(04/01/04) Searchin' around on the EMRR Affiliates Links Page, me hearties, I went t' Clive Davis' page and found his free paper rocket: Bif's Rocket Emporium Papernator. Arrr! After doin' a number of free rockets found throughout the Internet (See my "Free" Paper-Rocket Comparison Page), I decided t' add one more to t' series. Clive's rocket plan be entered into FlisKits' Design o' the Month and won for September 2003. Begad!

I printed it on 110lb Card Stock (Georgia Pacific brand purchased from WalMart) and then got busy.

T' rocket patterns were on 5 pages and then there were 2 additional pages o' instructions. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' design o' t' rocket is unique and detailed. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' color-scheme is nice as well.

You will need t' provide a recovery system includin' a shock cord and parachute. Blimey! You will also need clay nose weight. Clive recommends a 12" parachute and an 18" shock cord.

Clive also recommends that you have an X-acto knife and wood glue.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' construction o' t' rocket is straightforward. Ahoy! It takes some time t' cut out all t' pieces, me hearties, me hearties, especially the fin pods. Begad! Read t' instructions closely and look at any pictures (FlisKits DOM) before beginning. Begad! Begad! I won't go through all t' buildin' steps, me hearties, me hearties, ya bilge rat, however, matey, shiver me timbers, I will point out two areas that I had some difficulty.

T' fins were challengin' because o' the number o' cuts and folds. These fins are nay a doublin' over o' t' paper, matey, but instead, they are built up and have a flat trailin' edge. T' leadin' edge is squared off and then they taper t' t' trailin' edge. Avast! I had some trouble keepin' t' fins symmetrical. Three turned out good. Ya scallywag! One didn't (as you can see in t' picture). I suppose that will provide some "spin stability".

T' other area that seemed difficult t' me was t' buildin' o' t' fin pods. Avast, me proud beauty! I read t' instructions, matey, really, but I just don't think they turned out correct. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! If I look at t' picture on FlisKits DOM, it looks like one disk is saved as a bottom pad. Ya scallywag! I don't have that. Arrr! So, builder, me bucko, me bucko, it's up t' you.

T' motor tube centerin' rin' posed a small problem for me as well. Avast, me proud beauty! I'm just concerned whether it will hold or not. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! It didn't seem t' have a solid connection t' t' inner body tube. Ya scallywag! Nice idea and design though... Arrr! Ahoy! just a builder error.

T' nose cone shoulder is tapered in such a way that it slides into t' body tube, me bucko, but only until t' shoulder's taper is wider than t' body tube opening. Well, blow me down! (I guess after readin' that it is an obvious statement, however, t' design works, me bucko, while leavin' a small portion o' the black shoulder exposed.)

I used 18 inches o' 1/4" flat elastic for me shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! It be attached usin' t' 3-fold paper method (outlined in the instructions) t' t' body tube and t' nose cone. Ahoy! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty!

I added a 12" parachute. Aye aye! This be a free one provided from an order with SemRoc. Ya scallywag! I constructed it per SemRoc's instructions.

I added Plast-i-Clay Modelin' Clay for the nose weight. It was close t' t' 15 grams suggested, however, matey, arrr, me objective was to gain t' CG that Clive recommended.

Overall, shiver me timbers, me hearties, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this rocket 4 points. Ya scallywag! T' instructions were good, me bucko, but a bit more clarity on t' pod's would help (at least me). Ya scallywag! T' design is nice.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Clive recommends B4-2, B6-2 and C6-3 for motors.

My Papernator weighed in at 1.5 ounces.

Well, I had an opportunity and yes, yes, I know it is nay one o' t' recommended motors, arrr, but I went for it. I installed a 1/2A6-2 for it's first flight. Begad! T' rocket successfully cleared t' rod, arrr, me bucko, reached about 15 feet altitude, turned and headed for t' ground. Begad! Ya scallywag! Ejection was just before and t' parachute did expand. Flight over.

I wanted t' fly it again and when I was pushin' in t' new motor (an A8-3), ya bilge rat, t' motor mount popped out. Arrr! Arrr! Hmmm, as I was concerned about. I re-installed it and feel I was much more successful this time. Arrr! Gainin' solid joints in t' body.

After a day or so, I loaded t' A8-3 and flew it again. Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! This time it took off and gained about 30 feet altitude, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, turned, ejected, and came in fast. Ya scallywag! T' parachute never came out o' t' nose cone and it came in hard and fast. I'm warnin' ya, me bucko, stay away from this descendin' rocket if it is nay under 'chute. Blimey! Blimey! That sharp nose cone can hurt.

T' third flight was on a B6-2, as recommended. Aye aye! Blimey! It came off t' pad nicely and with good altitude. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' ejection was early and t' 'chute did nay come out again. Well, blow me down! It appears that it is being blown up into t' nose cone and then never gettin' pulled out. Upon landin' it damaged a fin. Avast! Arrr! So, ya bilge rat, I have retired this paper rocket.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 3 points. Maybe it's me, arrr, me bucko, but a couple o' things were irritatin' in flying this rocket. Arrr! Avast! First, just t' get t' motor in. Begad! Aye aye! I had trouble gettin' me fingers down in-between those fins. Ya scallywag! Same issue for addin' t' ignitor. Also, me hearties, ya bilge rat, arrr, it twice had t' parachute blown up into t' nose cone and it did nay come out.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 3 ½ points. Avast! Blimey! This is a "free" rocket and in comparison with others I have done (See my "Free" Paper-Rocket Comparison Page), it holds its own for looks and ease o' construction. Avast, me proud beauty! I don't know what t' do on this nose cone thing, except shorter shrouds and tie it closer t' t' base o' t' rocket... Well, perhaps another time.