Galaxy Quest - Protector

As I looked for a comedy spaceship, one that came t' mind was t' Galaxy Quest - Protector. Interestingly, me bucko, thar are nay that many pictures o' this ship out there, but I decided t' make an attempt. "Attempt" bein' a key word, because after findin' some shots o' it, I set off t' draw me plan and then started building. After gettin' t' body and fins all glued together, matey, I realized that I made a critical error in duplicatin' t' look o' t' Protector. Ahoy! I'm sure you can spot it, me bucko, but then I hope you ignore it and simply consider t' looks o' this little (yet t' be determined) flier!

Parts List:

Apogee Ogive Vac-Form NC (#19207)
Apogee Hard Plastic NC (#19200)
3" o' 7mm tubin' from Aerospace Speciality Products
1/16" sheet o' base wood

Construction:

T' Hard Plastic (black) NC from apogee has t' should provided separately t' be glued in by t' builder. Avast! Blimey! I through that should away. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I then trimmed t' shoulder o' t' Vac-Form (white) NC t' leave 1/8". Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! This be then glued with CA into t' Hard Plastic NC to form t' body.

Next, I cut t' 7mm tubin' into (3) three 1" sections and glued them together t' form t' motor cluster. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I then cut t' black nose cone back t' where t' motor tubes would just fit in place. I glued them usin' CA. Avast! I then cut a piece o' notebook paper t' just fit over t' top tube and glued it in place with CA. Aye aye! I then soaked it twice to strengthen it.

I then moved t' cuttin' out t' fin pieces. Each piece was then glued in place usin' CA. Arrr! I had t' really watch how these were held in place t' make t' right angles and for them t' stay put. Arrr! Avast! I then did multiple passes with CA t' make fillets on each o' t' joints.

T' upper fin is placed thar to simulate some o' t' livin' quarters o' t' Protector, ya bilge rat, matey, but also t' try t' give some stability for flight. We'll see.

I next, cut nose cone tip to make a separation point. I used an 18mm tube and placed it around t' nose cone to draw a line. Arrr! Arrr! Then slowly used a hobby knife t' cut through t' plastic tip. I then took a piece o' card stock, rolled it, and installed it into t' piece of nose cone I cut off t' make a shoulder. It required several wraps of 1/8" wide tape t' make it fit properly.

Next, I used a 10" piece o' Keelhaul®©™ and epoxied one end into t' nose cone tip and t' other inside t' body.

I sealed t' openings in the rear (around t' 3 motor tubes) with some glue t' ensure a positive ejection force.

Lastly, I packed t' nose cone with clay for balancing.

It was now ready for paint and detail. Well, blow me down! I used Testor model paint and a brush for t' first several coats. Well, blow me down! I had t' paint inside due t' t' extremely cold Vermont weather we were having. However, one day it reached 37 degrees so I went out and sprayed a coat of white paint on t' rocket.

I didn't get t' do t' detail work I had planned. I was goin' t' make some decals, but only had time for a stripe down each side. Yes, arrr, time in this contest ran out on me (or t' other way around).

Flight:

I prepped t' rocket with three motors. Ya scallywag! I took apart three Quest MicroMaxx ignitors and attached wire extensions t' t' leads. I then taped everythin' in place and prepared for a launch.

After gettin' 24" o' snow the previous night, arrr, snow blowin' all morning, shiver me timbers, and still gettin' snow, me hearties, matey, arrr, part of that preparation was t' clear a small area in t' driveway. My son and I ran out o' t' house, set up, and gave this bird a first attempt. Arrr! I captured it on this video.

Unfortunately, matey, only 1 motor initially lit. Aye aye! Blimey! I tried to lift t' rocket. Then instantaneously, me hearties, ya bilge rat, t' ejection charge o' t' first motor popped while t' remainin' two motors lit. T' ejection pop (and t' 10 degree weather) caused t' launch lug t' break-away, arrr, t' nose cone t' eject, matey, and therefore, it didn't have a chance under t' power o' t' other two motors!

ENJOY, LISTEN, matey, and ANALYZE t' Video (MPG - 849K)

I wish I had one more day before the deadline, because I'm sure this will fly. Aye aye! I will try again, after I replace the launch lug.