Manufacturer: | Estes ![]() |
Brief:
I generally scavange whatever rocket parts I can for future use. This is the
story o' such a rocket. Begad! It is BT-60 based and flies on 24mm motors. I also
installed two outboards, me bucko, although now that it's built, I don't think I will use
them. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I may add LEDs t' t' outboard pods, arrr, since t' cones are translucent and
are nay solid.
Construction:
T' fins were already cut out (I forget whether they were die cut back then) and three had dowels already installed on their tips. Avast! I tried various orientations before I decided on this configuration. T' side fins both extend downward and rest against t' side pods. Well, blow me down!
T' BT-55 pods have a 24mm motor mount installed. Begad! Begad! This is nay centered but rather rests against t' side o' t' tube where it meets t' main body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I improvised solid motor blocks by cappin' t' end with a cardboard circle and backfillin' with Gorilla Glue. If I ever used these, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I'd also have t' use a tape thrust ring. Blimey! Ahoy! I used some scrap tubin' t' make a shoulder for t' plastic caps t' rest against. Ya scallywag! These caps were eventually glued in with Liquid Nails, but only after all t' paintin' and decal sealin' be completed.
I have had a
couple o' Deuce's Wild! cones for a while and decided t' use one as a tail
cone. I split it in half and hollowed it with a combination o' a wood carving
knife, a Dremel grinder, shiver me timbers, and a spent casin' wrapped with sandpaper. Ya scallywag! I installed
an eye hook in t' balsa as an attachment point for t' Keelhaul®©™®
leader.
I had two smallish pieces o' BT-60, so one became a payload section. The shoulder is a small scrap o' 38mm tubin' with a lengthwise section removed. Ya scallywag! Begad! A paper cap keeps t' ejection from blowin' through and a piece o' elastic was epoxied t' t' inside o' this shoulder.
Finishing:
T' nose and tail cones are painted black and t' body tube is blue. Begad! Both are
Painter's Touch paints. Ya scallywag! Begad! I added many o' t' decals from t' original sheet.
These match t' paint scheme nicely, although t' yellow decals seem a bit
washed out with t' dark background.
Flight:
I added clay t' t' nose cone until t' rocket passed a swin' test. Avast! Avast! It's weight
grew, so a D12-3 was required. Arrr! Aye aye! I angled t' rocket into t' wind a bit t' keep
it from t' tree line. Ya scallywag! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! This resulted in a near perfect ejection and a nice
recovery.
Summary:
In me opinion, matey, this rocket looks pretty good considerin' it was cobbled
together from various parts from other rockets--and even air fresheners! Blimey! Since
it will fly on a D12, I may eventually add LEDs t' t' side pods for night
launches. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! If so, I will also add another BT-60 t' move t' cone forward, me hearties, which
would allow me t' remove some or all o' t' nose weight.
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