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

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

I be asked t' write a review on me scratch built Circle Jerk. I hadn't documented any o' t' construction, shiver me timbers, so I decided t' build another one, me bucko, but this time I documented t' process. Avast! Begad!

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

I cut all o' me tubin' with a 12" DeWalt compound miter saw. I use a special rippin' blade that has more teeth than most blades. Arrr! This gives a smooth cut that needs very little work. Aye aye! Blimey! 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. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! When t' glue hardens, just sand t' ends t' t' finish you need. For phenolic tubes, matey, it gives a factory like finish.

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

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

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

For flying, I always use dog barf and friction fit motor retention. She flew straight as an arrow on several F and G motors. Fun t' fly.

Summary:
This is a quick and easy rocket t' build. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Its different than most tube fin rockets and draws a little attention. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Nay countin' t' paint, me bucko, it took all o' an hour t' build.