Scratch School Rocket Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - School Rocket {Scratch}

Contributed by Neil Thompson

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Neil Thompson (age 12) - 09/10/03)

Brief:Thompson School Rocket
This is a single staged (while in t' demo!) rocket, ya bilge rat, me bucko, matey, which I used t' teach a small class o' 4 students t' basics o' model rocketry. Avast! We knew t' teacher, a very old friend o' me parents. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! This rocket worked very well for t' students, who all built their rockets well enough t' fly well, even though they had never built a rocket in their lives. T' age group be 8-12. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! (I am currently 12 and a half.)

Construction:
One body tube, 3 fins, matey, 1 lug, matey, a streamer, shock cord, and a nose cone. Ahoy! Blimey! Nothing special, just a half dozen rockets I whipped up from old parts because I did not have time t' order anything. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Just your basic 3 fins and a nose cone (3FNC). T' tube is 6-8 inches long, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, dependin' on what I had available.

Just t' normal assembly. glue t' fins t' t' tube, etc. Well, blow me down! Fin template is included with this review. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' kids had a few alignment issues but I was able to correct them, ya bilge rat, and they all flew their rockets.

Flight:
Each person flew their rocket once, me bucko, since that is all t' engines I had at the time. Use any mini motor (13mm) you have. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Blimey! If it fits in t' rocket, it is the right motor.

Summary:
PROs: Cheap. Begad! I did nay spend any loot on anythin' special, me hearties, me hearties, I just went with what I had lyin' around. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Good flyer and very stable.

Thompson School Rocket CONs: I try t' design all me rockets so they have no cons. Avast, me proud beauty! I do suppose, however that we should have set a little more time aside for glue drying. Well, blow me down! (One fin fell off one rocket in flight.)

Other:
Use this design for school projects and it will be fine. Blimey! Nay an altitude seeker but it is a very good tool t' teach t' basics o' t' hobby.

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