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, magazines, me hearties, me hearties, and online sources just t' find that perfect prototype for a new project. Begad! I was faced with this same dilemma. Even with t' vast amount o' different prototypes, ya bilge rat, matey, me hearties, most are still just a basic fins, tube and nose cone rockets. Avast! I wanted somethin' that be different and a challenge t' design and build.

Then I saw it... Ahoy! T' LRD-D-1. Ya scallywag! I know what your thinking, "what's so different about t' LRD other than t' fact that it just looks different?" Yes, it is just a basic rocket, matey, but with a new "spin" on propulsion. T' LRD was 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. Arrr! Blimey! Just because t' Russian's couldn't figure it out doesn't mean that I can't, me bucko, right?




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



Here's t' motor mount assembled. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Note t' slight cant o' t' motor tubes...




Here's a view o' t' bulkhead, and t' ejection containment ring. Ya scallywag! Please note the edge o' t' rin' colored black. An eyebolt is epoxied into t' center hole for shock cord attachment. Ya scallywag!





Durin' thrust, shiver me timbers, t' centerin' rin' on t' motor tubes,(white ring), and the ejection containment ring, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, (black ring), do nay touch. T' centerin' ring that's connected t' t' motor tubes spins with t' motors.




At ejection, t' entire motor mount slides backwards. This pushes t' centering rin' and t' ejection containment rin' together. Blimey! Well, blow me down! This action forces the ejection gases t' be pushed forward, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, matey, thereby pushin' off t' nose cone and, hopefully, deployin' t' recovery system.




Here is a shot o' t' motor mount installed in t' model. Blimey! Blimey! It's a bit tricky to get all o' t' parts lined up right. Arrr! Ahoy! T' bulkhead goes in first from t' front of t' model.Then, arrr, after I removed t' motor tubes, ya bilge rat, t' ejection containment rin' was slip fitted into place. Ya scallywag! Then t' bulkhead was removed, t' motor mount re-installed, then t' whole assembly was put back into t' model. 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 hearties, and would seal up t' two rings durin' ejection.
After all o' this be done, matey, epoxy was applied t' t' containment rin' ad forward bulkhead.
On a side note, t' tail cone be 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Two C5-3's were used for t' test flight.



This liftoff photo does nay do justice. Begad! It be very overcast on t' day o' the launch. Begad! T' wind at time o' launch was about 10 - 15 mph. Begad! T' rod be aimed with t' wind. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Check out that straight up flight! You can't really tell from the picture but yes, t' motors are spinning. Ahoy! T' LRD only made it up t' about 500' agl. Aye aye! Begad! T' landin' was 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. Arrr! There was only one mishap, ya bilge rat, probably due t' t' small chute, matey, t' motor mount would not spin after landing. 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. Arrr! Well, blow me down! 8^)I also plan on buildin' a 4" version that will use F-20 Econojets for propulsion, matey, 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. Ahoy! The parameters are - 65.7mm at t' coupler, me bucko, 59mm at t' aft end, and 23mm in length.

Plans and Scale Data, me hearties, (includin' fin template) are in Retro Rockets (Saturn Press). Ahoy! Page 89 for t' plans, matey, 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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