SpaceLiner 100

By Nick Esselman

Concept:

T' SpaceLiner 100 was/is a NASA concept vehicle that anticipated usin' a magnetic track t' levitate and accelerate it for launch. T' SpaceLiner 100 is nay often seen, but be featured for some time. Aye aye! I learned about it in a book by Tim McElyea called A Vision o' Future Space Transportation. Blimey! I liked t' design and set forth t' build one.

While searchin' t' Web, I discovered a couple variations to the SpaceLiner 100's configuration. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! T' one described in Tim McElyea's book, was like t' one on t' right, arrr, with two vertical fins and t' wings centered with t' engines.

So with a few drawing, ya bilge rat, I began t' scale this rocket. Ya scallywag! Avast! I determined it be best t' use 2.6" body tubin' and I had a nose cone that would fit t' bill. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' project be a go!

Construction:

After scalin' all t' drawing, arrr, I cut all the pieces needed t' make t' rocket. Blimey! T' tail cone shape was t' toughest to cut, matey, but I did that right in t' main 2.6" body tubing.

T' main win' fins were cut from 1/4" Balsa and then a layer o' printin' paper was laminated on them usin' 5-minute epoxy. Blimey! Arrr! The vertical fins were cut from 1/8" balsa and laminated as well.

T' Engine tubes are 1.6". Ahoy! Avast! They had a custom rear, shiver me timbers, outer centerin' rin' made t' support t' outer shroud. Aye aye! T' two hard-balsa engine cones are also custom made t' t' dimensions derived from scalin' t' drawings. I utilized two CR5060 centerin' rings for recessing/mountin' these nose cones to t' engine tubes. Aye aye! These custom parts were made by Balsa Machinin' Service. Avast, me proud beauty! The shroud (not shown) was made by usin' VCP and printin' onto 110lb Card Stock (Georgia Pacific brand purchased from WalMart).

Perhaps a unique technique be used t' attach t' wings t' the engine tubes. Arrr! Here it can be seen, shiver me timbers, that large (1/8") holes were drilled in the body tube along t' glue line (but nay up onto t' shroud). Holes were also drilled into t' root edge o' t' 1/4" balsa fin. Ahoy! T' holes in t' fin were then filled with Gorilla Polyurethane glue and it was also thinning applied t' t' root edge. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Each hole on t' tube had a small amount o' Gorilla glue put into it usin' a toothpick. Ahoy! Begad! Then t' fin was placed onto t' line and moved slightly back and forth. Avast! Begad! It was then taped into place and stood on end. Standin' it on end, matey, allowed t' glue t' flow into t' hole and then flow downward, creatin' a glue "hook". Avast! Avast! A lot o' Gorilla glue is nay needed since it expands.

This technique was repeated for attachin' t' fins t' t' main body tube.

T' 29mm Motor Mount was installed and usin' 110lb Card Stock, t' tail cone be formed. Ya scallywag! This was glued in place with wood glue and once dried t' back o' it was coated with Gorilla glue for strength. Arrr! This made it rigid enough t' allow fillin' and smoothin' on t' outside.

I also took and old windshield wiper metal strip, cut and bent it in shape t' form t' motor retainin' hook. Begad! I had t' push t' expanding Gorilla glue away from where t' hook flexes.

T' Nose Cone's Should-end be cut out, ya bilge rat, but I'll talk more about that later.

T' rest o' t' construction was straightforward. Begad! I did not glue t' Engine Nose Cones in place t' make finishin' easier. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! From here I moved to finishing.

Finishing:

Usin' too many t' count coats o' Gray Plasti-Kote Sandable Primer and sandin' betwixt each coat, ya bilge rat, I was able t' work out all t' issues. Blimey! Aye aye! It then was painted usin' only $0.98/can Wal-Mart Paint. Well, blow me down! This means that each color was done 1 week after t' prior.

I made decals and printed them on Papa-Tango decal paper and applied them. Begad! Avast! I then installed t' Engine Nose Cones. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Lastly, I clear-coated the entire rocket with Wal-Mart Clear Coat.

I'm pleased with me finish.

Flight Prep:

Not t' easiest model t' RockSim, ya bilge rat, but I made an attempt to determine how much nose weight I needed. I had already prepped t' nose cone by cuttin' out shoulder's bottom. Avast, me proud beauty! I had found a large eye-bolt and had BB's and epoxy ready. From RockSim, it determined I needed 4 oz o' nose weight with a G80 loaded.

I took a drill and long bit and gouged/roughed up t' inside of the nose cone where t' nose weight was goin' t' be glued in place. After this is tied me shock cord t' t' eye-bolt and stood it up in t' center o' t' nose cone. Avast! Aye aye! I poured in 2 ounces o' BB's (for future reference that is about a 1 Liter Wide-mount Pepsi Cap full o' BB's). Well, blow me down! I then mixed up a lot o' 5-minute epoxy and poured it in. This was repeated with another 2 ounces o' BB's. Arrr! Arrr! So I actually ended up addin' 4 ounces o' BB's, me bucko, 1.8 ounces from t' eye-bolt and all the epoxy.

I added a parachute and heat shield and RailButtons... Blimey! now it's ready!

Stats:

• 14 3/4" Win' Span
• 18 1/8" Length
• 2.6" Body Tube
• 1.6" Engines goin' t' 1 15/16" flared back
• 21 Ounces
• 28" Parachute
• 29mm Motor Mount

Flight:

After creatin' a form o' a RockSIM, I determined that it should fly nicely with an F52-5 (although I set t' CG up t' fly with a G80).

A perfect mornin' in Vermont, allowed me t' get out t' the field. Arrr! I went with one purpose... Aye aye! fly t' SpaceLiner 100.

T' F52-5 was loaded and t' rocket be placed on a Rail. Avast, me proud beauty! I set up me camera t' make a movie clip (wmv - 855k).

It was fast off t' pad and flew straight up with a very slow spin. Arrr! Blimey! T' parachute ejected a bit early. Could have used another 1-2 seconds perhaps. Hard t' tell. Descent was excellent and it landed about 20 feet from the pad.

It be beggin' t' be flown again, matey, so I loaded an EconoJet F20-4.

A bit slower comin' off t' pad. Begad! Well, blow me down! I actually got 5 sequential pictures, but I had set t' aperture too low and they are washed out.

Summary:

I'm very pleased with me rendition o' t' SpaceLiner 100. Arrr! Blimey! It is an excellent flier and looks unique. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' paintin' be t' greatest challenge, but it turned out t' nicely (my own opinion).