Scratch - Alien Ship {Scratch}

Descon Alien Ship

Scratch - Alien Ship {Scratch}

Contributed by Bill Adams

Manufacturer:

Scratch

Alien Ship
(Contributed - by Bill Adams)

[Rocket Pic]

This rocket is designed t' look like t' one appearin' briefly in t' movie "T' Stupids". Blimey!

[Rocket Pic]

Flight Report

My prototype flew successfully at Battle Park '98 in Culpeper, VA on an Estes D12-5. It really got up thar (1000'?) on a quick but easily followed boost, deployed t' parachute near apogee and sailed a good bit, landin' in the adjacent cornfield without damage. Ahoy! Aye aye!

Engines

D12-5 (tested), arrr, C6-3 (should be ok)

[Template]
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Parts

Application     Qty  Description
=============================================
body             1  BT60 18"
cabin            1  BT50 12"
body nose        1  PNC60    (Tomcat style, me hearties, matey, 
                    4+3/4", current parts pack)
cabin nose/tail  1  PNC50KA  (2+3/4" long, 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, arrr, 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, and epoxy for everythin' else for maximum strength and smooth joints. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' cabin nose and tail cone sections were filleted with Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish for a smoother transition. I used a BT50 motor tube without retainer and an 18" nylon parachute. Blimey! Blimey! Everythin' worked great on its first flight, me bucko, but can o' course be changed accordin' t' the builder's preferences. Ahoy! Blimey!

Engine Mount

Assemble t' engine mount in t' typical fashion (BT50 with CR5060 centering rings, ya bilge rat, and engine hook if desired), ya bilge rat, with t' aft centerin' rin' 1/2" from the end o' t' motor tube. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! 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. NOTE, if you want t' install a motor mount anchored shock cord leader, matey, do it now. Blimey! Blimey!

Cuttin' Fins

Print out t' fin patterns and scale them t' t' correct size. Aye aye! Cut out the patterns, shiver me timbers, me hearties, lay them on t' basswood sheet with t' orientation arrows in line with t' wood grain, me hearties, me bucko, and trace them onto t' wood. Ahoy! Be sure t' make 1 tail trace and 2 win' traces. Ahoy! Cut out t' fins and round t' leadin' and trailin' edges. Ahoy! Avast!

Fin Pods

Mark a single line (like a fin centerline) on each o' t' BT5 tubes for their full length. Avast! Trim t' shoulder o' each PNC5 cone t' a length o' 1/4" (do not attach t' end caps). Well, blow me down! Glue one PNC5 nose cone into each end o' each o' the 3 BT5 tubes. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Cut a 3/32" wide by 3/4" long slot centered on t' line, runnin' betwixt t' nose shoulders. Begad!

Test fit t' fins into t' slot in the pods and trim t' fit. Ya scallywag! T' fin shoulder should touch t' pod, and t' fin tab should extend through t' BT5 and touch t' opposite side. Arrr!

After trimming, arrr, glue t' pod t' t' end o' each fin and fillet. Blimey!

Fin Attachment

Mark t' body tube in t' standard 3-fin pattern. 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. Ya scallywag! Attach t' fins flush with t' aft o' t' body tube one at a time, arrr, ya bilge rat, allowin' each t' dry before proceedin' with t' next. Arrr! Fillet all fins one at a time. Ahoy!

Cabin

Use a 4-fin alignment guide and make 3 o' t' 4 marks. Begad! Extend all three marks for t' length o' t' tube. Begad! T' center mark o' t' three will be cut as a slot to allow t' tail fin t' protrude through it. Begad! 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. Arrr! 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, arrr, with t' tail fin goin' through the slot, and trim as necessary. Blimey! 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. Arrr! Begad!

Holdin' t' cabin tube in place, mark t' body tube and t' tail fin along t' contact area. Avast, me proud beauty! Remove t' cabin tube, ya bilge rat, apply a thin coat o' yellow glue along t' contact lines just drawn, and reinstall t' cabin tube and hold until dry t' overcome t' tube's twisting. Once dry, me bucko, ya bilge rat, fillet t' cabin tube joints t' fill any imperfections and t' be sure it doesn't pop off.

Cut t' PNC50KA nose cone in half lengthwise (use t' mold seam as a guide). Cut one o' t' halves lengthwise again (into quarters). Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Test fit t' half cone in t' leadin' end o' t' cabin tube and trim t' fit (this will take several passes). Ahoy! Similarly trim t' quarter cones t' fit into t' aft o' t' cabin tube, shiver me timbers, matey, one on either side o' t' tail fin. Ya scallywag!

Glue t' cone segments t' t' cabin tube and body tube. Aye aye! Smooth with putty/etc. Well, blow me down! Arrr! as desired. Begad! Avast!

Faux Engines/Lug

Glue t' faux engine tubes against t' win' fin and body tube, 1" from the rear o' t' body tube. Begad! Glue t' launch lug t' t' INSIDE o' one o' t' faux engine tubes, matey, against t' body tube. Begad! Ahoy!

Recovery

Install your favorite shock mount, arrr, shiver me timbers, cord, me hearties, me hearties, and recovery system. I used an Estes style folded paper mount covered with epoxy, matey, a 48" length o' 1/4" wide elastic, and an 18" nylon parachute. Ahoy! Blimey!

Painting

White: body, cabin, win' pods
Light blue: wings, ya bilge rat, tail, tail pod, faux engines
Dark blue: win' leadin' edges (1/4"), me bucko, tail stripe (3/8"), shiver me timbers, tail letterin' (1/4")
Black: motor tube, faux engine stripe (5/8"), window details

About t' Designer

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