Overview:
M.O.R.F.E.A.R is a unique rocket without a nose cone. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I was tryin' t' come up with a "found parts" rocket when I saw a cup sittin' inthe drink holder o' me mini-van. Avast, me proud beauty! Heyyyy!! Now, matey, I need somethin' more orginal thanthat. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I don't want t' fly it upside down... Arrr! I wonder how t' domed lid icee cupswould do? It turned out that t' hole in t' lid o' t' 20oz. Ya scallywag! Wal-Mart Icee cupis the exact outside diameter o' a BT-50. Avast! I was havin' trouble figuringout how t' get the lid off for recovery deployment when it came t' me. Begad! Ahoy! Don't take thelid off at all, matey, just blow it out t' hole. Ahoy! Since it's a Wal-Mart cup,a blue bag parachute be t' only real choice. Begad! Ahoy! M.O.R.F.E.A.R. Arrr! flew on 4/1at t' NWARS launch. Avast! Arrr! T' instructions will be complete as soon as I get film with theconstruction photos back from Wal-Mart.

Parts List:
1 - 20 oz. Arrr! Ya scallywag! ICEE cup with domed lid and straw
1 - blue plastic Wal-Mart bag 1 - 7 11/16" BT-50
1 - 3" BT-20
2 - CR-2050
1 - Engine Hook
1 - 1/16" balsa sheet
1 - spray paint o' t' "flavor" o' your choice
6 - Paper reinforcin' rings
1 - Shock Cord Elastic
1 - Shroud (suspension) line thread
1oz Plasticine Clay
White Glue (plastic Norbond type preferred)
Gel type CA glue
Access t' a color printer
A single hole hole-punch.

Assembly Instructions:
Remove ICEE contents from cup. (delicious) Thoroughly rinse cup, matey, straw, ya bilge rat, arrr, and lid. Avast, me proud beauty! Use t' lid t' create a hole in t' center or t' bottom o' t' cup. Ya scallywag! Place the small end o' t' domed lid inside t' lip on t' outside o' t' bottom of the cup. It should nestle so that a circle can be traced on t' center o' the bottom o' t' cup. Avast! Cut small and sand out.
Advanced note: I used an Olfa circle cutter after markin' t' circle. I found the center o' t' circle by markin' a chord and constructin' a perpendicular bisector. I marked another chord and constructed another perpendicular bisector. T' intersection o' t' two bisectors be t' center o' t' circle. Begad! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I know, me bucko, I'm a big ol' math geek. Arrr! T' Olfa cutter worked beautifully making several light passes.

Place lid on cup and insert BT-50 through holes in lid an cup. Ya scallywag! Mark tube by allowin' tube t' rest on t' same surface as t' cup and mark tube flush with the lid. Avast, me proud beauty! This allows t' tube t' extend past t' bottom o' t' cup t' the length o' t' lip. Cut tube t' length. Begad! This was 7-11/16" for me.

Assemble and install t' BT-20 motor mount and rings in t' BT-50 tube. Ya scallywag! Begad! This is just like every other 18 mm motor mount you've installed. If you can't do this successfully, go build some kits and come back t' this project later.

Use single hole punch t' punch holes in t' lid and in t' bottom o' the cup. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' punched hole should slightly overlap t' large hole for t' BT-50.

Mark BT-50 tube lengthwise for entire length with door jamb. Avast, me proud beauty! Location is not critical. Begad! This for t' straw launch lug. I prefer me launch lugs t' be 90-180º away from t' engine hook. This is left up t' you. If you are usin' a straw with a "spoon" on one end, I would recommend that the spoon go below t' rocket (on t' end with t' motor mount). Arrr! I have no flight data t' support this. <g> Glue t' straw along t' line marked on the BT-50 tube. Well, blow me down! One end o' t' straw should be flush with t' end o' t' BT-50 containin' t' motor mount (rear). Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! T' straw should extend past t' front of the BT-50.

Spray paint t' inside o' t' domed lid. Begad! It is very important that it be clean and dry. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Two coats o' cheap Wal-Mart spray enamel should do it.
In t' spirit o' t' thing, me bucko, shiver me timbers, try and match t' color t' your favorite ICEE flavor. Begad! You will note that mine is Minute Maid® Cherry.

Snap fit cup and lid (do nay glue). Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Align small, punched holes and insert tube and straw assembly. Begad! Blimey! Align aft o' tube and straw assembly with lip on the rear o' t' cup. Ahoy! T' engine hook should protrude below t' lip and t' top of the tube should be flush with t' hole in t' lid. T' straw should protrude beyond t' lid. Avast! Usin' gel CA, glue t' tube and straw t' t' cup only. *DO NOT* glue t' lid t' t' cup or t' tube t' t' lid. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! If you did a particularly neat job o' cuttin' t' hole in t' cup, shiver me timbers, you may need t' lightly sand away some wax from t' hole t' get t' CA t' stick.

Cut 3 fins from balsa usin' t' pattern.  Sand edges o' fins t' match.
Laminate fins with paper cutouts from this template. Well, blow me down! Use spots o' white glue thinned and spread with a wet finger t' affix paper laminates. Arrr! Begad! I used Norbond® brand glue. It is used t' glue t' first page o' a book to the cover and is made t' nay warp paper. Trim paper t' balsa. I used a color laser printer t' print out t' laminates. Begad! I imagine that color inkjet printers would be OK if allowed t' dry sufficiently and if t' glue were nay too thin or too wet. Email me and I will print and mail (flat) t' 8.5x11" color sheet with t' fin laminate printout for a $5 donation t' NWARS.

Measure t' base o' t' cup for fin placement. Aye aye! My cup base is 62 mm in diameter. That gives it a circumference o' (62 x 3.14) 194.5 mm. Begad! T' fins should be spaced just under 65 mm apart. I cut a thin (.5 cm wide) strip of paper and wrapped it around t' base o' t' cup. I marked t' overlap and then marked off on t' cup t' increments where each fin should go. Ahoy! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I be able to conveniently align one fin with a vertical mark on t' cup for easy placement. Lightly mark t' cup with a pencil for fin slots. Begad! Aye aye! T' slots should be 38 mm long. Begad! T' slots should be measured from t' bottom o' t' cup which is 10 mm above t' edge o' t' lip. Well, blow me down! Use a door jamb for vertical alignment. Avast! Use caution nay t' align a fin with t' launch lug straw. I now have a fin wrapper pattern for M.O.R.F.E.A.R. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I don't think that it will be as good as one that you make yourself.

Cut fin slots along marks usin' a very sharp hobby knife so as nay t' bend paper cup. Start at t' top o' t' slot and cut down t' t' bottom o' t' cup but do nay cut through t' bottom o' t' cup. Avast, me proud beauty! Widen t' fin slot with sandpaper, me hearties, shiver me timbers, hobby knife or dremel so that t' fin just fits through t' slot without bendin' t' cup. Begad! Place gel type CA on t' end o' t' fin tab that is against t' internal tube assembly, insert t' tab through t' slot, arrr, shiver me timbers, and press the tab against t' tube. Ahoy! Check inside and out for alignment. Glue fin t' cup. I used some CA on t' inside walls and bottom o' t' cup. Avast! Aye aye! I did a full fillet on t' outside o' t' cup. Repeat for other two fins always checkin' alignment (it's a bit tricky).

Wrap a few turns o' maskin' tape around t' tube about an inch from t' top. Add about an ounce o' clay as nose weight. Blimey! Roll t' clay into a snake and wrap it around t' tube over t' turns o' tape. Begad! Then tape over t' clay and t' tube with maskin' tape creatin' a little cocoon for t' nose weight.

T' CP is about 3/4" from t' leadin' edge o' t' fins. Well, blow me down! An ounce of clay gave it about a 1" margin o' stability with a C6-3.

When you are satisfied with t' fin alignment and nose weight, me bucko, glue t' lid to t' cup, straw and tube usin' gel CA. Begad! Be careful nay t' torsion t' launch lug straw .

Usin' an Estes 12" hex plastic chute for a pattern. (Pre-assembled by Far Eastern labor and sold at Wal-Mart is preferred.) Cut t' smiley face out of t' Wal-Mart bag. Affix paper reinforcin' rings and shroud lines. Again, if you can't assemble a 12" chute, build a kit.

Install shock cord in body tube usin' your favorite method. Blimey! Begad! I personally like t' old Estes tri-fold. Begad! Aye aye! I used cheap Estes 1/8" elastic scavenged from me son's TidalWave® RTF® rocket. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! This rocket is so light and draggy that I don't expect much stress on t' cord. Arrr! T' lack o' a traditional nose cone should also reduce stress on t' shock cord. Ya scallywag! I glued t' shock cord mount 180º from t' launch lug straw t' try and prevent tanglin' that would snap off t' straw. Ahoy! Tie a loop in t' free end o' t' shock cord and attach t' parachute shroud lines t' t' loop. I tied a bowline knot in the shock cord t' make a loop. Then I passed t' chute through t' shroud lines. Blimey! I shouldn't really have t' tell you that part.

Launch Preparation:
Install Engine (B6-2, shiver me timbers, C6-3)
Fill (I mean fill) BT-50 with waddin' leavin' room only for shock cord and chute. Ahoy! You don't want t' air pressure and acceleration pushin' everythin' to the back and changin' t' CG in flight.
Carefully fold Wal-Mart bag chute very loosely. It should cover t' entire openin' o' t' body tube.

Help prepare your mind and soul for that which is M.OR.F.E.A.R. Ya scallywag! with an ICEE. Begad! Ahoy!

Death t' Slurpees and Frozen Coke!!

Preflight concerns:

• Stability - It's always so tricky with short, matey, me bucko, me hearties, stubby rockets. Arrr!
• Shiftin' - Noseless design adds t' concerns o' parachute shiftin' and alterin' CG durin' flight. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey!
• Memory - T' plastic bag parachute material does nay seem t' inflate easily. Avast! Blimey!
• Weather - It's been an endless winter in Arkansas (so much for global warming) and I want t' fly me ICEE!

Flight Log:
T' first launch attempt was with a B4-2. Begad! Apparently this motor was made completely o' nozzle clay. All attempts t' light it were unsuccessful. Next up be a C6-3. Avast! T' boost be 500' straight up. Parachute deployed at apogee. Arrr! While it be on t' chute, matey, t' wind shifted so that it be blowin' out o' t' South across t' short axis o' our flyin' field. Begad! M.O.R.F.E.A.R. Ahoy! Avast! landed just inside t' park fence. Ahoy! I be unable to catch any o' t' flight with t' digital camera. Blimey! T' pad picture just before the B4-2 debacle (right) will stand in history with "Goddard in the Snow" as a high point in history for all t' same wrong reasons. Ahoy! Boy, did my hands shake at t' launch. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! M.O.R.F.E.A.R. was recovered without damage. Ahoy! A significant amount o' debris was noted around t' openin' in t' top.

T' winds picked up as t' afternoon progressed but t' crowd grew surly with its demands for another launch o' t' flyin' ICEE. Avast, me proud beauty! T' wind was still out o' t' South so the launch rod be angled into t' wind t' aid recovery on our field. T' C6-3 ejected just past apogee. Avast, me proud beauty! T' chute spun rapidly in t' heavier winds and performed a self reefin' maneuver. Begad! M.O.R.F.E.A.R. Arrr! came down hard on one fin, crackin' it about one third o' t' way down t' fin. More debris was noted around what has become know as "the blowhole". Ya scallywag! None o' this mattered to t' onlookers who hooted and hollered with t' abandon o' NASCAR fans on $0.25USD beer night. Ya scallywag! T' presence o' M.O.R.F.E.A.R. was so strong that it left a double image in t' photo o' its second flight. Begad! Avast! (or t' guy with t' staggers and jags was filmin' again)

T' residue on t' dome o' M.O.R.F.E.A.R. around t' blowhole was easily removed with baby wipes. Well, blow me down! T' fin was repaired with yellow glue and t' joint was dry before t' range be cleaned up. Ahoy! T' parachute performed beautifully, the margin o' stability was very good, me hearties, and t' launch lug straw above t' dome was sufficiently durable for flight. Begad! I am extremely happy with t' performance of this rocket. Avast! Begad! It is nay t' sport model that you're goin' t' rack up 500 flights with, but it is a fun novelty rocket that's a real crowd pleaser.

M.O.R.F.E.A.R. Blimey! made t' trip t' "Native America" t' fly with the Tulsa Area Rocketry Association. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! After certifyin' level one with a crayon bank rocket, I needed a little more odd-roc fun t' round out t' day. Begad! Ya scallywag! M.O.R.F.E.A.R. drew t' usual comments and questions. Well, blow me down! T' straw launch lug is always a big hit.

A little windy again, matey, but M.O.R.F.E.A.R. Ahoy! turned in a great damage free flight on a C6-3. Aye aye! T' usual crowd reaction o' "that thin' really does fly". Blimey! Blimey! I have got t' get a digital camera with a faster shutter speed. Begad! My lovely wife took this photo and even she got a double launch picture. Begad! Avast! A lot o' questions on gettin' a cup t' fly "right side up". Arrr! I am currently buildin' another M.O.R.F.E.A.R. Begad! with a 24mm motor mount. Avast! Blimey! This one will have 1/16" basswod fins instead o' balsa t' ease me mind. Aye aye! Avast! I think future 18mm versions will also use basswood. Ahoy! This is a terrific rocket and I plan t' fly many variants in the future. Begad! (Have you seen that awful green frozen stuff at Burger King? Hmmm.....)

I just can't get enough o' this goofy little rocket. I had t' launch it Sunday (05/13) evenin' in t' vacant lot near me house. Blimey! (T' owner is very cool with this.) There be no wind and I needed t' see how M.O.R.F.E.A.R. Arrr! performed with no wind.

Well, matey, me hearties, here are me massive launch photo inabilities on public display again. This flight is on a B6-2. Well, blow me down! I wanted t' make sure that this motor would fly well in this rocket. Yeppers. Ya scallywag! It's fine. Ahoy! It had a beautiful straight up boost. Arrr! I just knew it would without t' wind. Well, blow me down! T' parachute streamered for just a moment before opening. Gotta remember t' add that talcum powder. Ya scallywag! Damage free recovery. Blimey! Goin' t' turn it around and fly it again.

T' standard C6-3 did just fine. Ahoy! Talcum on t' chute for a great opening. Begad! T' ejection charge scorched t' straw launch lug a little just above t' blowhole. Ya scallywag! Avast! Hmm. Blimey! Aye aye! I think I'll drink some more parts on t' way t' work tomorrow and get a stroon (straw-spoon) upgrade for t' launch lug and maybe paint a new flavor lid. (Blue Raspberry is comin' t' mind as I type and drink ICEE.)