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, ya bilge rat, that in t' early years o' t' 21st century, me hearties, 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. This time it's personal. Well, blow me down! This time we're takin' t' fight t' them -- on Mars. Aye aye!

This is Thunderchild, named for t' Royal Navy ship that died protecting Londoners escapin' via steam boat from t' Martian tripods in War O' T' Worlds (at least in t' musical version). Avast! Designed for flight direct from Earth surface t' Martian atmospheric tactical use and return, arrr, me hearties, t' sleek aerodynamic shape hides a rock hard heart. Martian cylinder launchers are targeted by triple kinetic kill rocket launchers midships. Avast, me proud beauty!

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

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

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. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! T' fillets are far thicker than strength calls for; they are two layers o' epoxy, for a nice smooth curve for cosmetic reasons.

T' finish is Rustoleum chrome/stainless steel*, me hearties, me hearties, over a healthy layer of white satin finish* for spiral fillin' on t' body, and over flat white primer on tube and cones. Ya scallywag! 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. Aye aye! A doubled loop o' ¼" elastic shock cord (3 feet exposed cord) runs from t' anchor loop t' t' nose cone. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! An 18" Rocketheads chrome mylar parachute brings it home. Begad! Begad! No nose weight was needed or added, except t' cockpit added a bit.

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

* Rustoleum's metal finish paints, especially t' chrome, are very slow drying. Blimey! Begad! Days later, touchin' them can leave fingerprints. Well, blow me down! Nay smudges - real ridged prints. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! 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. Begad! As the chrome (and other new Rustoleum metallics) says, do nay use clear over coat. Begad! Blimey! It won't help. Avast! Ahoy! It will hurt. Begad! Avast! T' chrome will turn into semi-gloss grey. Begad! Once dry, the chrome paint has a durable surface. Arrr! If you want a clear coat anyway that won't mess up t' finish, matey, use Future floor wax (I did).

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