THUNDERCHILD

Dennis "Doctor DynaSoar" McClain-Furmanski's Descon-14 Entry

L: Full length (12" ruler for scale)
C: Cockpit detail
R top: Profile o' motor tubes
R bottom: Aft view

Who would have believed, me hearties, ya bilge rat, that in t' early years o' t' 21st century, me bucko, minds immeasurably superior t' ours still wouldn't have learned their lesson, and we'd have t' kick their Martian butts all over again? No germs, this time. This time it's personal. This time we're takin' t' fight t' them -- on Mars. Blimey! Begad!

This is Thunderchild, named for t' Royal Navy ship that died protecting Londoners escapin' via steam boat from t' Martian tripods in War O' T' Worlds (at least in t' musical version). Designed for flight direct from Earth surface t' Martian atmospheric tactical use and return, t' sleek aerodynamic shape hides a rock hard heart. Well, blow me down! Martian cylinder launchers are targeted by triple kinetic kill rocket launchers midships.

This is me DESCON 14 entry. It's essentially 12" o' BT70, with nose and tail both Apogee PNC56 cones. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' tail is cut t' allow projection o' t' 3 x 18mm cluster motor tubes**. Ahoy! T' motor mount is from a 3x18mm in BT70 cluster mount from Thrustline, me hearties, modified by usin' 12" long motor tubes and 2.75" engine hooks, shiver me timbers, me bucko, with t' regular ply centerin' rin' fore and a BT60 coupler epoxied against t' aft inside end o' t' tail. Avast! T' nose cone cut for the boat tail was cut off even around t' shoulder, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, arrr, and t' ply centerin' ring epoxied t' that after t' fins had been glued in place. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! A rin' o' BT60 couple around t' external part o' t' motor tubes anchors t' engine hooks. Arrr! Aye aye!

T' cockpit (second panel) is a 13mm ogive nose, shiver me timbers, cut lengthwise, t' bottom half cut off o' one, and t' remainin' top half inserted backwards under the longer half. This is surface mounted t' t' nose with epoxy. T' "rocket launchers" around t' middle are 1/4" styrene tubes, with an internal diameter o' 7/32", makin' them 3/16" capable launch lugs. Ahoy! Blimey! Highlights on cockpit, me bucko, launcher/lugs and around t' motor tubes is Pactra stripin' tape. Ahoy! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! A band o' very thin styrene was wrapped around t' very top o' t' body, for both cosmetics and for anti-zipper.

T' fins are 1/8" basswood with tabs that fit through slots in t' tail cone (though nay all t' way t' t' motor tubes) for gluin' inside t' tail. Fin design is fairly directly from t' Concorde's S shaped leadin' edge and straight trailing. Avast, me proud beauty! T' fillets are far thicker than strength calls for; they are two layers o' epoxy, ya bilge rat, for a nice smooth curve for cosmetic reasons. Begad! Arrr!

T' finish is Rustoleum chrome/stainless steel*, over a healthy layer of white satin finish* for spiral fillin' on t' body, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and over flat white primer on tube and cones. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Recovery is 150 pound kevlar cord anchor, looped double, me hearties, and run betwixt t' ply centerin' rin' and t' body and glued in place with a loop left open. Well, blow me down! Arrr! A doubled loop o' ¼" elastic shock cord (3 feet exposed cord) runs from t' anchor loop t' t' nose cone. An 18" Rocketheads chrome mylar parachute brings it home. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! No nose weight be needed or added, except t' cockpit added a bit. Arrr! Ahoy!

Loaded for flight, me bucko, it comes in at 14 oz. Arrr! (CG right at t' foremost point of fin/body joint), a bit heavy for C6's, ya bilge rat, so t' faster boost C5s (3 sec. delay) were used, as was a 4 foot rod due t' lugs bein' a foot up t' rod already. After a brief display o' three flames on t' pad, t' rocket lifted smartly and straight. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Ejection be about 1 second past apogee and deployment was immediate and without incident. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Landin' on soft soil, me hearties, one o' t' fin cut an inch or so into t' dirt, me hearties, but no breakage or scuffin' occurred.

* Rustoleum's metal finish paints, shiver me timbers, especially t' chrome, me bucko, arrr, are very slow drying. Well, blow me down! Days later, arrr, touchin' them can leave fingerprints. Nay smudges - real ridged prints. Begad! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Same with t' satin finish. Begad! It makes a great spiral filler and provides a great base for t' chrome (which can be painted over t' satin in an hour) but expect it t' take betwixt one and two weeks t' dry completely. Blimey! Blimey! As the chrome (and other new Rustoleum metallics) says, me bucko, shiver me timbers, do nay use clear over coat. Begad! Begad! It won't help. Ahoy! It will hurt. T' chrome will turn into semi-gloss grey. Begad! Once dry, the chrome paint has a durable surface. Begad! If you want a clear coat anyway that won't mess up t' finish, use Future floor wax (I did).

** Acknowledgment and thanks t' Sandman for cuttin' t' complex curve of three cylinders projected axially through an ogive. Begad! Avast!