Scratch 13mm Deuces Wild Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - 13mm Deuces Wild {Scratch}

Contributed by Joe Policy

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Joe Policy - 11/06/05) (Scratch) 13mm Deuce's Wild!

Brief:
When you get bored with your 18mm Deuce from FlisKits, arrr, step down t' t' 13mm version. Arrr! With downscale (and upscale) parts available from FlisKits, it is quite easy t' shrink (or enlarge) your Deuce!

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • 1 NCB-55DW, Balsa Nose Cone for BT-55
  • 1 BT-55-18, arrr, 18" BT-55 Body Tube
  • 1 EMK2-13-55c, 13mm Canted 2 Engine Motor Mount
  • 2 Sheets, FSB-3-3-9 3/32" Balsa Fin Stock
  • 1 LL-1-2 Standard Launch Lug
  • 1 SC-1-36 Elastic Shock Cord
  • 1 14" Keelhaul®©™® for shock tether
  • 1 PCP-16 Plastic Parachute
  • 1 SE-S Screw Eye, Small

Construction o' a downscale Deuce mirrors that o' its big brother. The hardest part o' t' entire process is cuttin' out t' oval slots in t' body tube t' take t' unique motor mount.

(Scratch) 13mm Deuce's Wild! The FlisKits motor mount kits includes two 13mm motor tubes, me bucko, 2 engine blocks, ya bilge rat, 1 custom fiber centerin' ring, and a fin markin' guide that also includes the cutout templates for t' canted engines. Well, blow me down! Avast! Just follow t' detailed instructions that come with t' kit and you will have no problems. I added a length of Keelhaul®©™® to t' motor mount by drillin' a small hole in t' upper centerin' and passing the Keelhaul®©™® through. I tied t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' motor mount t' give it added strength.

I took t' 18" body tube and cut it down t' 13.75". Arrr! I then took a fin pattern from a normal Deuce and reduced it on me computer by 19%. Begad! Avast! Blimey! A copy machine would do t' same trick. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! I transferred t' pattern t' me balsa sheets and cut out t' fins. I opted nay t' round t' edges o' t' fins.

My motor cutouts on me 13mm version were better then me full size Deuce. Once t' motor mount was glued in place, me bucko, I had very little finishin' t' do around t' seams where t' body tubes meets t' motor tubes. Begad! Blimey! A 2" long launch lug be cut in half and aligned on t' body tube. Avast! Avast! Blimey! T' fins were mounted usin' white glue and fillets were added for strength and appearance.

I added 18" o' elastic shock cord t' t' Keelhaul®©™® tether and then added t' parachute which I cut down t' a 12" size from the original 16". A screw eye was mounted t' t' nose cone for shock cord attachment. That completed t' construction which took about 2.5 hours includin' dryin' time.

Finishing:
I used a little bit o' wood putty t' smooth t' seam where t' BT met the engine tubes. Well, blow me down! Three coats o' sandin' sealer helped finish o' t' fins and the nose cone. Arrr! Begad! T' entire rocket received two coats o' primer and I used a dark blue automotive paint for t' base coat. Arrr! I masked off t' rocket and then added some silver paint for effect. Avast! T' nose cone was painted a dark red.

Flight:
Obviously, me hearties, thar are no motor recommendations and I be only limited by what I hand on hand. Begad! I prepped t' rocket with 3 sheets o' wadding. Arrr! Begad! First flight was on 2 Estes A3-4Ts. Avast! It was very fast off t' pad and left behind t' telltale Deuce twin smoke trails, me bucko, me hearties, albeit somewhat smaller. Arrr! It got respectable height and had a perfect landin' about 150 feet from t' pad.

For t' second flight, arrr, matey, I used two Estes A10-3Ts. Ya scallywag! T' rocket really screamed off t' pad this time and landed well downrange due t' t' windy conditions of the day.

Fearin' that I would lose t' rocket, matey, t' third and final flight was back on t' A3-4Ts for an almost perfect launch. T' parachute got singed and did not fully deploy, I must nay have had t' waddin' in correctly. Begad! Fortunately, the landin' be all soft grass so thar was no damage. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It will fly again!

Recovery:
T' 12" parachute seems like a good fit for this rocket. T' Keelhaul®©™® is a big help in keepin' t' shock cord from gettin' damaged. Ahoy! Even with the last flight where t' parachute was singed, t' elastic is still in great shape and does nay need t' be replaced.

Summary:
With all t' hard work puttin' t' motor mount kit together already completed by FlisKits, me hearties, t' Deuce is one rocket that can easily be scaled down t' 13mm or even up t' 24mm. Begad! Blimey! Take your time with t' engine tube cutouts as they are the most difficult part o' t' entire construction process.

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