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. Well, blow me down! These are t' engine tubes. I used centerin' rings for a BT-5 as engine blocks, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and regular clips t' hold t' engines.

I cut (3) 5" diameter circles out o' t' balsa sheet (pic 1). Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Then, I cut these circles in half t' make t' 6 fins (pic 2). Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! For packin' o' t' space betwixt t' engine, shiver me timbers, I used shredded paper and glue. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Hey, I didn't know how t' make a real MMT, ya bilge rat, matey, matey, and I hadn't been able t' buy any yet.

Flight and Recovery

I flew it on 8/14 at a club launch, usin' 3 B6-4's(I chickened out on usin' C6-5's). Begad! Recovered nicely, me bucko, 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! Avast, me proud beauty! I decided t' enter t' contest only after a bit o' promptin' from r.m.r. Begad! Begad! I'd never scratchbuilt ANY rocket before, let alone a cluster... Ahoy! 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. Begad! Avast! I'm pretty happy that t' bird had a good flight and safe recovery. Blimey! I think I'll keep it.

PIC 1	PIC 2

PIC 3	Launch Day

Launch Day	Launch Day