Modification - The 'Big Daddy' Educator

Modification The 'Big Daddy' Educator

Modification - The 'Big Daddy' Educator

Contributed by Joy Sills

Manufacturer:

Educator

Brief:
T' Educator is a modified Big Daddy. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' modifications include addin' a 12" payload section and usin' basswood for fins and centerin' rings.

Modifications:
T' first modifications were addin' basswood fins and centerin' rings. Ya scallywag! T' second modification was addin' a payload section. Ahoy! This was accomplished by usin' an additional 12" section o' body tubing. Begad! A MDF coupler was then epoxied into t' 6" coupler. Ahoy! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' coupler was then epoxied into t' aft end o' t' payload section. Arrr! Blimey! T' bulkhead contained an eye screw for t' upper attachment point for t' shock cord. Custom 1/4" launch lugs were then added. Avast! A motor retention system was created by two screw receptors bein' added t' t' aft centerin' ring. A basswood plate is then screwed down t' hold in t' motor.

Construction:
t' parts used included:

Big Daddy Kit (3" Pre slotted Body Tube, Nose cone)
1 Payload Section (3" Body Tube)
1 6" Coupler
1 MDF Bulkhead
2 Eye Screw
2 Basswood Centerin' Rings
4 Basswood Fins
2 1/4" Launch Lugs
1 Motor Retention Plate
2 Screw Receptors
2 Screws
1 24" Nylon Parachute
1 Elastic Shock Cord

Finishing:
T' Educator was finished t' look like a school bus. Ahoy! It be primed then painted yellow with black fins. Pin stripes and custom decals were added t' create t' school bus look. Then t' whole thin' was cleared coated.

Launch Flight:
I prepared t' Educator for flight by attachin' a Nomex shield t' t' shock cord so that it wouldn't require wadding. Then I friction fit an Estes E-9 in t' Educator before I placed it on t' launch stand. Begad! T' flight was okay, matey, shiver me timbers, but t' rocket weathercocked considerably into t' wind.

Recovery:
T' shock cord be attached t' a bulkhead in t' bottom o' t' coupler and t' t' centerin' rin' in t' booster section. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' parachute and Nomex shields were both attached t' t' shock cord. Ya scallywag! Arrr! This made for easy recovery. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' parachute deployed too slowly and t' fin be damaged.

Summary:
T' rocket was too heavy.