 E9's lit and it went straight up, barely any side t' side movement and very little spin. Ya scallywag! Here is a launch pic:

I have launched this rocket 9 times now in various weather conditions(everywhere inbetween 3 mph winds and 20 mph winds) and it always flys t' same, me hearties, very straight and very little spin, ya bilge rat, and be t' best flyer I have. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! As for its toughness, arrr, it fell fast on its first flight, me bucko, fell with no plastic slug as a chute on its 6th flight and got one o' its fins run over by me car and t' only damage it sustained was losin' a launch lug. Begad! Aye aye! So far all o' its launches has been on E9's but as soon as I can get some ignitors other then copperheads I will be flyin' this rocket on some F's that I have in me engine box. I also put a rocksim file o' this rocket on EMRR. Begad! It is a simple design but a very nice flyer that I have been reliably droppin' in a 20 acre field. Blimey!

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