Scratch Superscale Sprite Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Superscale Sprite {Scratch}

Contributed by Dave Rose

Manufacturer: Scratch
Superscale Sprite
(Contributed - by Dave Rose - 07/16/99)

Rocket PicBrief:
Upscale version o' t' Estes Astron Sprite. Begad! Arrr! Parachute recovery unlike the original tumble recovery due t' weight. Blimey!

Construction:
Designed usin' RockSim 4.0 except for fin caps. Aye aye! Blimey! T' fin caps were added by hand with t' RockSim plan bein' modified t' account for t' additional weight. Built usin' an 18" length o' slotted 4.0" flexible phenolic tubing and a 4.0" LOC nose cone purchased from Giant Leap Rocketry. Through the wall 3/16" aircraft plywood fins attached directly t' t' 38mm phenolic motor tube and 1/4" plywood centerin' rings. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' fin rin' be made from a 5 1/2" piece o' 12" sono tube (concrete form) that was re-enforced with slow cure epoxy resin for added strength. Well, blow me down! Blimey! In order t' get t' CG in the proper area for stability, me bucko, 24 oz o' weight was added t' t' nose cone. (38" x 4.0" - 74 oz)

FlightFlight:
Recommended motors range from H242 t' I435. My first flight was on t' H242 with a medium delay. Avast! T' launch was straight and true t' approximately 1000 feet and was recovered within 50 feet o' t' launch pad. Avast! Begad! Originally designed to use 44" parachute recovery, ya bilge rat, this was changed t' a 54" chute after the first launch returned rather quickly. Avast, me proud beauty! Minimal damage be sustained due t' a soft landin' area but t' larger chute proved a nice adjustment. Ya scallywag! A 24" length o' 5/8" tubular Keelhaul®©™® is epoxied through t' upper centerin' ring to t' motor mount tube with t' other end bein' attached t' a 6 ft length of 1" PML elastic shock cord. Blimey! Blimey! A Nomex® chute protector is attached t' the tubular Keelhaul®©™® eliminatin' t' need for any type o' wadding. Large T-nuts were fitted into t' lower centerin' rin' and motor retention is done usin' brass "Kaplow Klips" T' second flight be on an I211 with t' same true launch t' about 2100 feet and another successful recovery.

RingsSummary:
Due t' t' extreme weight o' t' 3/16" plywood fins and fin rin' on such a short body tube, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' amount o' weight necessary t' add t' t' nose cone seemed excessive. Arrr! Well, blow me down! I should have used G-10 for t' fins and made t' entire project a significant amount lighter. Avast, me proud beauty! Aside from that, shiver me timbers, it be a great project and always seems t' attract a lot o' attention from me fellow rocketeers.

Other:
I would like take this opportunity t' thank Joe D'Antonio, me hearties, as it was a picture of his Superscale Sprite that inspired me t' build this one. Avast! Aye aye! Unfortunately, matey, Joe lost his in a lake before I had a chance t' see it.

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