Scratch Gooney Sky Devil Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Gooney Sky Devil {Scratch}

Contributed by Brian Ray

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Brian Ray - 11/13/09) Scratch Goony Sky Devil

Brief:
After a disastrous failure destroyed t' business end o' a 4x18mm rocket, I cut away what survived and tucked it away for future use. Begad! I did a build with a Boy Scout troop and ended up with a set o' fins copied from t' Centuri Sky Devil. One thin' led t' another and t' fins were attached t' t' survivin' portion o' t' other rocket.

Construction:
My primary components were:

  • 2” Mailin' tube – 8.25 inches
  • BT-50 – 3” for motor mount
  • Cardstock centerin' rings
  • 4 balsa Centuri Sky Devil fins, drawn and cut by hand. Well, blow me down! Blimey!
  • Easter egg nose cone
  • Elastic shock cord.
  • Hartle Engineerin' parachute

To be honest I didn’t have much hope for this one as I built it. Blimey! However, I put t' same care into it as I typically do. I am a huge fan o' t' Elmer’s wood glue and used it throughout.

Finishing:
T' paintin' process wasn’t overly challenging; it just took several steps o' paintin' and masking. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! All o' the paint be Wal-Mart spray paint.

Flight:
My concerns for this rocket (stability mainly) were absolved on its maiden flight, which was great. It has flown several times, each time on a D12. Well, blow me down! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! It puts on a good show without goin' overly high. Aye aye! It would probably be very entertainin' on somethin' more potent than black powder.

Summary:
As stated, me hopes were pretty low in t' beginning. Aye aye! I be more or less just throwin' together components. However, this is a fun rocket that flies really well. Blimey! And it makes an interestin' companion for me BT-55 upscale o' t' Centuri Sky Devil.

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