Dr. Zooch Return to Flight Space Shuttle

Dr. Zooch - Return to Flight Space Shuttle {Kit} (Shuttle)

Contributed by Daniel Griswold

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Length: 10.00 inches
Manufacturer: Dr. Zooch
Skill Level: 4
Style: Scale
Dr. Zooch Return to Flight Shuttle

Brief:
This is a single stage "ant scale" version o' t' Space Shuttle.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

  • 2 T-20 SRB Tubes
  • 1 T-5 tube (for fin insert)
  • 1 T-60 External Tank Tube
  • 3 Balsa nose cones (2 SRB, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, 1 external tank)
  • T-20 MMT with black fiber centerin' rings.
  • Mylar strip for texture on external tank
  • Miscellaneous hardware including: snap swivel, shiver me timbers, screw eye, engine clip, launch lug, arrr, dowel stock, shiver me timbers, hinge paper, wrap sheets, balsa stock, plastic trash bag parachute, me bucko, shiver me timbers, shock chord, shiver me timbers, matey, and eye rings.

T' kit includes detailed instructions. Ahoy! Blimey! An attempt at humor is mixed in with the steps. Begad! Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey! T' original wrap sheets came with correct trim brace and trim plate.

Solid rocket booster (SRB) construction is straightforward. T' SRBs needs to be constructed prior t' cuttin' out all t' wrap sheet templates. Ya scallywag! 11" by 3/32" strips are needed.

T' external tank with motor mount is explained well. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' aft orbiter mount should be epoxied for added strength. Begad! I suggest nay paintin' the attachin' dowels t' reduce friction at ejection.

Dr. Zooch Return to Flight Shuttle T' orbiter consists o' a paper and balsa glider. Be certain t' follow directions t' t' letter when constructin' it.

Fin assembly slides into SRB for stability. Simple centerin' rings and fins. Begad! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' orbiter rides higher on t' external tank than t' real shuttle

Finishing:
T' details on t' SRB paper rings, LOX tube, ya bilge rat, and external tank cable tray add a very nice look t' t' rocket. Ya scallywag! T' rust color on t' external tank be a hard color t' match. Blimey! I used Americana Cadmium Orange.

Basic details such as t' payload doors and crew hatch are included in the wrap sheet for t' orbiter glider. Avast, me proud beauty! T' only paintin' needed on t' glider is on the balsa fins.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' manufacturer recommends B6-4, C6-3, C6-5, ya bilge rat, and C6-7 motors.

T' rocket looks great off t' pad and in t' glide.

Orbiter separation is unreliable and unpredictable. Arrr! Long delays magnify the problem (i.e. Avast! C6-7). Avast! T' best motor for this rocket be t' C6-3. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty!

SRB Skirts are charred by exhaust durin' flight.

Recovery:
Simple parachute recovery. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Use lots o' recovery waddin' t' protect t' trash bag parachute. Begad! Begad! T' shock chord is attached t' BT-60 tube with t' tri-fold Estes style mount. T' eyelet is screwed into balsa nose cone and t' snap swivel goes on t' parachute.

T' plastic bag parachute gets melted smartly even with significant recovery wadding. Ya scallywag! T' "expensive" parachutes hold up t' heat much better.

T' glider is attached at t' elevator. Ya scallywag! This stressed t' attachment t' the external tank. Begad! T' elastic cord is used t' pull t' elevator up t' t' trim screw. Begad! This also will cause bindin' at separation if t' attachment dowels are painted.

Dr. Zooch Return to Flight ShuttleDr. Zooch Return to Flight Shuttle

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
No laser or die cut balsa. Begad! Some builders may find t' pitiful attempt at humor in t' directions offensive.

T' kit looks great when it is completed.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Dr. Zooch Return to Flight Space Shuttle By Mark Thompson

    The Dr. Zooch Space Shuttle is a small but realistic model of the present day NASA workhorse. The Shuttle stack is launched and the orbiter separates at ejection to glide back to earth while the external tank (ET) and solid rocket boosters (SRBs) come back via the parachute. The lack of a multi-million flight computer means that augmentation fins must be added before flight for stability. It ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
W.J.E. (August 13, 2005)
I'm more than a little curious as to why the author commented that the shuttle "looks great off the pad and in the glide", yet only gave it 2 of 5 flight points.

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