Alien Ship
(Contributed -
by Bill Adams)
This rocket is designed t' look like t' one appearin' briefly
in t' movie "T' Stupids". Begad! Ya scallywag!
Flight Report
My prototype flew successfully at Battle Park '98 in Culpeper, arrr, VA on an Estes
D12-5. Avast! Avast! It really got up thar (1000'?) on a quick but easily followed boost,
deployed t' parachute near apogee and sailed a good bit, matey, shiver me timbers, landin' in the
adjacent cornfield without damage. Begad!
Engines
D12-5 (tested), C6-3 (should be ok)
![[Template]](/images/archive/images_descon/stupid3.gif)
<Click for Full Picture>
Parts
Application Qty Description
=============================================
body 1 BT60 18"
cabin 1 BT50 12"
body nose 1 PNC60 (Tomcat style,
4+3/4", current parts pack)
cabin nose/tail 1 PNC50KA (2+3/4" long, ya bilge rat, current
parts pack)
faux engines 2 BT50 2+5/8"
fins 1 basswood sheet 4"x3/32"x24"
win' pods 3 BT5 1+1/4"
win' pods 6 PNC5 (Quark style, current
parts pack)
motor tube 1 BT50 3"
shock cord 1 48" long, 1/4" elastic
parachute 1 18" nylon
centerin' rings 2 CR5060
launch lug 1 3/16" diam
Buildin' Instructions
Builder Preferences
For t' prototype, I used plastic glue for t' fin pod cones and cabin cones,
yellow glue for attachin' and filletin' t' cabin tube because it required
hands-on holdin' and a quick set time, me hearties, and epoxy for everythin' else for
maximum strength and smooth joints. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' cabin nose and tail cone sections were
filleted with Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish for a smoother transition. Avast, me proud beauty! I used a BT50
motor tube without retainer and an 18" nylon parachute. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Everythin' worked
great on its first flight, but can o' course be changed accordin' t' the
builder's preferences. Avast!
Engine Mount
Assemble t' engine mount in t' typical fashion (BT50 with CR5060 centering
rings, ya bilge rat, and engine hook if desired), with t' aft centerin' rin' 1/2" from
the end o' t' motor tube. Glue t' motor mount into t' aft o' t' BT60 body
tube so that t' aft centerin' rin' is 1/8" inside t' body tube. Arrr! Ya scallywag! NOTE,
if you want t' install a motor mount anchored shock cord leader, do it now. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty!
Cuttin' Fins
Print out t' fin patterns and scale them t' t' correct size. Blimey! Blimey! Cut out the
patterns, lay them on t' basswood sheet with t' orientation arrows in line
with t' wood grain, arrr, and trace them onto t' wood. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Be sure t' make 1 tail trace
and 2 win' traces. Begad! Cut out t' fins and round t' leadin' and trailin' edges. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy!
Fin Pods
Mark a single line (like a fin centerline) on each o' t' BT5 tubes for their
full length. Well, arrr, blow me down! Trim t' shoulder o' each PNC5 cone t' a length o' 1/4" (do
not attach t' end caps). Glue one PNC5 nose cone into each end o' each o' the
3 BT5 tubes. Arrr! Cut a 3/32" wide by 3/4" long slot centered on t' line,
runnin' betwixt t' nose shoulders.
Test fit t' fins into t' slot in the
pods and trim t' fit. Blimey! T' fin shoulder should touch t' pod, and t' fin tab
should extend through t' BT5 and touch t' opposite side. Arrr!
After trimming, me bucko, glue t' pod t' t' end o' each fin and fillet. Begad! Blimey!
Fin Attachment
Mark t' body tube in t' standard 3-fin pattern. Aye aye! Arrr! Extend t' fin lines from the
rear o' t' tube t' t' middle for t' wings, me bucko, and for t' entire length o' the
tube for t' tail. Aye aye! Begad! Attach t' fins flush with t' aft o' t' body tube one at
a time, matey, allowin' each t' dry before proceedin' with t' next. Begad! Ahoy! Fillet all fins
one at a time. Ahoy!
Cabin
Use a 4-fin alignment guide and make 3 o' t' 4 marks. Extend all three marks
for t' length o' t' tube. T' center mark o' t' three will be cut as a slot
to allow t' tail fin t' protrude through it. Avast! Mark t' slot 3/32" wide,
centered on t' mark and extendin' forward from t' aft o' t' cabin tube for
5+1/4" inches. Cut out t' slot, then cut t' cabin tube in half
LENGTHWISE along t' remainin' two lines (the unslotted half will nay be used).
Test fit t' cabin tube on t' body tube, with t' tail fin goin' through the
slot, and trim as necessary. Ya scallywag! Be aware that t' tube will twist because o' the
heavy cuttin' and appear t' bind just due t' t' twisting, so do nay trim too
much in tryin' t' get it t' fit easily. Blimey! Aye aye!
Holdin' t' cabin tube in place,
mark t' body tube and t' tail fin along t' contact area. Avast! Well, blow me down! Remove t' cabin
tube, arrr, shiver me timbers, apply a thin coat o' yellow glue along t' contact lines just drawn, shiver me timbers, arrr, and
reinstall t' cabin tube and hold until dry t' overcome t' tube's twisting.
Once dry, fillet t' cabin tube joints t' fill any imperfections and t' be sure
it doesn't pop off. Avast!
Cut t' PNC50KA nose cone in half lengthwise (use t' mold seam as a guide).
Cut one o' t' halves lengthwise again (into quarters). Test fit t' half cone
in t' leadin' end o' t' cabin tube and trim t' fit (this will take several
passes). Similarly trim t' quarter cones t' fit into t' aft o' t' cabin
tube, one on either side o' t' tail fin.
Glue t' cone segments t' t' cabin tube and body tube. Well, blow me down! Smooth with
putty/etc. Ahoy! Arrr! as desired. Ahoy!
Faux Engines/Lug
Glue t' faux engine tubes against t' win' fin and body tube, shiver me timbers, 1" from the
rear o' t' body tube. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Glue t' launch lug t' t' INSIDE o' one o' t' faux
engine tubes, me bucko, against t' body tube.
Recovery
Install your favorite shock mount, arrr, cord, shiver me timbers, and recovery system. I used an Estes
style folded paper mount covered with epoxy, a 48" length o' 1/4"
wide elastic, and an 18" nylon parachute. Avast, me proud beauty!
Painting
White: body, arrr, shiver me timbers, cabin, ya bilge rat, win' pods
Light blue: wings, arrr, tail, me hearties, tail pod, me bucko, faux engines
Dark blue: win' leadin' edges (1/4"), tail stripe (3/8"), tail
letterin' (1/4")
Black: motor tube, me hearties, faux engine stripe (5/8"), ya bilge rat, window details
About t' Designer