Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. It can use anythin' from a big E to
a J570. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It can easily break Mach 1 on an H, matey, and can reach Mach 2 on a J.
Construction:
T' Mach Buster 1 uses a fiberglassed phenolic airframe, shiver me timbers, me hearties, PML solid urethane
nose, matey, shiver me timbers, Acme fin can and launch lugs, arrr, Keelhaul®©™®
heat shield and shock cord, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, a Slimline circle rin' motor retainer, shiver me timbers, and an
optional Slimline motor adapter. Well, blow me down! I suppose you could put a payload section on
for altimeters and dual deployment.
This was a very easy build. I used 2-ton epoxy throughout. Arrr! I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. Avast! The nose cone I got from PML, shiver me timbers, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. Well, blow me down! After I fiberglassed t' tube, t' fin can fit exactly. T' launch lugs liked t' slide around while t' epoxy is drying, but other wise it was easy. T' fins needed no alignment, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. Begad! After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Begad! Ahoy! Red on t' fins, matey, and red on t' nose cone, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Overall, matey, this is a very sturdy rocket it could survive a tar landin' easily.
Flight:
I still have nay flown this, but I am plannin' on flyin' it on labor day 2003.
T' first flight will be on an F50-9T, t' next on a G35-7W, ya bilge rat, and t' next on an
F20-7W. Arrr! I put in a home made parachute. Aye aye! It is a very large parachute, but I
will reef it on breezy days. Begad! It is over stable, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and
SpaceCAD. Avast, me proud beauty! All simulations show straight flights, shiver me timbers, high (approx. 3250' on
Fs and Gs), arrr, and fast, shiver me timbers, me hearties, despite t' weight.
I got two flights in on this rocket on labor day 2003. Avast! T' first flight for this rocket be also me first blue thunder propellant motor, and I be rather impressed by t' performance. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It could have had more smoke, however. T' motor was an F50-9T. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' second flight was a G35-7W, shiver me timbers, matey, and it flew like t' wind! Blimey! And that is sayin' something, considerin' t' gusts there! Blimey! At least thar are seemingly endless blueberry barrens for t' rockets t' land in. Arrr! Both flights were straight as an arrow. Well, blow me down! It had a Keelhaul®©™® heat sheild, eliminatin' t' need for wadding. Arrr! I also installed a Slimline motor retainer t' hold me motor in. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! This worked very well. Well, blow me down! Arrr! There was no damage to t' parachute after either flight, however, one o' t' shroud lines on the parachute got tangled in t' screw eye that I used t' attach t' shock cord to the nose cone, me bucko, causin' a tumble recovery. Hardly even had a scratch in the paint. Begad! This is such a rugged rocket. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Anythin' else that size fallin' from that height I would expect t' crumple.
Summary:
Tough as anything. Aye aye! I suspect that thin' could be hit by lightnin' and survive,
or at least it could be stepped on or kicked around.
Pros: I love this rocket. Arrr! Begad! I consider it a work o' art. It is easily the best o' me fleet (that is sayin' something). Avast! Arrr! It goes high and fast, me hearties, can survive hard landings, matey, and requires zero fin alignment (A definite + for me! I hate alignin' surface mounts on large rockets). Avast, me proud beauty! Easy build.
Cons: Price. Well, blow me down! $80. Avast! OUCH if you are 12, and I should know. Arrr! Worth every penny though.
Other:
DO NOT LEAVE THE AIRFRAME SITTING ON A PICNIC TABLE WHILE THE EPOXY AND
FIBERGLASS IS SETTING! Blimey! YOUR MOTHER (or wife) WILL NOT LIKE IT.. Begad! Blimey! I learned that
the hard way. Well, blow me down! It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.