Scratch Tea-Bird Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Tea-Bird {Scratch}

Contributed by Jewel B. Butler Jr.

Manufacturer: Scratch
Style: Ring/Tube/Cone Fin

{short description of image}Brief:
This rocket is a replic o' t' great rocketeer Larry Brand designed called t' Tea Bird. Avast! Got t' idea off t' EMRR web site. Ahoy! T' rocket is a tube-fin stubby that flies really nice and is relatively cheap t' build.

Construction:
I started with three container that me Sugar-Free KoolAid comes in, a Bt-80 nose cone fits perfectly as Mr Brand stated in t' Tea Bird article. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Got t' balsa nose cone from an old rocket, needed some nose weight accordin' t' me rocksim.

Components used t' build t' rocket were:

  • 18 inch chute,
  • 36 inches o' Keelhaul®©™ .060
  • 2ft o' paracord.
  • A LOC 1/4 inch launch lug 4 inches,
  • 2 Bt80-24mm Centerin' rings,
  • 4 inches o' Bt-50 for a motor mount .
  • 4o/z round fishin' weight 1/4inch hole drilled through t' middle

Fisrt wash container throughly. Then cut off t' ends o' t' containers and sand with a medium grit sandpaper, then measure 2 inches then mark, measure 4 inches then mark. Avast! Cut t' tube fins from two o' t' containers. Sandin' is very important because it helps t' epoxy t' adhere t' t' tubes. I glued t' tube fins together two at a time then attached them t' t' body with a lot o' 30-minute epoxy. Aye aye! Begad! Glue t' motor mount together with 5-minute epoxy. Sand t' inside o' t' main tube before installin' motormount. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' launch lug fits snuggly betwixt t' tubefins pick one. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' nose cone was already painted red so I painted t' body black and t' fins blue.

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Flight:
Started with 2 D12-3 then went t' a E9-6, arrr, delay be a little t' long. Begad! Blimey! I used dog barf. Blimey! Blimey! I used tape t' keep t' engines in. T' rocket did a little weathervaining. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Recovery was via a 24inch chute, came down nice and slow.

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Summary:
Great rocket if you got t' spare parts t' build one. Ahoy! Arrr! Cheap if you save t' containers. By t' way, t' KoolAid costs $2.99 t' 3.99. Blimey! It might be cheaper t' just order you a BT-80 from Semroc or BMS for around 7 bucks. Well, blow me down! I had them just layin' around.

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Other Reviews
  • Scratch Tea-Bird By Larry Brand (May 14, 2008)

    An all-plastic tubefin for 29mm motors. This tiny (15" tall) and extreme-stubby tubefin was inspired by a plastic container of Crystal Light instant iced tea packets I was looking at one day. Sitting next to it on the pantry was a 2.6" Estes Executioner my kids gave me for Fathers Day last year. I kept looking back and forth at that 2.6" Estes nose cone and the plastic Crystal Light container. ...

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