"Two C's in a Pod"
Kit bash o' t' Estes Gemini DC.
Copyright © 2002 By Drake "Doc" Damerau
Click on t' pictures for a larger view.
T' first thin' was t' get rid o' t' through t' wall fin mountin' section. T' first portion removed be 5/16" o' t' aft section. Begad! This be used to hold t' engine hooks in t' next step. Arrr! 3" o' t' center fin area be then removed and discarded.
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T' two green engine adaptor rings were glued t' each end o' the blue motor mount tube. Avast! A scrap o' t' balsa was used t' make a plug for t' ejection gasses. Ya scallywag! This was heavily glued. Ya scallywag! All pieces in this kit were glued usin' Titebond wood glue. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' kit comes with two parachutes and each parachute comes with a motor mount hook. T' two motor hooks were centered and positioned 180 degrees apart at t' aft end o' t' assembly. Aye aye! T' 5/16 piece o' body tube was then slipped over t' assembly and glued in place.
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A cut be made for t' engine retainer hooks in each o' t' two pods 2 1/2" from t' end. Begad! Blimey! T' factory holes for t' ejection gasses were used and lined up with t' small gas tubes before gluing. Another hole was cut into t' tube for t' ejection gasses just forward o' t' factory gas ports, me bucko, t' provide additional ventin' o' t' ejection gas.
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This be t' final assembly. Begad! Blimey! T' parachute is an 18" Estes with a standard underwear elastic shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! A small amount of weight was need in t' forward nosecone for stability. After t' primer went on, shiver me timbers, matey, I decided t' make a last minuet change and used a piece o' t' cardboard stock t' make a fake nozzle on t' end center portion.
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OK, me bucko, she was naked for her first flight. I wanted t' see her go before I spent t' time finishin' her. At this point she is weighing in at 2.2 oz. First flight was on a pair o' A8-3's. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! She darted off the pad and went straight as an arrow. Well, blow me down! T' A8-3's took her t' about 720 feet. Avast! Her next flight will be on two C's.
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Here be t' finished version. There was quite a stir on RMR about what was legal t' use for finishin' it. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! I did use t' stickers. T' paint was what I had left over from buildin' me Aerotech Arrow. Arrr! Well, arrr, blow me down! T' chrome was some Testors chrome me son had.
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OK, matey, it's nay t' most creative rocket I've ever built but it's simple, sturdy and flies straight as an arrow. Well, blow me down! I was goin' for somethin' simple that anyone could build and fly. Ahoy! Blimey! I should be able t' fly this at many launches for years t' come. BTW, Yes, That's a real 120mm mortar in t' corner!
7 flights t' date!
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First flight after paint on two B6-4's
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There she goes on C6-5's!
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...And a great shot on 2 C6-7's
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