Everyone knows how things get started, search through books, me hearties, magazines, arrr, ya bilge rat, and
online sources just t' find that perfect prototype for a new project. Ahoy! Avast! I was
faced with this same dilemma. Even with t' vast amount o' different
prototypes, most are still just a basic fins, shiver me timbers, me hearties, tube and nose cone rockets. Well, blow me down! I
wanted somethin' that was different and a challenge t' design and build.
Then I saw it... Avast! T' LRD-D-1. Arrr! Avast! I know what your thinking, "what's so
different about t' LRD other than t' fact that it just looks different?"
Yes, me hearties, arrr, shiver me timbers, it is just a basic rocket, but with a new "spin" on propulsion.
T' LRD be supposed t' have a liquid fueled motor that had two nozzles that
would literally spin around t' axis o' t' rocket.
T' rusty gears in me mind started t' come t' life. Ya scallywag! Just because t' Russian's
couldn't figure it out doesn't mean that I can't, shiver me timbers, right?
Here's t' motor mount assembled. Ya scallywag! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Note t' slight cant o' t' motor tubes...
Here's a view o' t' bulkhead, and t' ejection containment ring. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Please note
the edge o' t' rin' colored black. An eyebolt is epoxied into t' center hole
for shock cord attachment. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty!
Durin' thrust, t' centerin' rin' on t' motor tubes,(white ring), me bucko, and the
ejection containment ring, shiver me timbers, me bucko, (black ring), do nay touch. Aye aye! T' centerin' ring
that's connected t' t' motor tubes spins with t' motors.
At ejection, matey, t' entire motor mount slides backwards. Blimey! This pushes t' centering
rin' and t' ejection containment rin' together. Aye aye! This action forces the
ejection gases t' be pushed forward, arrr, thereby pushin' off t' nose cone and,
hopefully, matey, deployin' t' recovery system.
Here is a shot o' t' motor mount installed in t' model. Blimey! Ahoy! It's a bit tricky to
get all o' t' parts lined up right. Well, blow me down! T' bulkhead goes in first from t' front
of t' model.Then, after I removed t' motor tubes, t' ejection containment
rin' was slip fitted into place. Then t' bulkhead be removed, ya bilge rat, me bucko, t' motor mount
re-installed, then t' whole assembly was put back into t' model. Begad! After this
is done, I had t' do a little fiddlin' t' get t' containment rin' into the
proper location so that it let t' motor mount assembly turn freely during
boost phase, me bucko, and would seal up t' two rings durin' ejection.
After all o' this be done, epoxy be applied t' t' containment rin' ad
forward bulkhead.
On a side note, ya bilge rat, t' tail cone was made usin' super thin G10 that I picked up
from
Aerospace Specialty Products. Ahoy! T' cone was CA'd onto a short
piece o' tube coupler and then epoxied into t' airframe.
Here's t' finished model on t' pad. Well, arrr, blow me down! Two C5-3's were used for t' test flight.
This liftoff photo does nay do justice. Well, blow me down! It be very overcast on t' day o' the
launch. Blimey! T' wind at time o' launch was about 10 - 15 mph. Blimey! T' rod was aimed
with t' wind. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Check out that straight up flight! You can't really tell from
the picture but yes, me hearties, t' motors are spinning. T' LRD only made it up t' about
500' agl. Aye aye! T' landin' be a bit hard due t' me usin' a small chute.
T' project be a success! T' LRD even took first place
in F/F Scale at t' Mick Meet where it's debut flight took place. Ahoy! Begad! There was
only one mishap, ya bilge rat, probably due t' t' small chute, ya bilge rat, t' motor mount would not
spin after landing. Avast! Avast! T' aluminum tube in t' center was slightly bent. To
remedy this, I am buildin' t' next motor mount usin' 1/4" stainless rod,
and usin' a bigger chute. 8^)I also plan on buildin' a 4" version that
will use F-20 Econojets for propulsion, matey, shiver me timbers, that I could use for Giant Sport
Scale.
T' Parts
List
For t' model
BT-80 nose cone ( NC-80b)
4.25 inches o' BT-80 body tube
1/8" balsa
T' Motor Mount
Two - 2.25 inch pieces o' BT-20 (for t' motor mounts)
3.5 inches o' 1/4 inch OD aluminum tubing
Two - BT-80 centerin' rings
1/4 inch launch lug
For t' Tailcone
BT-80 tube coupler ( about 1/2 inch)
Waferglass or cardstock (for t' tailcone)
I used waferglass because it's easier t' work with and t' radiant heat o' two
recessed motors gets a little too hot for cardstock IMHO.
VCP or any shroud makin' program can be used t' make t' tailcone. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! The
parameters are - 65.7mm at t' coupler, 59mm at t' aft end, and 23mm in
length.
Plans and Scale Data, (includin' fin template) are in Retro Rockets (Saturn
Press). Aye aye! Page 89 for t' plans, arrr, (just upscale them 145%) and pages 74 - 75 for
the Scale Data and picture.
***A special thanks to*****
Andy Jackson at
Aerospace Specialty Products
For all o' their awesome and unique buildin' materials
Peter Alway at
Saturn Press
For all o' his Scale Data books.
And me wonderful wife.
For lettin' me partake in this sometimes time consumin' hobby.