Film WORKS!

Background:
About six years ago, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me daughters and I joined t' local YMCA Indian Princess program (Dad/daughter version o' Indian Guides). Well, blow me down! Three years ago I decided to become more involved in t' program and volunteered t' be t' Longhouse Legend Maker. Begad! Ahoy! T' Legend Maker's duties are t' keep a photographic record o' the various Longhouse activities throughout t' year. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I began ordering prints/slides and digital images from Seattle FilmWorks (SFW) t' aid in my duties. Ya scallywag! Each time I sent in a roll for processing, SFW sent me at least one new roll o' film and sometimes two for every one roll. Ya scallywag! Well, over t' course o' two years, arrr, I had collected quite a few unused rolls stacked up on me desk at work. I was just about t' FINALLY throw them all out last week but...Hmmm....DESCON 8 project!

Materials:
(6) Empty Seattle FilmWorks film cans
(1) Roll o' Seattle FilmWorks film
(3) Baseball card protectors
(1) 3-1/4" BT-20
(2) BT-20/50 Heavy Duty centerin' rings
(1) BT-20 Engine Block
(1) Screw eye
(1) Small washer
(1) Approx. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! 21" piece piano wire
(1) 36" piece o' 1/4" elastic
Exacto Knife, Sandpaper, Scotch tape, me bucko, Super Glue, 90 minute Epoxy and Wood glue

Construction:
Cut out or drill 3/4" hole in each film can lid and can bottom. Avast! Blimey! I had originally planned on usin' a BT-20 through t' entire body for support but I decided, in keepin' with t' theme o' t' contest, matey, me bucko, t' use piano wire instead so that t' only real rocket parts would be t' motor mount assembly.

T' roll o' film serves as t' nose cone with a film can lid attached t' it usin' a screw eye and a small washer. T' plastic was soft so no drillin' was required. Arrr! These parts were found in t' "MISC" bin on me workbench. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I sanded some o' t' 'shoulder' (raised surface) o' this lid t' make sure that the nose cone would come off at ejection.

T' bottom o' each film can is roughed up with sandpaper to improve epoxy adhesion. Avast, me proud beauty! I drilled two holes in t' film can lids and bottoms to allow for insertion o' t' piano wire.

Slots are cut in t' bottom two film can lids t' serve as a guide for t' fins.

T' motor mount is made so that t' two heavy duty centerin' rings would hold the MMT in place within t' bottom film can. This be t' only place that I used the wood glue.  I think that somethin' could have been rigged t' avoid usin' a standard MTT but I chose t' safe route.

T' piano wire is inserted through t' top o' t' first film can and acts as t' shock cord mount. T' other end o' t' shock cord is attached to t' screw eye on t' nose cone.

T' piano wire be t' guide for alignin' t' film cans. Arrr! Blimey! It also adds stability and strength t' t' entire airframe.

All airframe parts (film cans) glued together with 90 minute epoxy. Ya scallywag! T' make sure that thar would be no pressure loss at ejection, ya bilge rat, I went back and applied epoxy t' each joint t' make sure that t' airframe was completely sealed. Ahoy! T' ends o' t' piano wire are cut flush with t' motor mount.

T' launch lug is constructed from a 2-3/8" strip o' film that is rolled and scotch taped t' fit a 1/8" launch rod. Well, blow me down! T' lug is super glued in place and reinforced with 90 minute epoxy.

For fins I originally thought I would use some old AOL CD's that were sittin' right next t' t' film on me desk but decided that it would be great if I could stick with t' 'film' theme. Arrr! Ya scallywag! How do I include somethin' light weight that could hold pictures?   Ah-ha! A couple o' me son's baseball card protectors would do t' trick!   These are super glued in place, usin' t' slots I had cut in t' bottom two film can lids, arrr, and then reinforced with t' 90 minute epoxy.

I chose six pictures from some memorable rocketry moments, printed them out, me hearties, trimmed them t' size and inserted them into t' fins. (I'm still lookin' for some o' those old Indian Princess pictures to use...) Voila! Sure, for a rocket...Film WORKS! Now me desk is clear of unused film cans AND I have a conversation piece that doubles as a photo frame.

Computer Drawings/Simulations:
Scale drawin' made in CorelDraw.

I used VCP software for locatin' t' approximate Center o' Pressure. Arrr! T' weight and Center o' Gravity are actual measurements taken from t' completed 'vehicle' with an Estes C6-5 loaded.

wRASP simulation using an Estes B6 motor. A little low and slow t' give this motor a try, ya bilge rat, at least for the first launch. Ahoy! Probably need t' use a faster ASA higher impulse.

wRASP simulation usin' an Estes C6 motor. Aye aye! T' motor o' choice for t' Film WORKS! is probably t' C6-3. Chances are that it will nay reach 400 feet, matey, ya bilge rat, with t' high amount o' drag this shape will generate, and I'd rather see ejection earlier than later.

Recovery System:
My plan is t' use t' film as a streamer for t' recovery system. T' film will be wound in t' opposite direction that it was loaded in t' cartridge on the outside o' t' film cartridge. Begad! Blimey! T' tip o' t' film will be held in place by t' film can lid. I think that betwixt t' film streamer and the oversized fins, me bucko, t' odd-roc will slow down enough for recovery without breakage. Arrr! Blimey! No typical rocket parts here!

Flight Log:

Date: March 10, 2001 Time: 2:00pm Location: Middle School, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, Hudson, shiver me timbers, OH Conditions: Mostly sunny Temperature: 35° F Winds: 10-15mph S-SW Pretty chilly for a launch but Adam and I were determined t' put this bird in the air. Flight #1: Motor: Estes C6-3 Adam manned t' flight controls as I prepared t' photograph t' event. 3-2-1-LAUNCH! Amazingly straight and stable flight t' betwixt 300-400 feet. Ejection near apogee and t' film did unravel for recovery slow down. Landed about 30-35 yards from t' pad. Avast! Ahoy! A little snow in t' tube but no damage!! Flight #2 Motor: Estes C6-3 Adam wondered if we could "burn t' snow" this time so he positioned his side project. 3-2-1-LAUNCH! Another straight flight t' nearly t' same altitude with ejection right on t' money. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' wind picked up and carried the rocket away from t' softer snow. Landed hard about 25 yards away and broke off a fin. Ya scallywag! Minor damage that is easily repaired. I be unable t' get any more flights in before t' end o' DESCON 8 but hope to at t' next MTMA club launch.