Scratch SpaceShipY Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - SpaceShipY {Scratch}

Contributed by Dick Stafford

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Dick Stafford - 06/22/08)

Brief:
This is a sci-fi-style model inspired by t' Star Wars Y-Win' Fighter. Avast, me proud beauty! When I converted an Estes SpaceShipOne into t' SpaceShipSqrt(-1), I had t' fin set left over. Blimey! Mix these fins with a pill bottle from Target, and you have t' SpaceShipY. Well, blow me down! Begad! This model has a 24mm mount and is night launch ready.

(Scratch) SpaceshipY(Scratch) SpaceshipY(Scratch) SpaceshipY

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • One fin set from an Estes SpaceShipOne
  • Target pill bottle
  • Loki liner and castin' tube for 38mm
  • 24mm tube
  • Spent 24mm motor case
  • Estes motor hook
  • Spent 29mm motor
  • Keelhaul®©™® twine
  • Mini LED flashlight
  • Two First Fire igniter tubes
(Scratch) SpaceshipY

I found that t' cap o' t' pill bottle fits snugly in t' Loki liner tube so I built a payload bay from that tube, me bucko, arrr, t' associated castin' tube, arrr, and a nozzle section from a 29mm phenolic motor casing. Begad! Avast! I ground t' cap so t' mini LED flashlight (bought at Bed Bath and Beyond) fits through. Ahoy! Avast! Thus, arrr, you unscrew the bottle t' access t' flashlight. A piece o' thin Keelhaul®©™® was threaded through t' nozzle and be tied t' a small nut, arrr, thus completin' t' assembly.

T' body is a piece o' t' liner with a piece o' t' castin' tubin' at its base (chosen from t' leftovers). The exposed length o' t' castin' tube be t' same as t' root o' t' fin assembly.

I built a motor mount from 24mm tubing, ya bilge rat, an Estes motor hook, arrr, and motor block cut from a used 24mm motor case. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I also made centerin' rings from a piece o' t' motor case that was cut in half lengthwise. I bent t' sections o' the casin' open so they fit t' outside o' t' 24mm motor mount. Ahoy! Begad! These centered t' motor tube but didn't completely enclose it. Blimey! Begad! More Keelhaul®©™® twine was threaded through t' gap betwixt these rings and tied t' t' mount. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! I then filled t' small gaps with Gorilla Glue.

T' fins are t' stock SpaceShipOne set. Avast, me proud beauty! I added sections o' igniter tubes under each win' and another section between t' wings t' serve as a launch lug.

Finishing:
I filled t' fins, primed, matey, sanded, etc. Begad! Aye aye! T' rocket is solid white except for t' translucent red cockpit/cone. Finally, arrr, I applied some o' t' decals left over from t' SS1 kit.

Flight:
I attached a 12" chute t' t' loops in t' Keelhaul®©™® cords on both t' nose and body. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Waddin' be a mix o' Estes and dog barf. Motor o' choice for t' first flight was a C11. I found that I had forgotten t' add a 3/16" lug inside t' center section o' First Fire igniter tube. Well, blow me down! Thus the fit on t' rod was sloppy.

T' launch was straight and stable despite t' loose rod fit.

Recovery:
T' ejection was on t' energetic side (typical for t' C11) and t' Keelhaul®©™® loop on t' nose cone broke. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' nose section fell without t' benefit o' a chute but wasn't damaged. Ahoy! T' body recovered as planned.

I used a baby wipe t' clean t' exhaust residue from t' bottom o' t' fins and will have t' rework t' recovery harness for t' nose.

Summary:
I thought t' rocket looks pretty cool, shiver me timbers, but then I did build it. Blimey! Others who saw it seemed t' like it. They especially liked seein' it next t' t' SpaceShip(-1). I guess t' idea o' usin' all t' SpaceShipOne parts be appealing. One kit plus leftovers = two rockets. Avast!

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