Brief:
A simple LPR single stage, motor deployed chute recovered tube fin rocket.

Construction:
1 - 24" x 3" BT, me hearties, 1 24" x 3" BT for fins, matey, 1 chute, me bucko, 29mm MMT and 2 CR's, matey, a nose cone, shock cord and a launch lug.

I was asked t' write a review on me scratch built Circle Jerk. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I hadn't documented any o' t' construction, so I decided t' build another one, but this time I documented t' process.

For both birds I used 3" USR "whitewall" tubin' because o' its thickness. It's twice as thick as any other tubing. Arrr! Blimey! I felt that it gives a better appearance t' t' tube fins. Blimey! Blimey!

I cut all o' me tubin' with a 12" DeWalt compound miter saw. Ya scallywag! I use a special rippin' blade that has more teeth than most blades. Ahoy! This gives a smooth cut that needs very little work. T' softer paper tubes do fray a little but that is solved by soakin' t' ends o' t' tubes with thin Cyanoacrylate or thinned wood glue. Aye aye! When t' glue hardens, matey, just sand t' ends t' t' finish you need. For phenolic tubes, me bucko, ya bilge rat, it gives a factory like finish.

T' first picture shows t' tube bein' cut and t' jig I used. Well, blow me down! Blimey! For this rocket, I made all cuts at a 45-degree angle. Ahoy! Blimey! T' original had just t' forward cut at a 45 and t' aft cut at a 90. Aye aye! Blimey! I just wanted t' do somethin' different this time. Aye aye! Blimey!

If you use t' same diameter tubin' for t' fins as t' body tube, shiver me timbers, arrr, ya bilge rat, you will need 6 fins. All tube fin rockets work this way. Begad! (Do t' math) Attachin' the fins is elementary. Ahoy! Aye aye! Draw a line around t' tube where you want t' forward tip of t' tube fins t' be. Put a bead o' glue (I used wood glue) on t' first fin and align it on t' BT. Arrr! Arrr! If you lay it on its side on a table they will be parallel t' each other. Begad! No more thinkin' will be necessary because the subsequent fins just lay on t' last fin and t' BT. Aye aye! For t' next fins, just find where t' tubes touch, arrr, matey, draw a line and put t' glue there. Aye aye! T' final fin will snuggle up betwixt t' last fin applied and t' first fin. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Use fillets as you see fit, matey, but they are nay necessary for strength because each fin is glued at 3 points.

It's tough t' find t' CP on tube fin rockets like this but it's safe to say that its somewhere in t' fin section ;-) Just make sure t' CG is forward of t' fin section with a motor installed. Begad! Well, blow me down!

Flight:
For t' original rocket, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I used a standard 29 mm motor mount tubes cut t' 6 inches. Ya scallywag! T' centerin' rings (2 o' them) were just 5 ply rings I had laying around. Ahoy! T' 32" parachute and t' shock cord was from a lawn-darted Aerotech Astrobee D. T' nosecone is a 3" PML. Begad! T' launch lug is just a ¼" Aerotech igniter tube. Blimey! (OK, yeah I'm cheap) T' final weight is about 24oz. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

For flying, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I always use dog barf and friction fit motor retention. She flew straight as an arrow on several F and G motors. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Fun t' fly.

Summary:
This is a quick and easy rocket t' build. Ahoy! Its different than most tube fin rockets and draws a little attention. Ya scallywag! Nay countin' t' paint, it took all o' an hour t' build.