Scratch Space Ship Tobler-One Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Space Ship Tobler-One {Scratch}

Contributed by Richard Irwin

Manufacturer: Scratch

 

Brief:
A 10-pound Toblerone converted t' a single-staged, me hearties, 29mm mid-power rocket (minus t' chocolate). Avast! Blimey! No, me bucko, it isn't a joke. Begad! Blimey! They actually make 10-pound Toblerones. Where? Who knows. It was a gift. Ya scallywag! Blimey! But I pictured it with fins t' moment I first opened it up!

(Scratch) Space Ship Toblerone One

Construction:
T' pats list:

  • Cardboard packin' box as airframe
  • 29mm motor tube, shiver me timbers, 24" long
  • 3 G10 fins, arrr, very thin
  • 2 triangular 1/8" plywood centerin' "rings"
  • Laminated foam core pyramid nose cone
  • 8ft light nylon shock cord with 1/8" x 24" Keelhaul®©™ anchor
  • 3/16" basswood triangle for nose cone shoulder

Since t' actual Toblerone box was as flimsy as a regular sized Toblerone, shiver me timbers, I decided t' use t' triangular cardboard box that surrounded t' bar for packin' t' use as t' airframe. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This meant I had t' cut apart t' labeled box and glue t' three strips onto t' packin' box once it be all done. Ya scallywag! This be t' only hard part o' t' buildin' process. Things were lookin' good.

With all t' flat edges, arrr, straight lines, and regular chocolate breaks, me hearties, buildin' be a breeze! Triangular centerin' rings are t' way t' go. Well, blow me down! T' fins lined up perfectly, shiver me timbers, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and t' motor mount assembly slid in easily. No guessin' be needed when linin' up fins on each edge o' a triangle.

(Scratch) Space Ship Toblerone One I cut off a 4" piece o' t' airframe t' start off t' nose cone. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Usin' 3/16" fiberglass laminated foam core, arrr, I epoxied three triangular cuts together t' for t' peak then glued it t' t' 4" airframe piece. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Voilá, a pyramid nose cone! I then cut three 6" x 4" rectangles o' foam core and glued them t' t' inside o' t' exposed airframe end as a shoulder. Avast, me proud beauty! T' shock cord be anchored t' t' inside o' t' peak along with about 4oz o' nose weight with epoxy. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Then leavin' some slack inside, shiver me timbers, arrr, I epoxied t' shock cord again t' t' side o' t' foam core shoulder just t' be sure it doesn't pull itself out. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' shoulder end was then sealed off with a 3/16" thick basswood triangle wedged in betwixt t' shoulder strips. Ya scallywag! Begad! Well, me hearties, I guess this was t' hardest part after all.

I wasn't sure o' how airtight t' cardboard airframe would be, so I extended t' motor tube as far up as possible, me hearties, so it was right underneath t' nose cone shoulder. Ahoy! Hopefully this will work! T' fins had long tabs which extended right t' t' motor tube, sandwiched betwixt t' two centerin' rings for solid joints. Well, blow me down! Begad! I then drilled two holes in t' aft rin' for t' motor retainin' blind nuts. T' Keelhaul®©™® anchor be fastened t' t' top rin' through a hole and epoxy. Avast, me proud beauty! I didn't think a screw eye was necessary.

T' inside top o' t' airframe got a layer o' fiberglass t' prevent a zipper. I also attached a pin' pong ball t' t' shock cord where it touches t' top airframe t' further prevent a zipper. Regular cardboard isn't terrifically strong, so hopefully these methods will keep it in one piece.

Finishing:
Once everythin' was put together, shiver me timbers, I needed a beige/yellow paint t' match t' Toblerone labels for t' edges o' t' airframe. Begad! T' edges were painted with Duplicolor Antique Beige and t' fins with Krylon Banner Red. Begad! T' Toblerone label strips were then glued on with good old white glue. Begad! That be it!

(Scratch) Space Ship Toblerone One

Flight and Recovery:
T' first flight took place at t' Tripoli-Québec launch in St. Ya scallywag! Begad! Pie de Guire, me bucko, Québec on June 25th, me bucko, 2006. Begad! It was a beautiful, calm day, so I thought I'd finally let 'er rip! I wanted t' give it a fairly smooth ride, ya bilge rat, so I used a G64-7W for t' maiden voyage. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! (Actually, t' 7 second delay was a bit long, ya bilge rat, so I drilled it down t' 6.) I also added a pinch more black powder, because I wasn't completely confident with t' ejection system. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' RI at an earlier launch was worried that t' nose cone had serious leaks around t' shoulder, so we decided it would be best t' come up with a more airtight system.

Since t' motor tube extended up t' airframe t' about 3" under t' nose cone's shoulder, he thought it would be a good idea t' glue a tube in t' center o' t' shoulder that went inside t' motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty! This would ensure a tight seal. T' changes were made and we were good t' go!

T' flight be perfect! It cocked a bit off t' pad, continued straight up t' about 900', me bucko, me bucko, ejected t' 36" chute at apogee, arrr, ya bilge rat, and landed without any damage. Avast, me proud beauty! I be goin' t' stick an H128 in for another flight but decided against it. Aye aye! Begad! Quittin' while I'm ahead usually works best for me!

Rocket Pic

Summary:
This thin' was fun t' make, fun t' eat, and makes even Level 3 guys take notice!

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