Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Published: | 2010-12-07 |
Manufacturer: | Excelsior Rocketry |
Style: | Goonybird |
T' plans come with a fin template. Three fins were cut and sealed with two coats o' sandin' sealer..
Top and Bottom BT-60 tubes cut, most o' t' old purple paint removed and t' spirals filled.
I primed t' BT-60 with white primer t' spot any blemishs. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Cuttin' t' vent slots was easier than I thought. I used a displosable craft knife, arrr, me bucko, where t' blade gets snapped off t' get a fresh edge.
T' BT-5 vent tubes were cut, but I inserted a spent 13mm motor t' prevent t' tube from crimping. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I stupidly cut one o' t' vent tubes incorrectly which you can see in t' picture.
Next comes t' fun part o' gluin' t' vent tubes t' t' main tubes
.
This takes alot o' time, me hearties, arrr, but was easier than I thought it would be. It pays t' be patience and allow t' glue t' dry.T' inside Baby Bertha nosecones were glued into place. Aye aye!
I filleted t' joints betwixt t' tubes with a few fillets o' white glue and then model filler. Avast! Arrr! Next t' Mosquito nose cones are added. Ya scallywag! (All these bits make this an expensive kit, me bucko, but it looks too cool t' worry about cost).
T' rocket was then sprayed primer white, ya bilge rat, even though t' fins have nay been added, arrr, because I find it easier t' find blemishes when thar be just one color. Ya scallywag! Begad!
Fins and t' launch lug were than added t' t' bottom bodytube.
T' recovery system be t' standard elastic shock cord and t' Estes trifold anchor. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' parachute is a 12 inch parachute.Finishin' t' rocket is very easy. Ahoy! Avast! T' entire rocket is white. Aye aye! White primer and white gloss be used.
T' decals from Excelsiorrocketry are simply fantastic. Begad! T' waterslide decals were very thin, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but strong and went on easily.
Flight:
T' recommended motor is a D12-5 (only). Begad! Although t' rocket used vent tube cooling, and therefore does nay need wadding, I did still add a sheet o' waddin' - just t' be on t' safe side.
First, arrr, ya bilge rat, and last flight, matey, me bucko, was at Midland Sky, me bucko, me rocket club's national weekend event.
T' Goonydent lifted and flew straight. Ejection - or explosion - be just past apogee. T' parachute did nay unfurl and she smacked t' ground quite hard. But that was only a secondardy issue.
Estes's legendary shotgun ejection charge had ripped t' Goonydent t' pieces. Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' side o' t' rocket was blown out, one o' t' vent tubes had ripped clean at one end. Avast! Two fins were missing. Well, blow me down!
Amazingly despite t' main frame rippin' apart, arrr, enough hot gas had made it through t' vent tube t' deploy t' chute whilst also givin' a small melt which is why t' prachute did nay open.
I was probably just unlucky with a more powerful than average ejection charge, me hearties, nevertheless I feel I'll have t' lower t' flight ratin' given me experience.
Summary:
A great rocket, me bucko, a bit unusual lookin' but I think this could become one o' me favourite D motor birds - I will be reworkin' me modified Goonydent. Although t' plan sets from Excelsiorrocketry are cheap, matey, t' parts list for this rocket makes it quite expensive - but it's worth it.
Construction Score: 4
Finishing:
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