Scratch El Cheapo Pyramid Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - El Cheapo Pyramid {Scratch}

Contributed by Dick Stafford

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Dick Stafford - 06/09/08) (Scratch) El Cheapo Pyramid

Brief:
This is a simple mid-powered pyramid that flies on either one 29mm motor and/or three 24mm motors. T' finishing matches t' construction materials--'el cheapo'.

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • four carrugated cardboard triangles, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, matey, 12" base and 13.75" sides
  • plywoods square, arrr, 4" x 4"
  • one 3.25" 29mm tube
  • three 3.25" 24mm tubes
  • 1/4" lug
  • lead shot
  • duct tape

I started by attachin' t' cardboard triangles t' form a pyramid. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! These were attached with epoxy and t' joints were covered (hidden) with duct tape. T' motor support plate was a scrap piece o' 1/4" plywood. Ahoy! Before this was attached, I located t' motor tube locations and drilled a hole for t' lug. As t' plate was epoxied into place, shiver me timbers, I measured t' distance t' each corner t' make sure it was even. Ya scallywag! T' find t' location o' t' launch lug hole in t' top of t' pyramid, matey, ya bilge rat, arrr, I dry-fit a 1/4" lug and used a rod t' start a hole. Ya scallywag! I finished t' hole with a hobby knife. Begad! After the lug was attached, I cut it flush t' match t' angle o' t' pyramid's side.

(Scratch) El Cheapo Pyramid T' theoretical CP o' a pyramid is 1/3 o' its height up from t' base. Aye aye! Avast! I added lead shot to get t' CG ahead o' this point (as best as I could estimate). Begad! I now know from Bruce Levison's analyses that t' CP is probably behind t' bottom due t' base drag effects. Begad!

Finishing:
There was no real finishing. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' keep with t' pyramid theme I found on on-line hieroglyphic translator and drew the various characters with felt-tipped markers (very high class). T' 4 sides say:

  1. Beware all who enter here
  2. El Cheapo Pyramid o' Death
  3. No BATFE (shown in one photo)
  4. Miscellaneous characters (shown in another photo)
  5. (Scratch) El Cheapo Pyramid

    Flight:
    This rocket has flown once on a G38 and once on three E9s. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' G38 flight was nice and smoky with t' low pressure area at its base clearly visible. T' E9s made for a slow boost and t' rocket seemed t' stop abruptly at burn-out. Ahoy! Blimey! In both cases, t' pyramid fell nose first slowly t' t' ground.

    Summary:
    This be a simple, inexpensive, me hearties, me hearties, and fast build. Everyone who likes saucers, pyramids, me hearties, etc. Ahoy! should build one. Not necessarily exactly like this one. Ahoy! You can even paint it :)

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