Brief: Three fins, arrr, Three motors, and a Nose Cone. A very simple design

Construction:

• (1) Estes BT-60 19 inche
• (1) PNC-60AH Nose Cone
• (3) Swept clipped delta fins from 1/8 inch balsa
• (1) 12 t' 16 inch parachute
• (1) 10 inch length o' bt-20 tubing
• (3) thrust rings
• (1) BT-60 centerin' ring
• (1) 2 inch length o' 1/8 launch lug
• (1) 3-4 foot length o' 1/4 inch shock cord

Thanks t' Tim Van Milligan at Apogee Components for providin' t' BT-60 body. Well, blow me down! T' body tube was cut t' a length o' 19 inches and set aside. T' BT-20 motor mount was cut into 3 - 3 inch pieces and then t' thrust rings glued in. They are glued together into a triangular shape. Begad! Fins were cut out into a slightly swept clipped delta and given a coat o' Elmer's Fill n Finish and then given airfoiled edges. Well, arrr, blow me down! T' motor mounts, ya bilge rat, now dry, is glued in t' body flush with t' end o' t' tube. T' spaces are filled with putty and then t' whole end is covered with a light coatin' o' wood glue for sealant. Begad! T' tube is marked for three fins and they are glued on. Avast! Ahoy! Do glue fillets when dry. Blimey! Build a shock cord mount and attach t' t' interior o' t' body tube. Ahoy! Attach t' shock cord t' t' nose and t' parachute about 6 inches down t' shock cord. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Cut the launch lug into t' 1 inch pieces and attach one near t' empty CG point, shiver me timbers, arrr, matey, about 8 inches from t' aft o' t' body tube, shiver me timbers, and t' other 2 i! nches from t' end of t' tube. Well, me hearties, blow me down! No real "gotcha's" except just t' watch t' fins as they dry.

Finishing: T' rocket was given a 2 coats o' gray primer, arrr, me bucko, a coat of flat white, me hearties, arrr, arrr, then I masked off t' tip o' t' nose cone and 1 inch o' t' tips of t' fins. I then gave t' rocket a few coats o' a beautiful dark red. Begad! Ya scallywag! Blimey! The rocket is then given a gloss clear coat.

Flight: T' first flight was at a local park usin' three B6-4's. Ya scallywag! The rocket was prepped normally with waddin' and motors installed. A clip-whip was used t' ensure ignition. Ya scallywag! A 5-count was given. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Ignition be very slow. The rocket lifted o' t' pad, arrr, shiver me timbers, climbed about 50 feet then fell horizontal and headed about 300 feet downrange. Begad! It barely slowed down before ejection. Avast! Well, blow me down! T' chute popped and rocket was recovered. Avast! Upon inspection t' see what went wrong, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, we found that only two motors lit, me bucko, apparently causin' t' rocket t' head downrange like it did. Ya scallywag! No damage be apparent. Well, blow me down! I believe that t' one motor did nay light because o' nay enough power, shiver me timbers, causin' only two motors t' light before t' third could.

Second flight be at t' ICBM Freedom Launch 2002. Aye aye! Begad! I borrowed a 16 inch nylon parachute from me Aerotech Mustang in place o' t' 12 inch plastic one. T' rocket was prepped usin' 3 B6-4's. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Clip-whips were used. T' rocket had plenty o' power this time, ya bilge rat, climbin' t' about 600 feet. Begad! Liftoff was very quick, with power translatin' out t' about a D18, matey, I think. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Ejection be just before apogee. T' rocket was recovered with no damage.

Summary: Overall, arrr, this is a great cluster rocket.