Scratch Stiletto Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Stiletto {Scratch}

Contributed by Jim Senecal

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Published: 2012-05-22
Manufacturer: Scratch

Brief

This is an upscaled clone o' t' Estes Stiletto. Well, blow me down!  This is one o' me favorite rocket designs, me bucko, it looks fast even standin' still. Arrr!  This version uses BT-55 body tubes rather than t' BT-50 o' t' original and is approximately 29" tall.  

Components

T' parts list for this rocket includes an 18" Estes BT-55 body tube, an additional 6" section o' BT-55, arrr, and a tube coupler. Well, blow me down!  T' nose cone came from t' Estes NC-55 nose cone set, and be t' pointed straight cone. Ya scallywag!  Also used was some 3/32" balsa stock for t' fins, shiver me timbers, a small section o' 1/8" balsa strip used t' make t' raceway and forward thrusters, me hearties, an Estes 18mm engine mount, an Estes 18" parachute, 1/8" launch lug stock, arrr, and some 1/8" elastic fabric cord for t' shock cord. Begad!  Decals came from me stock o' leftovers from other kits.  

Construction

For intructions I downloaded t' original Estes instructions from t' JimZ website. Begad!  I made fin patterns by upscalin' t' JimZ patterns. Ya scallywag!  I then cut out t' fins from t' 3/32" balsa stock. Begad!  I added a section t' t' root edge o' t' main fins as I intended t' make through t' wall fins.  I rounded t' fore and aft ends o' t' main fins as well as t' small secondary fins.  I built t' engine mount in t' standard fashion, and added centerin' rings cut from some cardboard stock. Ya scallywag!  T' two body tubes were glued together with t' coupler. Blimey!  I inserted t' engine mount into t' body tube and allowed t' glue t' dry. Aye aye!  Once t' glue was dry I cut slits into t' aft o' t' tube large enough for t' main fin mounts. Avast! Aye aye!  I glued t' main fins on and allowed them t' dry. Arrr! Arrr!  I then lined up t' seconday fins above t' main fins and glued them on. Blimey! Aye aye!  Glue fillets were applied t' all t' fins. Avast!  I then created t' raceway out o' t' 1/8" balsa strip and glued it on, filletin' it as well. Blimey!  T' forward thrusters were also made from 1/8" stock, and glued on in line with t' fins. Begad! Ya scallywag!  I cut two launch lugs each about 3/4" long, arrr, and mounted them on some thin cardboard.  T' lugs were then glued t' t' side o' t' rocket as well, spaced along a side away from t' raceway. Avast, me proud beauty!  T' final bit o' buildin' on t' body was t' create t' three raised bands around t' body. Aye aye!  One band goes directly t' t' aft o' t' small secondary fins, me hearties, another directly t' t' aft o' t' foward thrusters, matey, and t' last just above t' fore end o' t' raceway. Aye aye!  I made t' bands from t' facecard frome an Estes rocket kit.  T' bands are about 1/4" wide and wrap around t' circumference o' t' body tube. Begad! Arrr!  T' wraps were glued on with white glue. Ya scallywag! Arrr!  Finally I added a shock cord usin' t' standard tri-fold method, shiver me timbers, substitutin' fabric elastic for t' typical rubber cord.  For a rocket this size I have had fair winds with this type o' cord. Ahoy!  Constuction went well, proceedin' without any problems.

Finishing

I sealed all o' t' balsa with thinned Elmer's wood putty, matey, then sanded this smooth.  One thin' I should have done was t' fill and sand t' fins prior t' addin' t' body wraps. Ahoy! Ahoy!  Sandin' t' aft end o' t' secondary fins and thrusters be complicated by t' position o' t' wraps. Aye aye! Blimey!  Several coats o' primer followed, sandin' betwixt coats. Well, blow me down!  T' final color be simple, I used Walmart gloss white on t' entire body. Aye aye!  T' nose cone and t' upper inch o' t' body tube were then sprayed with Walmart gold.  Once all t' paint was dry, I added t' decals.  I searched me stash o' old decals and decal stripe stock t' make t' markings on t' rocket. Arrr!  Luckily t' markings are fairly simple so it was possible t' do this.  If you really want t' go crazy you could buy decals from one o' t' aftermarket companies. Begad!  I really had no issues overall with t' paintin' or decaling.

Construction Score: 4

Flight

This model has been flown twice usin' Estes B6-4 motors. Ahoy!  T' rocket performs very well on this motor, ya bilge rat, and would really go on a C6, shiver me timbers, arrr, but at me flyin' field it would probably be lost. Ya scallywag!  On both flights, me bucko, me hearties, t' rocket flew very straight.

Recovery

T' rocket was equipped with a standard 18" Estes plastic parachute.  On both flights t' parachute ejected normally without issues and t' rocket be recoverd with no damage.

Flight Rating: 5

Summary

Overall this is a great rocket design. Blimey!  It is only slightly more complicated than an ordinary 3FNC design, but really looks sophisticated. Aye aye!  It also has t' look o' a real Air Force missle with t' markings and t' raceway. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty!  It also flies excellent.

Overall Rating: 5

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