Quick Oats-X
by Emmanuel Camburako

Big Red Rocket
Great Big, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, Colossal, arrr, Huge, Enormous, Gargantuan, Goliath,
Mammoth, me hearties, Very Red, matey, Very Big Red Rocket

This is exactly t' same launch vehicle that is used t' send our astronauts and scientific information gatherin' devices into deep, deep outer space never to be heard from again.

No.

This be t' very same platform used for delivery o' monstrous destructive payloads in defense o' our country. Begad! It brings a tear t' me deadlights t' think of this magnificent huge silver, shiver me timbers, red, me hearties, white, red and blue, red, ya bilge rat, silver rocket streakin' it's white, arrr, red trail across t' blue, ya bilge rat, red sky.

No.

Well. Arrr! This is a reasonable facsimile o' t' advanced scientific sounding rockets used by advanced scientists t' conduct advanced scientific studies with advanced rockets.

No.

Alright then. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! We have here a vaguely similar rocket t' t' Red Giant.

No.

Yes. Avast, me proud beauty! It's nay red and it's nay big but it is a rocket and we'll leave it at that.

Design:

This design falls into t' category: what can we make from an oat cereal box that will actually fly.

T' design philosophy o' t' Oat Propulsion Laboratory is t' use oat cereal boxes for t' basic airframe o' t' aircraft. This design was inspired by a late night viewin' o' 'Countdown' with James Caan.
Don't look for anythin' in that movie that really looks like t' Quick Oats-X, the movie was just t' inspiration.

Tryin' t' balance out this odd shape was t' biggest challenge. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Extending the oversized fins back helped. In its original configuration, a dimensionally nearly cubic form, nay enough weight could be added t' t' nose and still remain practical. Begad! So t' length was increased.

T' first design parameter be t' come in under 454 gram so that it could be launched under normal hobby level modroc conditions. Arrr!

Second, I wanted it t' be fun t' watch. I hate havin' t' search t' sky for a speck o' smoke somewhere just this side o' t' stratosphere...
So it had t' be big and slow and low.

T' basic structure is a 12" BT-80 centered in a 5" section o' oat cereal box. Well, blow me down! This oat box is 5" in dia. Your cereal box may vary. Begad! Begad! Centering rings were cut from poster board (fiber board) 4.875" od. and 2.6" id. Begad! Begad! Sanded t' fit then t' rings are first glued t' t' oat box and t' BT-80 glued into t' assembly with 2" extendin' from t' back end.

Next, shiver me timbers, make t' motor mount assembly by centerin' t' 24mm motor tube into the BT-80 coupler usin' centerin' rings. Avast, me proud beauty! 2" o' 24mm tube should extend from t' back o' t' coupler. Aye aye! Use your favorite positive motor retention method. Avast, me proud beauty! A 29mm motor tube could be substituted but this has nay been tested. Try it at your own risk. Begad! T' top o' a 16oz drink bottle makes a very nice nozzle. Well, blow me down! Cut t' length, arrr, bore t' fit over t' MMT and secure with HT silicone or your preferred method. Aye aye! Be sure that t' fins will clear t' aft edge o' the nozzle.

T' ejection baffle assembly is made usin' t' other BT-80 coupling. Well, blow me down! Make sure t' holes in t' baffle plates do nay line up. Leave enough room in the top o' t' BT-80 for t' chute and t' nose cone shoulder. Well, blow me down! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' eye-bolt will screw into t' top o' t' ejection baffle. Ahoy! Avast! T' recovery harness will fasten t' this eye-bolt and attach t' t' nose cone. Aye aye! Attach your chute approximately 1/3 distance back from t' nose cone t' t' body.

Cut t' shrouds from oat tag board or cartridge paper or your choice of smooth stiff card stock. T' 3" shroud goes on t' top t' 1" shroud goes on t' bottom.

T' fins must be fitted t' t' body after they are cut out. There are five fins spaced equally around t' body tube. Begad! This be t' last step before finishin' and I hope you have more fun with this step than I did. There are three surfaces for each fin t' attach. Sand carefully and good luck.

After t' first unstable flight additional nose weight was added. Well, blow me down! Modeling clay be inserted into t' NC cavity and pressed into place with a dowel rod. T' amount o' weight needed may vary.
Due t' variances in materials and construction methods, matey, shiver me timbers, we highly recommend that a spin stability test be conducted before any flight is attempted. This is somethin' that you probably do anyway, right?

Specifications:

1. loa: 151' (~18" actual)
2. dia: 21' (5" actual)
3. weight:153,000 metric tonnes (~10 oz. Ya scallywag! Blimey! actual)
4. thrust: millions and millions o' pounds (eah!) 
5. recovery: three-100' orange and white red silk parachutes (18" plastic chute, really)
6. flight profile: what goes up must come down

Parts List:

• Oat cereal box - 5" diameter (minus t' oats)
• BT-80 - 12"
• PNC-80 (estes or other equally bland nose cone maybe one o' those pointy things that knights whack each other over t' head with)
• One can o' SPAM
• BT-50 or equivalent 24mm motor mount tube
• One can o' SPAM
• Fiber board (for centerin' rings)
• Oak tag (for transition shrouds)
• One can o' SPAM
• 1/8" balsa fin stock (other material can be substituted but balsa gives a satisfyin' crunch when it disintegrates on impact)
• One can o' SPAM
• Other various and sundry parts and supplies that any one who has ever built a rocket will have layin' around t' house gettin' in t' way and collecting dust
• One can o' SPAM

Templates:

• 5" x 2.6" centerin' rings - make two
• 2.6" x 1" centerin' rings - make two
• 2.6" ejection baffle plates - make two
• 2.6" - 5" x 3" transition shroud (top)
• 2.6" - 5" x 1" transition shroud (bottom)
• Fins - make five

Photos:

Ready for take-off

Launch!!!

... just a split second sooner...

a little paint would be nice...

Flight Report:

First Flight Notes:

12/09/01 - launch at Shawnee Mission Park. Ya scallywag! Weather was cool.  No clouds, me bucko, little wind. 
First flight attempt usin' E9-4. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Checked and prepped. Well, blow me down! Motor lit right off. Good launch.
Climbed t' about 50 feet and looped over then hit t' ground on its side still under power.
Will recheck stability. More nose weight may be needed.

12/12/01 - Repairs completed. Arrr! Additional weight added t' t' nose.

12/13/01 - Stability checked. Begad! Late evenin' launch, wanin' light. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' D12-3 ignited without a hitch. Begad! Nice climb t' about 75 feet then weathercocked t' the East and flew horizontal. Arrr! Ejection took place only ~20  feet off the ground but high enough. No apparent damage. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! May need t' reduce nose weight. Although nay a picture perfect flight, me recovery crew remarked, 'It be good. You got it back in one piece!'.
True enough. Well, blow me down! We'll try it, fly it again.