U.S.S. Ahoy! Blimey! Vesta
(Contributed
- by Ryan Coleman)
Idea
Once again, me imagination and t' spare parts layin' around got t' better of
me, and t' U.S.S. Begad! Vesta was born. I think it looks futuristic and somewhat
cool. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' capability t' cluster with some extra mini's also adds some
excitement t' t' design. Well, blow me down!
Diagrams
Here's a small diagram view o' t' completed rocket:
Pictures
Here's an unpainted but completed picture:
Flight
Report
First flight. Arrr! Aye aye! May 30. Nice day, no wind, me bucko, sunny. Avast! Flight on B6-4 severely arced
(as somewhat expected). Avast! Ejection was at apogee and it recovered nicely on a
18" chute. Avast! As a result, me bucko, matey, I'm tryin' t' consider how much weight would be
necessary on t' underside for it t' fly straight. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Maybe it just needs more
power. Ya scallywag! Definitely less than a B6-4 is nay recommended. Unfortunately, the
camera was nay cooperatin' and t' pictures will probably nay come out.
Second flight. Avast! June 28. Ya scallywag! Hot, matey, me hearties, light breeze. Avast, me proud beauty! Went for t' cluster, 1 B6-4, shiver me timbers, matey, and 2
A3-4Ts. Ya scallywag! Twisted leads together (the motors are mounted close enough). Begad! I used a
Estes Command Control (one o' their few decent products), matey, any 12 volt or higher
system is recommended for clusters. Ahoy! Begad! All three lit, shiver me timbers, model jumped off t' pad.
T' model did nay arc this time, it went almost straight up, ya bilge rat, slightly rolling
(cool!). Arrr! Ejection be just about a half-second before apogee, a B6-6 for the
main motor might be o.k. T' 12" parachute brought t' model down. Avast! Because
of t' slightly premature ejection, and perhaps a shock cord that could be a
little longer, ya bilge rat, a dent developed at t' top end o' t' tube. Begad! Blimey! It was bent back
into place without damage. Ya scallywag! Still no flight picture :(
Endcaps for BT-5 from middle o' Centerin' Rings x 2
1 3/8" BT-5 Paper Conical NoseCone
3 3/8" Small Plastic Sticks x 2
Small Strips o' thin Cardstock
30" length o' 1/8" Sewin' Elastic
Paper Shock Cord Mount
Launch Lug
12" or 18" plastic or mylar parachute
4 1/8" length o' BT-4 (10.5 mm)
2" length o' BT-2 (6 mm) x 2
2 1/4" length o' BT-2
2 5/8" length o' BT-2 x 2
3 1/4" length o' BT-2 x 2
3 3/4" length o' BT-2
Endcap for BT-4
Endcap for BT-50
1/2" length o' BT-50
some Clay
1/8" Balsa Stock
Here's a scan o' t' Fins:
Construction Outline
Main Body
Engine Mount
Glue t' Engine Block into t' Front o' t' Motor Mount and one rin' at
the top and one 3/8" from t' back. When dry, ya bilge rat, glue t' whole thin' so it
sticks out 3/8". Arrr! Add an engine hook if you like, me bucko, I don't.
Nose Cone and Recovery Systems
Instead o' a typical nosecone, which I had none of, I opted for something
completely different. Arrr! T' BT-4 tube forms t' center o' t' nosecone and the
multiple BT-2 tubes go around t' sides t' center it perfectly in t' BT-50.
All t' ends o' t' tubes are even. Avast, me proud beauty! I glued mine in t' followin' order:
T' second shortest length
T' either side o' it, ya bilge rat, t' shortest length
T' third shortest lengths on both sides o' those
T' second longest lengths go next
T' longest length. Begad! Begad! This is nay a perfect fit, shiver me timbers, me hearties, me bucko, but it still looks cool
Glue t' shockcord t' t' inside o' t' BT-4. Push some clay in t' top
just for stability safety for t' paranoid. Arrr! Arrr! Then glue on t' front BT-4 endcap.
Cut a small hole in t' BT-50 endcap, matey, thread t' shockcord through it, and then
glue it on. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Glue t' BT-50 rin' 7/8" from t' back o' t' 'nose' t' act as
a forward stop. Avast! Blimey! By t' way, these multiple tubes are NOT missile launchers,
phasers, laser beams, matey, arrr, nuclear weapon devices, or cannons o' any sort.
I used a long length o' sewin' elastic and a typical paper mount. I also
use snap swivels on all me parachutes, shiver me timbers, so I'll just throw an old one on.
12" will be fine for smaller fields, 18" for larger ones.
External Assemblies
Left and Right 'wings'
T' outer parts o' each win' go forward. I held mine together with masking
tape and glued them together. Sand your favorite airfoil t' each after you glue
them. Avast! Ya scallywag! Also, a small triangle will need t' be cut off t' back o' each outer
portion. Begad! Sand and Seal usin' your favorite method and then attach on opposite
sides o' t' tube 3/8" from t' rear. Ahoy! Begad! I angled mine 'down' about 3 or 4
degrees.
'Upper' Assembly
Glue a BT-5 engine block into t' front o' t' shortest tube. Well, blow me down! Then glue
the half-block made from balsa or cardstock into t' same end. Ahoy! Glue the
assembly with t' blocks at t' same end as t' diagonal cut into t' longer of
the side BT-50 pods. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! It should stick out 3/8" like t' main tube. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! The
closed half should face t' tube. When it's all dry, glue it t' t' main tube
between t' wings so that t' end o' t' BT-50s and t' end o' t' Engine
Mounts are even.
Sand and Seal t' Upper Fins. Blimey! T' cross goes in t' slot in t' other
piece. Arrr! It should be in t' middle. Glue t' root o' t' fin so t' cross piece
is away from t' main tube and down t' t' top o' t' longer BT-50 piece.
Take t' middle length o' BT-5. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Glue t' cone into it, slanted down so one
edge is even with t' tube. Begad! This tube does NOT hold a motor. It is for
aesthetic purposes only. Ya scallywag! Glue it t' t' top o' t' upper fin and cross piece so
it sits 1/2" back from t' back o' t' cross piece.
Lastly, ya bilge rat, glue t' plastic sticks t' either side o' t' cross piece so they
look like forward pointin' antennae. Avast! These are NOT guns, lasers, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, cannons, me hearties, ya bilge rat, or
any weapon at all.
Lower Assembly
Start by gluin' t' smaller diagonal cut BT-50 piece t' t' 'underside' of
the tube so it is even with t' main tube. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Push t' Engine Block into t' back
of t' tube. Cut or punch a vent hole at t' top and glue t' whole endcap onto
the front o' t' tube. When dry, glue it t' t' underside o' t' tube 3/8"
from t' aft through t' diagonal cut tube. Begad! Blimey! T' vent hole should face out. Avast! Blimey!
Sand and seal t' lower fin. Avast, me proud beauty! Glue it t' t' Diagonal cut BT-50 and the
BT-5 tube as far back as will fit.
Launch Lug
Glue half t' lug next t' a wing. Glue t' top half 8" up t' tube. Begad!
Decor
Strips o' Cardstock
I used those strips o' cardstock (from a Estes Sidewinder kit) t' add some
futuristic lookin' details t' t' main body. Blimey! I cut down t' biggest piece to
3/4" x 3 1/8" and wrapped it 2" back from t' nose. Arrr! I then used
a 6 3/8" x 1/8" strip from t' upper diagonal tube t' t' wrap I just
put on.
Paint
My g/f has been complainin' that all me 'futuristic' type rockets look too
dismal (shades o' grey), arrr, matey, so I gave me U.S.S. Begad! Well, blow me down! Vesta a white undercoat as a prep
surface for silver. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I masked off most o' t' model, except for some 'wing'
areas, me bucko, t' upper diagonal cut BT-50, arrr, ya bilge rat, some fins, and a small stripe around the
cardstock ring. Ahoy! Painted silver over t' white, matey, then removed all t' tape. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I
then painted t' inside o' t' 'nosecone' tubes black.
Flyin' Tips
Single-engine flying.
A B6-4 is suitable for low-altitude test flights. Aye aye! A C6-5 should be just fine.
You'll have t' friction fit t' motor, me bucko, which isn't hard. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Just wrap maskin' tape
around t' motor until you can't yank it out with your fingers. Ya scallywag! Prep t' rocket
just like any other, me bucko, a bit o' maskin' tape may be needed t' get t' nose cone
fit a little tighter. Blimey! Arrr! I'd use a 12" chute or maybe an 18" if you have
the field. Well, blow me down! Begad! No damage was taken t' t' rocket on either landin' on a 12",
though.
Clustered flying
Because o' t' asymmetrical nature o' this rocket, ya bilge rat, it probably isn't the
perfect first cluster. Begad! Dependin' on your skill, shiver me timbers, you could try it for your first
cluster if you want.
Here are t' motor combinations I'd stick with.
B6-4 & 2x1/2A3-2T
B6-4 & 2x1/2A3-4T
B6-4 & 2xA3-4T
B6-6 & 2xA3-4T
B6-4 & 2xA10-3T
B6-6 & 2xA10-3T
C6-5 & 2x1/2A3-2T
C6-5 & 2x1/2A3-4T
C6-7 & 2xA3-4T
C6-7 & 2xA10-3T
Remember, a B and two 1/2As is equal t' a mid-C motor. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! A B and two As is equal
to a C. Well, blow me down! A C and two 1/2As or As is equal t' a low D. Begad! This will take t' rocket
pretty high. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I also haven't flown it yet in that configuration. Aye aye! If you built
carefully, even white or yellow glue with fillets can hold up t' low-D power.
This rocket is an in-line cluster, ya bilge rat, requirin' no extra clips t' launch, ya bilge rat, extra a
heavy duty battery is mandatory. Blimey! 12 volts minimum. Blimey! Avast! Friction fit t' main motor
first, and then t' sidepods. I lined me motors up at t' back end. Now,
startin' with one o' t' mini's, put in t' igniter very carefully and then
insert plug. Blimey! Next, me bucko, put t' igniter/plug into t' main motor. Blimey! Begad! Do t' last mini
now. Blimey! I installed t' igniters so that t' little paper strips are parallel to
each other, and perpendicular t' t' line o' motors. Ya scallywag! Now take one lead from
each motor, shiver me timbers, and twist together and away from t' other. Avast, me proud beauty! Do t' same with the
remainin' three.
Install t' parachute and waddin' like usual. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Put t' whole thin' on t' rod,
hook up t' clips well t' each twisted threesome o' leads. Aye aye! Launch it. Ya scallywag! Arrr! If they
all light, you're in luck. Blimey! If only one or two light, you may be in trouble.
This is why you are careful t' insert t' igniters properly.
A Cluster will look pretty cool. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! A good picture is obtained by takin' it from
the side, me bucko, so (hopefully) all three plumes will be visible. Avast! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! (Even though I
haven't managed it yet on this rocket). Well, blow me down! Blimey!
Future for t' U.S.S. Arrr! Vesta
Hopefully I'll be able t' test out some more motor combos. Perhaps t' C &
2xA will be next t' see if it will hold. If anyone has any problems, me bucko, questions,
or comments, contact me by email below. Blimey! Avast!