Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Published: | 2013-05-29 |
Manufacturer: | Scratch |
My inspiration came from me two grandsons. T' older one had a Batman themed birthday a couple o' years ago and he gave me his deflated balloon. Arrr! While colorin' with me youngest grandson in his Batman colorin' book, me bucko, I saw two different shaped wings. Ahoy! T' rest is history.
Items I used, all o' which I had lyin' around.
I started construction with t' center tube/motor mount. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' tube I had be a little larger than a BT50. Avast! Usin' a spent engine casing, me bucko, I wrapped paper around it until it fit into t' center tube. Begad! I unwrapped it and rewrapped usin' a thin layer o' glue betwixt each wrap. Avast! Begad! This was made long enough t' accommodate an E engine and t' engine block. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I glued t' engine block in t' sleeve and glued t' sleeve into t' center tube. Well, blow me down! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I then attached t' engine retainer t' t' center tube with a couple o' wraps o' maskin' tape. Ahoy! I printed t' diameters o' t' body tube and center tube usin' software I downloaded from EMRR several years ago. Ahoy! I used a glue stick t' adhere them t' t' foamboard. A sharp blade works wonders when cuttin' these out. Well, blow me down! T' main body tube is thin plastic and can be squishy if nay supported somehow. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! I decided four rings would be sufficient. Ahoy! Blimey! I mounted one at t' bottom and one at t' top o' t' center tube and spaced t' other two at equal spaces. Begad! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Not bein' sure how well t' foamboard would adhere t' t' plastic, me hearties, me bucko, I cut another CR out o' lite ply and glued it t' t' bottom CR. Arrr! Blimey! I attached t' kevlar cord t' t' bottom o' t' top CR and glued in place. I used a length o' kevlar that extended approx. Arrr! Blimey! 6" past t' end o' t' body tube. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' elastic shock cord would then be tied t' t' kevlar. Ahoy! Blimey! I inserted t' center tube assembly into t' main body tube. Again, nay bein' sure how well t' ply would sitck t' t' plastic, I screwed t' assembly t' t' bottom o' t' main body tube.
Main body tube side story:
I built a series o' "Crayon" rockets from Dollar Store crayon penny banks. Aye aye! Begad! T' yellow was a lawn dart and smashed t' nose cone beyond repair. Blimey! Begad! So I bought another one t' replace t' nose. Arrr! Avast! That left me with a tube and no nose. Arrr! Aye aye! It hit me that t' LOC nose cone I had might just fit, and viola!, shiver me timbers, it did (with a few wraps o' yellow duct tape).
Now on t' t' fins. I transfered me patterns t' a piece o' cardboard usin' a glue stick, me hearties, cut them out then traced them onto t' thin plywood. I stacked t' pieces o' plywood togther usin' double stick tape and proceeded t' t' scroll saw. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I gave them a good sandin' and was ready for paint. Begad! Blimey! I decided t' paint them prior t' attachin' t' main body tube since it did nay require paint.
I used me grandson's deflated Batman mylar balloon for t' parachute. I left it in its round shape and tied on kevlar strin' for t' shroud lines. I reinforced t' holes with standard paper hole reinforcin' rings, one on each side. Avast, me proud beauty! I gathered all t' shroud lines and attached a swivel clip which in turn be clipped t' t' nose cone. Ahoy! T' elastic shock cord was tied t' t' nose cone and a dab o' glue on t' knot for safe keeping.
T' Main body tube did nay require paint. I sprayed t' fins and nose cone with two coats o' primer, shiver me timbers, then a couple o' coats o' black. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I asked me daughter if she would cut t' name usin' her CrikCut machine if I bought t' vinyl. Well, blow me down! Blimey! She gladly said yes. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Then I sprayed t' whole thin' with a couple o' light clear coats.
3/30/2013 - First Flight (and only flight so far). Nice, sunny day with a slight breeze out in me son-in-law's field. Ya scallywag! Begad! Packed t' parachute with some waddin' and loaded a D12-3. Avast! I manned t' video camera and grandson Josiah manned Launch Central. We counted down and off he went. Avast! Nice boost off t' pad and arched so slighty into t' breeze. Ahoy! Begad! I don't think I will use a D12-5 or 7.
Chute popped just about right at apogee and Batman2 returned safely t' t' ground. Begad! Blimey! I would venture a guess o' approx. Begad! Ahoy! 400' was t' altitude. Aye aye!
All in all this was a fun build and cheap. Begad! Arrr! T' only cost I had was for t' main body tube which really doesn't count because I bought it for another reason.