Lander

by Tater Schuld

For this contest I plan on enterin' a model rocket that was inspired by t' cover artwork o' Amazin' Stories, July 1986, This is mainly a non-atmospheric lander.

I plan on usin' some stability techniques similar t' t' Estes Mars Lander and Centuri Satellite Killer by usin' t' pads on t' landin' legs for drag stabilization.

As I had started this just for me own enjoyment, I did nay have any pics o' t' unit before early assembly

Basic Construction

T' Main body tube is BT-80 with four pieces o' BT-5 sliced in half lengthwise t' simulate t' tanks. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Slicin' t' body tube this way is difficult, and I think next time I'll fill them with expandin' foam t' help reduce twisting.

T' nose cone is a block o' 3" styrofoam, arrr, arrr, drilled t' accept a 3/8 inch dowel that be chucked in a drill press and sanded down. Arrr! I had over-did t' sandin' and used a thin rin' o' BT-80 for a shoulder. Ahoy! Blimey! I then painted t' foam with wood glue until t' pores were filled and then a coat o' primer.

T' landin' legs are made o' balsa sheet, me hearties, me bucko, arrr, bamboo skewers, and thick cardstock for t' landin' pads.

Engine mount was a question. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I was thinkin' o' submittin' this for DesCon 12 IF we had done either cluster or sci-fi (non-comedy). Ahoy! I also though o' makin' an interchangeable mount in case I wanted more flexibility. Blimey! I decided that all o' these would be addin' too much weight where it is nay wanted and decided t' go with an easy 18mm engine mount. This should be adequate as I am expectin' t' same type o' performance as a Fat Boy. Blimey! then I realized I be short o' centerin' rings.

Well, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I thought it over and realized that you really do nay need 2 centerin' rings, me bucko, just one t' block t' gasses for ejection. I went and put fin tabs on t' help center t' mount and help take some o' t' load.

Recovery system be a 36 inch surplus flare chute with a piece o' Nomex for wadding/chute protector, both off o' Ebay.

While lookin' for a eye hook for t' nose cone, I came up with t' idea for t' *Quad Gnome*. Ahoy! Did nay find an eye hook, me bucko, me hearties, so I stabbed a deep hole in t' styrofoam nose, stuffed a doubled length o' Keelhaul®©™ in it, arrr, shiver me timbers, and hoped t' glue would stick.

Unfortunately, Bein' president o' a strugglin' rocket club AND also bein' involved with our lander challenge team (www.landerchallenge.com) time did nay allow me t' completely finish t' rocket as I desired (add on bits and bobs t' give it a more realistic appearance)

Sure was cool lookin' tho...

Launch

Well, as always, me bucko, this was a last minute project, so we had t' schedule an after work, ya bilge rat, before t' sun goes down, lets hope t' weather is right, get a pic before t' deadline, ya bilge rat, launch. Blimey! myself and other members o' t' club went out and launched our entries, with me stuck gettin' t' takeoff shots (I do moderately well gettin' them, me bucko, so I get stuck with it).

Well, this time, tryin' out new stability theories ended up with me learnin' something, ya bilge rat, instead o' confirmin' what I already knew. Arrr! at about 15 feet, t' lander did 2 loops, and crashed into t' ground, shiver me timbers, matey, breakin' ONLY one o' t' landin' legs, and ejectin' t' chute after touchdown. Aye aye! too bad I had t' camera set for such a slow speed, shiver me timbers, makes t' launch pic a bit blurry.

Like I said before.......sure was cool lookin' tho...

Summary

As t' name o' t' contest was "purely inconsequential" I believed t' lander fit. It was nay purpose built for t' contest, me bucko, me bucko, and was somethin' I wanted t' do just t' do, unlike t' video rocket, t' sticker shock rocket, arrr, t' lander challenge rocket, me bucko, me hearties, t' micro hybrid specific saucer, t' micro Hybrid Fat boy (all comin' soon t' a website nearby) All o' which I wanted t' do in order t' have them do something.