Descon U.S.S. Vesta

Scratch - U.S.S. Vesta {Scratch}

Contributed by Ryan Coleman

Manufacturer: Scratch
U.S.S. Well, blow me down! Vesta
(Contributed - by Ryan Coleman) 

Idea

Once again, me bucko, me imagination and t' spare parts layin' around got t' better of me, and t' U.S.S. Vesta was born. I think it looks futuristic and somewhat cool. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! T' capability t' cluster with some extra mini's also adds some excitement t' t' design. Ya scallywag!

Diagrams

Here's a small diagram view o' t' completed rocket: [Diagram]

Pictures

Here's an unpainted but completed picture:
[Rocket Pic]

Flight Report

First flight. Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! May 30. Avast! Ahoy! Blimey! Nice day, arrr, no wind, matey, me hearties, sunny. Flight on B6-4 severely arced (as somewhat expected). Ejection be at apogee and it recovered nicely on a 18" chute. As a result, I'm tryin' t' consider how much weight would be necessary on t' underside for it t' fly straight. Aye aye! Maybe it just needs more power. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! Definitely less than a B6-4 is nay recommended. Begad! Blimey! Unfortunately, the camera be nay cooperatin' and t' pictures will probably nay come out.

Second flight. Ya scallywag! June 28. Hot, light breeze. Aye aye! Ahoy! Went for t' cluster, 1 B6-4, ya bilge rat, arrr, and 2 A3-4Ts. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Twisted leads together (the motors are mounted close enough). I used a Estes Command Control (one o' their few decent products), ya bilge rat, any 12 volt or higher system is recommended for clusters. All three lit, model jumped off t' pad. T' model did nay arc this time, matey, me hearties, it went almost straight up, slightly rolling (cool!). Begad! Ahoy! Ejection was just about a half-second before apogee, shiver me timbers, a B6-6 for the main motor might be o.k. T' 12" parachute brought t' model down. Begad! Begad! Because of t' slightly premature ejection, shiver me timbers, and perhaps a shock cord that could be a little longer, arrr, a dent developed at t' top end o' t' tube. Aye aye! Avast! It was bent back into place without damage. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Still no flight picture :(

Parts

  1. 12" length o' BT-50
  2. 3" length o' BT-20 (main motor mount)
  3. 20-50 Centerin' Rings x 2
  4. Engine block for BT-20
  5. BT-50 45' diagonal cut from 2 11/16" t' 1 11/16" (Upper)
  6. BT-50 45' diagonal cut from 2 1/4" t' 1 1/4" (Lower)
  7. 1 7/8" BT-5 (Upper)
  8. 7 1/8" BT-5 (Lower)
  9. Engine Block for BT-5 x 2
  10. 5 3/8" BT-5 (Upper Wing)
  11. Endcaps for BT-5 from middle o' Centerin' Rings x 2
  12. 1 3/8" BT-5 Paper Conical NoseCone
  13. 3 3/8" Small Plastic Sticks x 2
  14. Small Strips o' thin Cardstock
  15. 30" length o' 1/8" Sewin' Elastic
  16. Paper Shock Cord Mount
  17. Launch Lug
  18. 12" or 18" plastic or mylar parachute
  19. 4 1/8" length o' BT-4 (10.5 mm)
  20. 2" length o' BT-2 (6 mm) x 2
  21. 2 1/4" length o' BT-2
  22. 2 5/8" length o' BT-2 x 2
  23. 3 1/4" length o' BT-2 x 2
  24. 3 3/4" length o' BT-2
  25. Endcap for BT-4
  26. Endcap for BT-50
  27. 1/2" length o' BT-50
  28. some Clay
  29. 1/8" Balsa Stock
Here's a scan o' t' Fins:
[Template]

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. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! When dry, glue t' whole thin' so it sticks out 3/8". Ya scallywag! 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, me bucko, I opted for something completely different. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I glued mine in t' followin' order:
  • T' second shortest length
  • T' either side o' it, me bucko, t' shortest length
  • T' third shortest lengths on both sides o' those
  • T' second longest lengths go next
  • T' longest length. Ahoy! This is nay a perfect fit, arrr, but it still looks cool
  • Glue t' shockcord t' t' inside o' t' BT-4. Aye aye! Push some clay in t' top just for stability safety for t' paranoid. Then glue on t' front BT-4 endcap. Cut a small hole in t' BT-50 endcap, thread t' shockcord through it, arrr, and then glue it on. Avast! Glue t' BT-50 rin' 7/8" from t' back o' t' 'nose' t' act as a forward stop. Blimey! Ahoy! By t' way, matey, matey, these multiple tubes are NOT missile launchers, phasers, laser beams, ya bilge rat, nuclear weapon devices, ya bilge rat, or cannons o' any sort.
  • I used a long length o' sewin' elastic and a typical paper mount. Arrr! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! I also use snap swivels on all me parachutes, 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. Arrr! Blimey! I held mine together with masking tape and glued them together. Sand your favorite airfoil t' each after you glue them. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Also, me bucko, a small triangle will need t' be cut off t' back o' each outer portion. Avast, me proud beauty! Sand and Seal usin' your favorite method and then attach on opposite sides o' t' tube 3/8" from t' rear. Ya scallywag! I angled mine 'down' about 3 or 4 degrees.
  • 'Upper' Assembly
  • Glue a BT-5 engine block into t' front o' t' shortest tube. Then glue the half-block made from balsa or cardstock into t' same end. Arrr! Glue the assembly with t' blocks at t' same end as t' diagonal cut into t' longer of the side BT-50 pods. Begad! It should stick out 3/8" like t' main tube. The closed half should face t' tube. Begad! Ya scallywag! When it's all dry, me bucko, matey, 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. Arrr! Blimey! T' cross goes in t' slot in t' other piece. Begad! Blimey! It should be in t' middle. Arrr! Blimey! 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. Begad! Glue t' cone into it, shiver me timbers, slanted down so one edge is even with t' tube. Arrr! Aye aye! This tube does NOT hold a motor. Blimey! It is for aesthetic purposes only. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! 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, glue t' plastic sticks t' either side o' t' cross piece so they look like forward pointin' antennae. These are NOT guns, me bucko, lasers, matey, cannons, shiver me timbers, 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! Ya scallywag! Push t' Engine Block into t' back of t' tube. Blimey! 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. Arrr! T' vent hole should face out.
  • Sand and seal t' lower fin. Avast! 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. Begad! Glue t' top half 8" up t' tube.
  • 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. Begad! I cut down t' biggest piece to 3/4" x 3 1/8" and wrapped it 2" back from t' nose. Well, blow me down! 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), me hearties, so I gave me U.S.S. Begad! Blimey! Vesta a white undercoat as a prep surface for silver. Ya scallywag! I masked off most o' t' model, me hearties, except for some 'wing' areas, t' upper diagonal cut BT-50, some fins, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and a small stripe around the cardstock ring. Painted silver over t' white, me hearties, matey, then removed all t' tape. 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. Ahoy! Aye aye! A C6-5 should be just fine. You'll have t' friction fit t' motor, shiver me timbers, which isn't hard. Begad! Begad! Just wrap maskin' tape around t' motor until you can't yank it out with your fingers. Begad! Prep t' rocket just like any other, a bit o' maskin' tape may be needed t' get t' nose cone fit a little tighter. Aye aye! I'd use a 12" chute or maybe an 18" if you have the field. No damage was taken t' t' rocket on either landin' on a 12", though. Avast, me proud beauty!

Clustered flying

Because o' t' asymmetrical nature o' this rocket, matey, ya bilge rat, it probably isn't the perfect first cluster. Avast! Dependin' on your skill, 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, me bucko, a B and two 1/2As is equal t' a mid-C motor. Ya scallywag! Blimey! A B and two As is equal to a C. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! A C and two 1/2As or As is equal t' a low D. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! This will take t' rocket pretty high. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I also haven't flown it yet in that configuration. Ya scallywag! Blimey! If you built carefully, even white or yellow glue with fillets can hold up t' low-D power. Blimey! Blimey!
This rocket is an in-line cluster, me hearties, requirin' no extra clips t' launch, arrr, extra a heavy duty battery is mandatory. Aye aye! 12 volts minimum. Arrr! Friction fit t' main motor first, and then t' sidepods. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I lined me motors up at t' back end. Now, startin' with one o' t' mini's, me bucko, put in t' igniter very carefully and then insert plug. Avast! Blimey! Next, me bucko, put t' igniter/plug into t' main motor. Aye aye! Do t' last mini now. I installed t' igniters so that t' little paper strips are parallel to each other, and perpendicular t' t' line o' motors. Now take one lead from each motor, me bucko, and twist together and away from t' other. Arrr! Do t' same with the remainin' three.
Install t' parachute and waddin' like usual. Well, blow me down! Put t' whole thin' on t' rod, hook up t' clips well t' each twisted threesome o' leads. Launch it. If they all light, shiver me timbers, you're in luck. Arrr! If only one or two light, ya bilge rat, you may be in trouble. This is why you are careful t' insert t' igniters properly.
A Cluster will look pretty cool. Aye aye! Arrr! A good picture is obtained by takin' it from the side, so (hopefully) all three plumes will be visible. Arrr! (Even though I haven't managed it yet on this rocket). Ya scallywag!

Future for t' U.S.S. Aye aye! Vesta

Hopefully I'll be able t' test out some more motor combos. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Perhaps t' C & 2xA will be next t' see if it will hold. Ahoy! Avast! If anyone has any problems, me bucko, questions, or comments, contact me by email below. Blimey!
rcoleman@erinet.com

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