Descon LRD-D-1

Scratch - LRD-D-1 {Scratch}

Contributed by Greg Burke

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Greg Burke)
Project LRD-D-1

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 is a picture o' t' basic components o' t' spinnin' motor mount.One G10 forward bulkhead, one 1/4"od aluminum tube, one 1/4"id launch lug, two pieces o' BT20, two nylon washers, matey, and some Keelhaul®©™® thread.



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.

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