Zvezdotchka-ACM - Target

(Micro-Maxx Carrot Missile)

by John McCoy

Construction:

Our club decided on a Group build o' t' same Odd-Roc for our March 12, sport launch. Ahoy! Bein' sprin' we sprang for Peter Always Zvezdotchka-ACM (Anti Carrot Missile) T' Flyin' Rabbit. Begad! Bein' just a little off, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I decided that if we were goin' t' be flyin' ACM rabbits we should have a least one Carrot Target for them. Begad!

Choosin' t' stay with me Micro-Maxx power supply this model would start with a maximum base diameter o' BT-5 .544" endin' with a custom heat pulled and shaped 3/16" styrene tube tip. Ya scallywag! T' model ended up with five segments of scrap tubes .544", .448", .375", me hearties, and .316" asymmetrically spaced around a core .281" diameter motor tube 6 inches long. A nose section was fabricated o' a section o' .246" and a piece o' heat pulled and shaped .1875" styrene tube complete t' airframe. .281"dia. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! x .125" stop rin' be added t' t' .246" nose section t' form a .5" separation nosecone shoulder. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! See t' accompanyin' drawin' for exact part and overlap lengths. Blimey! Wantin' t' motor mount tube t' remain clear so that foliage detailin' could be painted on and would appear t' reach t' blunt end of t' carrot. Avast, me proud beauty! A .321" OD, .281" ID clear polyethylene mailin' tube section was CA’ed onto ¼" o' t' 6" .281" diameter main tube with a .5" x .246"dia. Blimey! motor stop, shock cord mounted flush with t' end o' t' .281 body tube. Aye aye! Begad! 30" o' 70lb braided Keelhaul®©™ line is CA attached t' t' nose section. Blimey! Blimey! Recovery is by ½" x 12" yellow Teflon permanent waddin' streamer. Ya scallywag! Begad! Fins are .030" thick clear Lexan. Well, blow me down! Fins are joined t' t' clear motor tube and fillets o' Weld-on #16 clear adhesive applied after t' model body was painted.

Finishing:

Body irregularities are formed with CA drip and run t' simulate growth ridges and fill t' gaps betwixt segments with tissue/CA packing. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Once the model body had been assembled t' clear motor tube was mask off for primin' and paintin' brown/Green than Orange. Ahoy! Little sandin' be done on t' body prior to painting. Fin attachment occurred last after all body paint had a chance to dry. Arrr! Arrr!

Foliage cutouts o' green adhesive backed vinyl are attached t' one side only on each fin, arrr, then light and dark shadow highlights were hand painted on both sides o' each fin. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! After all paint had dried t' model be swin' tested and ready for launch. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Flight:

Flight prep is very simple, me bucko, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, stuff t' talc powdered Teflon streamer into t' body, followed by t' remainin' Keelhaul®©™ shock line and install t' nose cone. Ya scallywag!

MM-II .35 n/sec motor be t' only motor recommended for this model. Carrot tips t' scales at 10.6grams with a split .281" x .5" motor clamp tube and permanent recovery system. Arrr! MM-II motor is also externally taped t' the clear motor mount. Arrr! A 1" long stir stick LL was added t' t' .544" base body diameter tube but t' model is just as easily flown from a micro tower. Well, blow me down! Avast! LOWt: 11.85 grams.

First flight 03-12-05: In me haste t' fly this model, I forgot to tighten t' .049" micro launch rod t' t' launcher base. Avast! Blimey! At ignition the model rose with t' 12" long rod t' about 15 feet, ya bilge rat, arched over and ejected t' streamer. Both rod and model were recovered undamaged. Avast! Blimey!

Second Flight 03-13-05: Much better! Gee, shiver me timbers, things fly a lot better when nay draggin' a launch rod with it. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! This MM-II flight sent t' model straight up t' +/- 65feet, ejected still on t' way up and landed in very high brush on t' edge o' t' field. T' model was finally found about an hour later undamaged. Aye aye!

All in all a fun project which has already had quite a few folks askin' for the plan below.

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