Scratch - KidflaSh Spring Pad {Scratch}

Descon KidflaSh Spring Pad

Scratch - KidflaSh Spring Pad {Scratch}

Contributed by Chris Kiekens

Manufacturer:

KidflaSh Spring Pad
by Chris Kiekens

Concept

After destroyin' several Estes pads, and havin' several others fall over with bigger rockets, I came t' t' conclusion that I needed somethin' bigger, stronger, heavier... Avast! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' original concept for this pad was created in 3D Max. Begad! Well, blow me down! I have yet t' match t' pretty colors that were on t' original design... Begad! Arrr! oh well.

swivel

I definitely wanted a pad that had t' basic functionality o' t' Estes pad, as in it needed t' be able t' angle, shiver me timbers, and swivel easily. This be accomplished as you see, me bucko, t' swivel sits atop t' base, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and is secured by a 1/4" bolt. It be formed from 1" square steel tube, me bucko, matey, approx. 16 gauge. Arrr! Loosenin' the bolt allows it t' turn freely 360 degrees, arrr, and with a quick turn, me hearties, attaches it firmly t' t' solid steel rod(3/4") on t' base. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Holes were drilled on the corners o' t' square tube, and nuts welded on t' holes t' allow t' rod t' be captured on t' opposite angle t' hold it securely. Avast! Both steel, ya bilge rat, and hard rubber washers were set betwixt t' 1" square tubes, so as t' allow them t' have movement, me hearties, matey, but also allow them t' be tightened, me hearties, and movement stopped easily.

spring

I also wanted t' legs t' lock into place at 90 degree angles t' ensure it would nay become unstable at an inopportune moment. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! This turned out t' be easier than I suspected, ya bilge rat, with t' use o' a couple o' heavy duty springs, and a lock collar around t' Steel rod on t' base. T' two steel legs (1.5" square steel tube) were notched at t' center t' cause them t' lock into place as t' sprin' applied pressure.

folded

T' legs were formed from square steel tube, me hearties, approx. 10 gauge, t' base is 24" wide. A 3/4" steel rod was welded t' t' bottom leg, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and passed through a hole in t' upper leg. Aye aye! T' upper leg is attached via t' springs and lock collar. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! I don't expect it t' fall apart in t' near future. Well, blow me down!

foldedwswivel

T' lock collar serves two purposes, t' lock t' legs together, ya bilge rat, as well as provide a stop for t' swivel rod holder.

open

When t' base is folded open, shiver me timbers, and t' sprin' engages t' legs, me hearties, t' base is very solid, and stable. It is 14" high without t' swivel attached.

jenny

This pad may look t' be overkill for a model rocket, arrr, but after several CATOs with Estes D engines, matey, ya bilge rat, me bucko, I feel better safe than sorry. Avast, me proud beauty! If I can get away with it, most o' me rockets are now built with at a 1/4" Launch lugs. Begad! This pad will accommodate rod sizes from 1/8" t' 1/2", ya bilge rat, and I have launched small rockets like this Flyin' Jenny(on an A), t' what is currently me largest, ya bilge rat, me bucko, a LOC IV (on a G75), without any issues at all.

jennycloser

Launch angles are very easy t' change, matey, as well as very easy t' secure, as a result o' usin' both metal, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and hard rubber washers betwixt t' 1" steel tubes used t' create t' swivel.

jakelociv

I may lose more rockets t' Jake than t' "Rocket gods", but I have no fear o' him wreckin' this pad. Ahoy! Avast! Due t' t' height o' t' pad, I also have no fear o' Jake or myself losin' an eye t' t' rod either. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' pad stands 21 1/2" without a rod, shiver me timbers, and t' shortest rod I currently have is 48" long, with 3 inches o' rod lost t' t' pad t' secure it, t' top o' a 4' rod is still well over 5 feet off t' ground, me hearties, well above imminent eye damage.

jakesit