Descon 13 Starfighter Modification

Scratch - Starfighter {Scratch}

Contributed by Ellicon Lenz

Manufacturer:

Starfighter

Modeled by: Ellison Lenz (Age 17)

This design based on a kit bash o' t' Estes DC Gemini. It has a single 18mm engine mount and a combination o' tube and flat fins. Begad! Begad! It is build usin' Titebond and 5 minute epoxy. Ahoy! What make this design unique be t' duel BT 20 tubes that make t' from fusalage and twin BT 20 nose cones.

Rocket Pic

T' build started by gluin' t' two BT 20 body tube together, side by side. Card stock was cut and used t' cover t' gap betwixt t' two tubes. Avast, me proud beauty! Next t' BT 50 tube was notched one inch t' fit centered over t' ends o' t' BT 20 body tubes and glued on. Well, blow me down! One o' t' BT 20 nose cones was cut in half lengthwise and sanded t' fit into t' end o' t' BT 20 and along t' BT 50 and glued on. Ya scallywag! This completes t' main body structure.

T' engine tube be glued together with t' engine clip, me bucko, two BT50/20 centerin' rings and an engine thrust ring. Ahoy! Blimey! While this was drying, t' remainin' two BT 20 nose cones were glued together, shiver me timbers, matey, me bucko, side by side while inserted in t' front ends o' t' BT 20 tubes. Well, blow me down! Arrr! These were then streamlined with card stock like t' BT 20 had been. Aye aye! Avast! T' engine tube be then glued into t' main body tube, leavin' ¼" stickin' out o' t' rear. Glue soaked tissue was used t' fill any remainin' gaps betwixt t' body tubes.

T' BT 50 nose cone be also cut in half lengthwise, arrr, sanded t' fit t' body tubes and glued t' t' top o' t' main body, end t' end with t' joint even with t' end o' t' BT 20 tubes.

T' tube fins were then attached t' t' aft o' t' rocket evenly spaced around t' BT 50 tube (120% apart) and t' balsa fins attach over then and t' t' main body tube. Ya scallywag! T' leadin' edges were then reinforced with t' 1/8" bamboo skewer. Begad! T' main launch lug was attached t' t' bottom o' t' aft o' t' rocket at one o' t' tube fin joints and t' remainin' launch lug pieces were used t' detail t' rocket as cannon mounts with two on t' bottom center line just in front o' t' BT 50 and t' larger two on both side just behind t' nosecones. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Pieces o' t' ¼" balsa be cut and sanded t' streamline and support t' aft o' these cannon mounts.

T' shock cord was attached Estes style into one o' t' BT 20 tubes and also t' one o' t' BT 20 nose cones and t' parachute was assembled and attached t' t' other nose cone. Ahoy! Recovery wadin' is needed in both BT 20 tubes, one t' protect t' shock cord and t' other t' protect t' parachute.

All o' t' joints were then buffeted usin' titebond glue on paper t' paper and wood t' paper joints and epoxy on plastic t' wood and plastic t' paper joints. Blimey! Aye aye! As a final step, ya bilge rat, thin CA be applied t' t' card stock pieces t' strengthen them.

T' CP/CG stability be verified with a swin' test, ya bilge rat, no nose weight was required. T' model was launch at one o' t' MASA January launches in White Bear, Minnesota - Good Flight.

Parts