THUNDERCHILD

Dennis "Doctor DynaSoar" McClain-Furmanski's Descon-14 Entry

L: Full length (12" ruler for scale)
C: Cockpit detail
R top: Profile o' motor tubes
R bottom: Aft view

Who would have believed, me hearties, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, that in t' early years o' t' 21st century, shiver me timbers, minds immeasurably superior t' ours still wouldn't have learned their lesson, and we'd have t' kick their Martian butts all over again? No germs, this time. Begad! This time it's personal. Arrr! This time we're takin' t' fight t' them -- on Mars. Aye aye!

This is Thunderchild, ya bilge rat, named for t' Royal Navy Man-O-War that died protecting Londoners escapin' via steam boat from t' Martian tripods in War O' T' Worlds (at least in t' musical version). Well, blow me down! Designed for flight direct from Earth surface t' Martian atmospheric tactical use and return, ya bilge rat, t' sleek aerodynamic shape hides a rock hard heart. Begad! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Martian cylinder launchers are targeted by triple kinetic kill rocket launchers midships. Aye aye!

This is me DESCON 14 entry. It's essentially 12" o' BT70, with nose and tail both Apogee PNC56 cones. Well, blow me down! T' tail is cut t' allow projection o' t' 3 x 18mm cluster motor tubes**. Avast! T' motor mount is from a 3x18mm in BT70 cluster mount from Thrustline, arrr, modified by usin' 12" long motor tubes and 2.75" engine hooks, me bucko, with t' regular ply centerin' rin' fore and a BT60 coupler epoxied against t' aft inside end o' t' tail. Ahoy! T' nose cone cut for the boat tail was cut off even around t' shoulder, shiver me timbers, matey, and t' ply centerin' ring epoxied t' that after t' fins had been glued in place. Arrr! A rin' o' BT60 couple around t' external part o' t' motor tubes anchors t' engine hooks. Begad! Begad!

T' cockpit (second panel) is a 13mm ogive nose, shiver me timbers, cut lengthwise, t' bottom half cut off o' one, matey, and t' remainin' top half inserted backwards under the longer half. Blimey! This is surface mounted t' t' nose with epoxy. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' "rocket launchers" around t' middle are 1/4" styrene tubes, with an internal diameter o' 7/32", me hearties, me bucko, me bucko, makin' them 3/16" capable launch lugs. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Highlights on cockpit, launcher/lugs and around t' motor tubes is Pactra stripin' tape. Ya scallywag! A band o' very thin styrene be wrapped around t' very top o' t' body, ya bilge rat, for both cosmetics and for anti-zipper. Ahoy! Well, me bucko, blow me down!

T' fins are 1/8" basswood with tabs that fit through slots in t' tail cone (though nay all t' way t' t' motor tubes) for gluin' inside t' tail. Fin design is fairly directly from t' Concorde's S shaped leadin' edge and straight trailing. Aye aye! T' fillets are far thicker than strength calls for; they are two layers o' epoxy, matey, for a nice smooth curve for cosmetic reasons. Arrr!

T' finish is Rustoleum chrome/stainless steel*, over a healthy layer of white satin finish* for spiral fillin' on t' body, matey, and over flat white primer on tube and cones. Aye aye! Recovery is 150 pound kevlar cord anchor, looped double, ya bilge rat, and run betwixt t' ply centerin' rin' and t' body and glued in place with a loop left open. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! A doubled loop o' ¼" elastic shock cord (3 feet exposed cord) runs from t' anchor loop t' t' nose cone. An 18" Rocketheads chrome mylar parachute brings it home. Ahoy! No nose weight was needed or added, except t' cockpit added a bit. Well, blow me down! Begad!

Loaded for flight, it comes in at 14 oz. Arrr! (CG right at t' foremost point of fin/body joint), a bit heavy for C6's, me bucko, so t' faster boost C5s (3 sec. Ya scallywag! delay) were used, as be a 4 foot rod due t' lugs bein' a foot up t' rod already. After a brief display o' three flames on t' pad, me bucko, t' rocket lifted smartly and straight. Begad! Ejection was about 1 second past apogee and deployment was immediate and without incident. Aye aye! Landin' on soft soil, shiver me timbers, one o' t' fin cut an inch or so into t' dirt, but no breakage or scuffin' occurred. Aye aye!

* Rustoleum's metal finish paints, shiver me timbers, especially t' chrome, matey, are very slow drying. Days later, touchin' them can leave fingerprints. Begad! Nay smudges - real ridged prints. Same with t' satin finish. It makes a great spiral filler and provides a great base for t' chrome (which can be painted over t' satin in an hour) but expect it t' take betwixt one and two weeks t' dry completely. As the chrome (and other new Rustoleum metallics) says, arrr, do nay use clear over coat. Blimey! It won't help. It will hurt. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' chrome will turn into semi-gloss grey. Ahoy! Once dry, the chrome paint has a durable surface. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! If you want a clear coat anyway that won't mess up t' finish, shiver me timbers, me hearties, use Future floor wax (I did). Well, blow me down!

** Acknowledgment and thanks t' Sandman for cuttin' t' complex curve of three cylinders projected axially through an ogive.