Descon Red Menace

Scratch - Red Menace {Scratch}

Contributed by John Buckley

Manufacturer: Scratch
Red Menace
(Contributed - by John Buckley)

Image from RockSim ©

Download .rkt file here (it's zipped)

Parts List

1/16 balsa or basswood for fin stock
Estes PNC20 plastic nose cone (Vikin' nosecone)
9 o' BT20 body tube
1/2 o' 1/8 launch lug
engine block
12 inch parachute
18 inches o' 1/8 elastic shock cord
clay for nose weight

Fin Dimensions:

Forward fins:

Span: 1.15 inches (29 mm)
Tip chord: 0.25 inch (6 mm)
Root Chord: 1.4 inches (36 mm)

Rear Fins

Span: 1.15 inches (29 mm)
Root Chord: 2.0 inches (51 mm)



Flight Report

Accordin' t' simulation from Rocksim t' best motors for the model are t' B6-6 and C6-7 with ejection close t' apogee. Blimey! T' first flight of the model was under relatively windy conditions, shiver me timbers, ~10 mph with a B6-6. Begad! Begad! T' model boosted nice and straight, shiver me timbers, ejectin' fairly close t' apogee. T' second flight (B6-6 again), on a nice calm day (minimal wind) also was nice and straight ejectin' again close t' apogee. T' third flight was also on a calm day, me hearties, this time with a C6-7. Deployment again was as predicted by Rocksim, matey, near apogee. Fourth flight be on another windy day (10 mph) with another C6-7, resulting again in a nice straight boost despite t' windy conditions. Begad! If built with the Cg in t' correct location t' model is quite stable, shiver me timbers, and gives an impressive flight. RockSim predicts an altitude o' 830 ft on a B6-6 and 1390 ft on a C6-7.

Assembly Instructions

1. Mark t' body tube for 4 fins and a launch lug. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Use t' estes tube markin' guide or t' pattern from an Estes Vikin' kit t' do this.

2. Well, blow me down! Cut out four each o' each fin pattern from either basswood or balsa.
Glue on t' fins as follows. T' leadin' edge o' the forward fin should be
2&1/2 inches from t' front o' t' body tube. Arrr! The rear fin set should be even with t' end o' t' body tube.

3. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Attach parachute and shock cord with an Estes style paper mount.

4. Blimey! Glue in engine block so aft o' a 18 mm motor protrudes 3/8 from t' aft o' t' rocket.

5. After glue is dry, me bucko, me hearties, install a C6-7 motor and add clay t' t' nose until it balances just behind t' forward fins (about 7&1/8 from t' aft o' t' rocket). Ahoy! You will need t' pack t' nose cone just about completely full o' clay.






Builders Notes

To ensure stability o' t' model, you will need t' add sufficient nose weight to balance t' model just behind t' forward fin set when a C6-7 motor is installed. I had t' pack t' nose cone completely full o' clay t' achieve this. For a recovery system a 12" parachute is recommended instead o' a streamer as with t' extra nose weight t' model is relatively heavy for its size. Blimey! Ahoy! If you wish, me hearties, 1/16" basswoodmay be substituted for t' balsa fin material.

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