Scratch First Scratch Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - First Scratch {Scratch}

Contributed by Neil Thompson

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Neil Thompson (age 12) - 09/10/03)

Rocket PicBrief:
This was me first ever scratch built rocket and that be t' ONLY reason I am submittin' it. It has flown about 3 dozen times t' date and is an 18MM minimum diameter usin' a full length o' Estes 18mm tubing, but it gets a few inches shorter every half a year or so because o' a tangled streamer. Well, blow me down! I really have to find a better recovery device for it. It also has a few spots where a fin has obviously been re-glued. This cannot have been any higher than me 12th rocket and nay knowin' about t' importance, I used really thin balsa because it can crack on t' easiest o' landings. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! When it flys, matey, it really soars. Begad! I am guessing about 1,500 feet or more on a C6-5 or C6-7. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! It goes really fast too, so I cannot tell if it is this rocket or some other rocket whenever I look at pictures.

Construction:
As I said, shiver me timbers, it has one full lenth o' Estes tube, 18MM, me bucko, one streamer, which frequently crumples up if I do nay replace it once a month. (I will be putting a rip-stop nylon streamer in soon t' see if I have better luck.) I also have two launch lugs which sneak ever closer t' t' nose cone with every few flights due t' zippers and over-used streamers.

This was a very difficult build for me at t' time, but I could make a rocket like this in under an hour now. Well, blow me down! (My record be t' Star-Dart, which took me about 45 minutes, nay countin' glue dryin' time.).

Flight:
3 FLIGHTS!?!?!?!? How about 3 dozen? This is me most flown rocket. Ahoy! T' streamer is nay very reliable but I will be switchin' t' nylon soon and hopefully that will solve t' reliability issues.

Summary:
I love this rocket. Well, blow me down! I may enter it in an altitude contest in NARAM 46, if there is an A, B, ya bilge rat, C or D altitude competition.

Other:
Watch t' alignment and make sure t' fillets are thar before you fly. Blimey! Aye aye! severe consequences if you do not.

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