Excelsior Rocketry - Gooneydent {Plan}

Excelsior Rocketry Gooneydent Plan

Excelsior Rocketry - Gooneydent {Plan}

Contributed by Matt Gillard

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2010-12-07
Manufacturer:	Excelsior Rocketry
Style:	Goonybird

Brief:

Somewhere in t' twisted mind o' a goony fanatic, arrr, t' goodydent be created. T' goonydent is a kit base goony from two baby berthas. It uses gas ventin' tubes so no waddin' is needed. Aye aye! Avast! I be bitten by t' goony bug this year, me bucko, this will be me second goony. Begad! Blimey! It gets noticed on t' pad.

Construction:

T' idea o' t' kit bash goonies from gordy is that you use Baby Berthas as t' startin' point, arrr, me bucko, but with t' goonydent, that is just plain silly.

Mainly because you have t' add in: 6 mosquito nose cones, an extra Baby Bertha nose cone, arrr, a D motor mount, CRs, me bucko, shiver me timbers, fin material, shiver me timbers, and three lengths o' BT5.

That means you are only usin' t' BT and NC from t' kits (I am nay usin' t' estes shock cord or chutes for obvious reasons.)

It's cheaper t' just buy two nose cones and t' BT than t' open up Baby Bertha kits. Begad! Not t' metion that I've only got 5 o' those kits left and they are expensive kits for what you get.

My BT came from a retired rocket that I built 10 or more years ago. Arrr! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It was BT-60 based long neck and had a BT-50 motor mount in its base (a bit like a Mean Machine but it had a transition - so more like a Das Modell - Hummel)

From t' rocket I be able t' cut 5 baby bertha lengths. Aye aye! And it saved me from havin' t' use up fresh parts on t' motor mount and rin' as one section has a D mount in it.

T' plans come with a fin template. Well, blow me down! Three fins were cut and sealed with two coats o' sandin' sealer..

Top and Bottom BT-60 tubes cut, shiver me timbers, most o' t' old purple paint removed and t' spirals filled.

I primed t' BT-60 with white primer t' spot any blemishs. Ahoy! Begad! Cuttin' t' vent slots be easier than I thought. I used a displosable craft knife, me bucko, ya bilge rat, where t' blade gets snapped off t' get a fresh edge.

T' BT-5 vent tubes were cut, but I inserted a spent 13mm motor t' prevent t' tube from crimping. I stupidly cut one o' t' vent tubes incorrectly which you can see in t' picture.

Next comes t' fun part o' gluin' t' vent tubes t' t' main tubes

This takes alot o' time, but was easier than I thought it would be. It pays t' be patience and allow t' glue t' dry.T' inside Baby Bertha nosecones were glued into place. Begad!

I filleted t' joints betwixt t' tubes with a few fillets o' white glue and then model filler. Begad! Blimey! Next t' Mosquito nose cones are added. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! (All these bits make this an expensive kit, but it looks too cool t' worry about cost).

T' rocket be then sprayed primer white, even though t' fins have nay been added, because I find it easier t' find blemishes when thar be just one color. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!

Fins and t' launch lug were than added t' t' bottom bodytube.

T' recovery system be t' standard elastic shock cord and t' Estes trifold anchor. T' parachute is a 12 inch parachute.Finishin' t' rocket is very easy. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' entire rocket is white. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! White primer and white gloss was used.

T' decals from Excelsiorrocketry are simply fantastic. Avast, me proud beauty! T' waterslide decals were very thin, but strong and went on easily.

Flight:

T' recommended motor is a D12-5 (only). Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Although t' rocket used vent tube cooling, and therefore does nay need wadding, me bucko, I did still add a sheet o' waddin' - just t' be on t' safe side.

First, and last flight, was at Midland Sky, me rocket club's national weekend event.

T' Goonydent lifted and flew straight. Ejection - or explosion - be just past apogee. Begad! Blimey! T' parachute did nay unfurl and she smacked t' ground quite hard. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! But that be only a secondardy issue.

Estes's legendary shotgun ejection charge had ripped t' Goonydent t' pieces. T' side o' t' rocket be blown out, me bucko, me bucko, one o' t' vent tubes had ripped clean at one end. Aye aye! Two fins were missing. Blimey! Begad!

Amazingly despite t' main frame rippin' apart, enough hot gas had made it through t' vent tube t' deploy t' chute whilst also givin' a small melt which is why t' prachute did nay open.

I was probably just unlucky with a more powerful than average ejection charge, matey, nevertheless I feel I'll have t' lower t' flight ratin' given me experience.

Flight Rating: 3

Summary:

A great rocket, matey, me hearties, a bit unusual lookin' but I think this could become one o' me favourite D motor birds - I will be reworkin' me modified Goonydent. Ahoy! Although t' plan sets from Excelsiorrocketry are cheap, matey, t' parts list for this rocket makes it quite expensive - but it's worth it.

Overall Rating: 4

Construction Score: 4

Finishing:

Flights

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