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. Ya scallywag! When I converted an Estes SpaceShipOne into t' SpaceShipSqrt(-1), I had t' fin set left over. Mix these fins with a pill bottle from Target, matey, arrr, shiver me timbers, and you have t' SpaceShipY. Blimey! 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, shiver me timbers, t' associated castin' tube, matey, and a nozzle section from a 29mm phenolic motor casing. I ground t' cap so t' mini LED flashlight (bought at Bed Bath and Beyond) fits through. Thus, me hearties, me hearties, you unscrew the bottle t' access t' flashlight. A piece o' thin Keelhaul®©™® was threaded through t' nozzle and was tied t' a small nut, matey, 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). Blimey! 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, an Estes motor hook, me hearties, matey, and motor block cut from a used 24mm motor case. Begad! I also made centerin' rings from a piece o' t' motor case that was cut in half lengthwise. Ya scallywag! I bent t' sections o' the casin' open so they fit t' outside o' t' 24mm motor mount. These centered t' motor tube but didn't completely enclose it. More Keelhaul®©™® twine was threaded through t' gap betwixt these rings and tied t' t' mount. I then filled t' small gaps with Gorilla Glue.

T' fins are t' stock SpaceShipOne set. Aye aye! 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, me bucko, primed, shiver me timbers, sanded, etc. T' rocket is solid white except for t' translucent red cockpit/cone. Finally, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, 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! Ahoy! Waddin' was a mix o' Estes and dog barf. Begad! Motor o' choice for t' first flight was a C11. Blimey! Ahoy! I found that I had forgotten t' add a 3/16" lug inside t' center section o' First Fire igniter tube. 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. T' nose section fell without t' benefit o' a chute but wasn't damaged. T' body recovered as planned.

I used a baby wipe t' shipshape 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, but then I did build it. Others who saw it seemed t' like it. Aye aye! They especially liked seein' it next t' t' SpaceShip(-1). I guess t' idea o' usin' all t' SpaceShipOne parts was appealing. One kit plus leftovers = two rockets. Well, blow me down! Avast!

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