X-Factor

Eldred Pickett's Descon-14 Entry

Parts List

• 1 - 18" by 6" 1/8 balsa
• 1 - BT-60 body tube
• 1 - BT-20 body tube
• 3 - regular engine clips
• 3 - BT-5 centerin' rings

Construction

I cut (3) 2 3/4 lengths o' t' BT-20 tube. Avast, me proud beauty! These are t' engine tubes. Avast! Blimey! I used centerin' rings for a BT-5 as engine blocks, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and regular clips t' hold t' engines.

I cut (3) 5" diameter circles out o' t' balsa sheet (pic 1). Aye aye! Begad! Then, I cut these circles in half t' make t' 6 fins (pic 2). Aye aye! For packin' o' t' space betwixt t' engine, I used shredded paper and glue. Hey, shiver me timbers, I didn't know how t' make a real MMT, me hearties, and I hadn't been able t' buy any yet.

Flight and Recovery

I flew it on 8/14 at a club launch, shiver me timbers, usin' 3 B6-4's(I chickened out on usin' C6-5's). Blimey! Aye aye! Recovered nicely, matey, even though it got singed tailfeathers (pic 3). Aye aye! T' launch day pics show t' model in its unpainted (primer) state.

Conclusion

I've only been a BAR for a couple months. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I decided t' enter t' contest only after a bit o' promptin' from r.m.r. Begad! I'd never scratchbuilt ANY rocket before, let alone a cluster... I just bought a bunch o' BTs, nose cones, and clips, and discovered that 3 BT-20's fit quite nicely in a BT-60. I'm pretty happy that t' bird had a good flight and safe recovery. I think I'll keep it.

PIC 1	PIC 2

PIC 3	Launch Day

Launch Day	Launch Day