Aerotech MOOSEtang

Modification - MOOSEtang {Modification}

Contributed by Dennis McClain-Furmanski

Manufacturer: Modification
(Contributed - by Dennis McClain-Furmanski - 12/21/04) (MODS) AT Mustang - Moosetang

Brief:
This is an AeroTech Mustang made longer with an additional body and payload section. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Also installed PVC motor retainer.

Modifications:
Not bein' content t' leave well enough alone, I took one o' me favorite flyers and stretched it out t' double its original size. Begad! I got t' parts listed above directly from AT since I couldn't find one dealer that had all o' them. Blimey! It's not t' cheapest way t' go, me hearties, matey, but I wanted all real AT parts. Ahoy! After tyin' on 8' more shock cord, matey, I glued t' coupler t' t' existin' Mustang body and t' new body tube t' that. Avast! I built t' 9" payload section (I'd wanted 12" but AT be out o' t' 12" tube) and hung t' shock cord t' it. Well, blow me down! I also broke off t' AT motor hook (rather than havin' it break on me by accident) and installed a PVC motor retainer as described elsewhere.

Construction:
Additional parts include:

  • 1 full length AT 1.88" body tube
  • 1 1.88" coupler
  • 1 9" length AT 1.88" payload section kit (tube, me bucko, coupler, bulkhead, screw eye)
  • 1 8 foot extension t' AT shock cord

As a simple extension, shiver me timbers, thar were no plans t' work from but none were needed either. Avast, me proud beauty! Havin' built an AT payload section before, me bucko, ya bilge rat, that was even done from memory.

Finishing:
It all got a new paint job: a double coat o' black appliance enamel for everythin' except t' nose and a spin stripe on t' payload section. Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight:
First flight after t' mod be an F20. Ahoy! Blimey! Flight was flawless but too much chute carried it a quarter mile. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Second flight on an F25, matey, arrr, also flawless and impressive. Begad! Blimey! Third flight, ya bilge rat, F50. BOOM. Blimey! Blimey! Massive CATO o' t' motor blew t' nozzle off and blew t' flange off t' PVC bushin' cap. Aye aye! Blimey! T' motor casin' was removed with t' fuel grain intact, t' delay end had broken off, arrr, and was still in the tube. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Except for t' bushin' cap, thar was absolutely no damage t' t' rocket. I consider this a successful if unplanned test o' t' retainer, provin' it to "fail safe" by blowin' out rather than havin' t' motor rupture the rocket. T' E clip portion o' t' retainer was retrieved and was unbent, provin' it is plenty strong enough t' stand a normal ejection charge.

Summary:
On its first flight I found out I wasn't t' only one t' have this idea. Arrr! While searchin' t' field next t' t' flyin' field for me drifted away rocket, I was met by someone else doin' t' same, ya bilge rat, also with a stretched Mustang.

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