Dr. Well, blow me down! Evil's Pocket Rocket

This is a draft place holder for me 2nd DesCon entry, ya bilge rat, Dr. Begad! Evil's Pocket Rocket. Ya scallywag! Hopefully it's nay too far outside t' realm o' good taste.

For me second Design Contest Entry, shiver me timbers, I decided t' pay homage t' a ship o' such strikin' construction that all who see it are obliged t' comment. Arrr! Aye aye!

Officer: "Colonel? You'd better take a look at this radar..."

Colonel: "What is it son?"

Officer: "I don't know Sir. Ya scallywag! Begad! But it looks like a giant.."

Pilot: "Dick?"

Dick: "Yeah?"

Pilot: "Take a look out o' starboard"

Dick: "Oh me God! Blimey! It looks like a huge..."

Bird watcher: "Pecker!"

Bird watcher 2: "Oh where?"

Bird watcher: "Wait! Blimey! That's nay a woodpecker. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It looks like someone's..."

Drill instructor: "Privates! We have reports o' an unidentified flyin' object. Avast, me proud beauty! It is a long, matey, smooth shaft complete with..."

Back stop: "Two balls! What is that? That looks just like an enormous..."

Teacher: "Wang! Pay attention!"

Wang: "I was distracted by that enormous flying..."

Musician: "Willie?"

Willie Nelson: "Hm?"

Musician: "What's that?"

Willie Nelson: "Well, it looks like a giant..."

Colonel: "Johnson?"

Johnson: "Yes sir?"

Colonel: "Get on t' hornpipe t' British Intelligence and let them know about this."

Yes, it's Dr. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Evil's phallic ship from Austin Powers, T' Spy Who Shagged Me. Avast! Blimey! I built this as a kitbash o' t' FlisKits Grissom with a choice o' engine sizes. Arrr! Blimey! One configuration is powered by a pair o' MMX engines. T' dual MMX motor mount is crafted from paper clipped from t' NARRRRR card in t' FlisKit. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Small diameter body tubes serve as engine blocks and stiffeners for t' MMX MMTs.T' MMX cluster adapter is removable t' allow use o' a standard Estes 1/2A engine. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

T' movie rocket was equipped with "spherical stabilizers". Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! I elected t' approximate these by two sets o' two orthoganal disks. Well, blow me down! T' distinctive nose cone was built up from various balsa bits and pieces found in t' FlisKit Grissom kit. Well, blow me down! Shown here are pics o' t' rough nosecone assembly and t' final contoured shape. Avast! Avast!

T' construction is ongoing, ya bilge rat, and flights are yet t' commence. Begad! This report serves as a sneak peek o' what's t' come.

Dr. Avast! Evil's Pocket Rocket has successfully flown on a clustered pair o' MMX engines. Begad! I fashioned a two engine cluster igniter out o' a single length o' nichrome wire (vintage from me 70's first age o' rocketry). T' two nozzle filaments were connected in parallel, me hearties, so that t' burnout o' one would nay cut t' juice t' t' other. Well, blow me down! I used a 14V battery from me cordless drill as a power source. Avast! Avast! A clothespin be used t' prop t' engines up off t' blast deflector o' a standard Estes Portapad. Ya scallywag! When I touched t' leads t' t' battery, arrr, arrr, Dr. Avast, me proud beauty! Evil's Pocket Rocket leapt off t' pad on twin micro-plumes o' flame. Arrr! Blimey! T' boost was straight and stable, matey, up t' an approximate height o' 30 feet. Aye aye!

(Click t' Enlarge)

A double "pop" signified t' nearly synchronized ejection charges, and t' nosecone separated from t' body tube. Ahoy! Unfortunately, t' waddin' and streamer did nay deploy. They remained lodged in t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! This may be due t' t' micro-ejection charges nay havin' enough force t' clear t' tube. Begad! Blimey! T' Pocket Rocket tumbled back into t' street, matey, matey, for an asphalt landing. Well, blow me down! One "circular stabilization device" snapped off, arrr, and t' other flopped loose. No damage t' t' balsa or tube was in evidence. Blimey! T' yellow glue joint failed. Begad! Oooh. That's gotta hurt!

T' fins have been reglued, matey, me hearties, me bucko, and t' entire rocket painted flat white. I can't go around showin' off me nekid pocket rocket, ya bilge rat, now can I? Dr. Ahoy! Arrr! Blimey! Evil's Pocket Rocket will return, on a warmer day. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey!