Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
My first paper rocket design--and it actually worked t' first time!
Construction:
All that's needed is one 8 1/2" X 11" Sheet o' 120# cardstock and
white glue.
I started by takin' a CD-ROM and usin' it as a template for t' upper portion o' t' saucer. I traced both t' outside o' t' CD as well as the spindle hole in t' center. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! After cuttin' out t' both circles, I slit the circle from t' edge t' t' center hole. Well, blow me down! I then made a cone by overlappin' the cut edges by 1". Avast! I used a hole punch t' make a small hole for t' launch rod t' pass through. I then cut out another circle that was 3.75" wide with a 14mm hole in t' center. Aye aye! Arrr! This part will attach under t' cone t' give it support. Aye aye! Another small hole was punched for t' launch rod.
Next be t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! I rolled it around a spent 13mm motor and applied glue t' hold it together. Begad! Once dry, matey, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I assembled t' three pieces. Begad! I first glued t' motor mount so that it be centered over t' hole in t' upper cone, bein' careful t' keep it vertical. Well, blow me down! Once this assembly had dried, me bucko, I put glue around t' outer edge of the lower support circle, placed it over t' motor mount, ya bilge rat, matey, and pressed it into the place. Arrr! You must be careful t' line up t' launch lug holes durin' assembly.
While t' main assembly be drying, arrr, I cut out t' fins. Ya scallywag! T' make t' fins easier t' fold in half, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I lightly scored them lengthwise with me hobby knife. Once they were folded, I folded them in half lengthwise, makin' a V shape. Begad! I measured 1/2" from t' crease and cut out notches half way through the fins. Begad! I notched t' fins so that t' crease would be facin' upwards. When you place t' fins on top o' each other, shiver me timbers, they resemble an X. Aye aye! I put glue on the seams where t' notches meet up.
Once t' fin assembly had dried, me bucko, I mounted them t' t' upper assembly. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' square formed in the middle o' t' fin assembly be a perfect fit over t' motor mount. I added more glue in and around t' areas where t' fins touched t' upper assembly.
Finishing:
I used a yellow highlighter for t' cone and a pink one for t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Nay my
favorite color combination, me hearties, but they were t' only colors that I had.
Flight:
Launch day was definitely cold but fortunately, arrr, me bucko, t' winds were fairly light.
There was no preppin' needed for this saucer. My first motor selection be an
A10-PT. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! My little saucer really took off fast, so I never was able t' get a
picture--only smoke. Avast! Flight was a bit wobbly but it really got up there.
I figured that since this rocket be so light, me hearties, I could use a much smaller motor and still get respectable altitude. Ya scallywag! Second flight was on 1/2A3-4T. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Still fast off t' pad, but it barely got any height. Begad! In fact, me bucko, t' rocket landed engine up while t' trackin' smoke be still burning. Ya scallywag! T' pop from t' ejection charge flipped t' saucer back upright. Blimey! Begad! Aside from residue from t' ejection on the cone, me hearties, thar was no damage.
Last flight was back t' t' A10-PT and it was another great one. Blimey! A gust o' wind did take the rocket downrange a bit, arrr, but with tumble recovery, arrr, you never had t' walk far!
Summary:
This is a very simple design that surprised me with its performance. Aye aye! And based
on t' success o' this design, I am now encouraged t' see what else I can come
up with.
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