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:
Pictures
Here's an unpainted but completed picture:
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 :(
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. 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!