Bucky II

by Dennis McClain-Furmanski

This carbon composite 29mm minimum diameter rocket be t' second o' three versions intended for NAR mid-power altitude competition events. Ahoy! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! Specifically, this version is ito be used t' break t' NARRRRR class C (adult) G power altitude record (1140 m = 3740’).

T' name is derived from "buckytube", matey, t' name for t' axially symmetric fullerene carbon compounds named for Buckminster Fuller. Although the design continues t' be refined and other variations built, this model, with a payload section, has been t' most successful so far.

Dimensions

• Weight (flight prepped, arrr, without motor): 4.9 ounces
• Length: 19.75"
• Body section lengths
  • Main: 10.75"
  • Payload: 4.25"
• Diameter
  • Inner: 1.18"
  • Outer: 1.21"
• Nose length: 4.25"
• Fins
  • Root: 3"
  • Semi-span: 1.75"
  • Tip: 1.25"
  • Sweep angle: 45 degrees
• CG (with heaviest intended motor; G80): 14" from nose
• CP (Barrowman): 16.4" from nose
• cD (subsonic; AeroDRAG): 0.379

Parts

• Body: 15" o' single layer carbon composite tube molded over a 29mm coupler stock mandrel
• Fins: 1/16" 3-ply birch laminated with carbon composite
• Launch lug (1/4"): carbon composite molded over ¼" steel launch rod
• 4" o' heavy paper 29mm coupler, shiver me timbers, cut as 3" plus two ½" pieces
• Apogee part #19114 styrene nose cone
• 4’ braided 150 lbs. Well, blow me down! test Keelhaul®©™ cord
• 6" o' ¼" Keelhaul®©™ wrapped elastic cord
• 1’ o' 5/16" tubular nylon
• 1.125" diameter ¼" plywood bulkhead
• ¼" screw eye
• Appx. 1 cubic inch o' copper mesh from pot scourer
• 12" red Mylar parachute kit

Lamination was done with 2" nominal diameter seamless carbon sleeve from Aerosleeve and Epoxy Products Premium Number 2 no-blush epoxy, coated with urethane and finished with acrylic. Arrr! Blimey! Construction be done with Loctite 90 minute epoxy.

Main body: T' tube was laminated similar t' t' instructions in the tutorial available on t' Aerosleeve web site. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! After laminatin' and finishing the tube, it was cut t' size. T' copper mesh (about ¼ o' a copper pot scrubbin' pad was inserted. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! One o' t' ½" pieces o' coupler was epoxied 4.5" into one end as a motor block. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' Keelhaul®©™ thread was doubled and tied into a loop, and wrapped around t' other ½" piece of coupler as a shock cord anchor, and this was epoxied 4.5" in from the other end, t' copper mesh now trapped betwixt t' two pieces. Blimey! Blimey! T' tubular nylon be slid over t' Keelhaul®©™ thread down t' t' anchor, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, t' act as an anti-zipper mechanism.

Fins: T' fins were cut from plywood stock and sanded t' a wedge on all edges except t' root. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! These were then inserted into 4" pieces o' carbon sleeve, arrr, which was pulled tight t' fit the edges, me bucko, and laminated usin' weight press. Arrr! When dry, t' fins were trimmed, the edges resanded t' an edge, except t' root which was sanded flat, and finished. Blimey!

Fin/body construction: T' body be marked for fin placement (120 degrees apart, me bucko, root/trailin' edge corner at t' aft end), shiver me timbers, matey, and t' body and fins prepared for epoxying. T' fin placement areas were sanded t' remove t' finish down t' t' carbon fiber. A 1/16" drill was then used t' drill pits into the tube (but nay through) every ¼" along t' marked fin line, as well as 1/8" t' either side o' t' line. Begad! T' fins were drilled similarly 1/8" from t' root edge, through t' carbon fiber, t' t' wood, me hearties, and the surface sanded down t' t' carbon betwixt these pits and t' root edge. Aye aye! Blimey! The fins were then epoxied t' t' body along t' lines. Once dry, fillets were added t' cover t' pits drilled on both body and fins. Three 1/16" air vent holes were drilled through t' body 120 degrees apart, betwixt t' lines of t' fins, 2" aft o' t' forward end.

Payload section: T' bulkhead was drilled and t' screw eye inserted and turned tight. Aye aye! Blimey! Epoxy was added t' cover the center o' t' bulkhead on t' eye side, and run through t' eye itself to keep it tight. A 1" loop was tied in one end o' t' elastic cord, matey, and the other end be tied t' t' screw eye. Begad! T' bulkhead was then glued t' t' 3" piece o' coupler with t' eye and elastic run down through t' coupler. Ahoy! When dry, ya bilge rat, this was glued bulkhead first 1.5" into t' payload section, ya bilge rat, and fillets added t' t' bottom side o' t' bulkhead/coupler joint. Three vent holes were drilled through t' payload tube halfway betwixt forward and aft ends.

Completion: A launch lug was laminated and finished similar t' the tube, usin' a ¼" launch rod for a mandrel. Arrr! Aye aye! This was cut t' 2" length, and t' ends cut at a 45 degree angle. Begad! Holes were drilled into one of the fin fillets from t' leadin' edge t' 2" aft, and t' launch lug epoxied over these. Fillets were then added t' t' fin/lug joints. Begad! T' Keelhaul®©™ cord was tied through t' loop in t' elastic with a slip knot. Well, blow me down! T' nose cone was sanded with fine grit, washed with soap and water, me bucko, painted first with white appliance epoxy paint, me bucko, then aluminum paint, then a coat o' acrylic. Arrr! This was inserted into t' forward end o' t' payload section, and tested for fit, with maskin' tape bein' added as necessary t' get a tight seal. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' entire rocket was then recoated completely with another layer o' acrylic for an even finish.

Flight prep: A circular streamer be constructed by runnin' Keelhaul®©™ shroud line cord through a hole in t' center o' a 12" red Mylar parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! It was tied and taped in place on t' Mylar, arrr, and a snap swivel tied to t' other end. Ya scallywag! This was snapped onto t' loop in t' elastic cord, matey, arrr, matey, and the cord and cute packed into t' rocket. Begad! T' complete rocket was then weighed. Arrr! CD calculations and flight predictions were run usin' AeroDRAG. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Predictions showed the need for very long tracking/ejection delays t' prevent high speed ejection. Results with some motors with adequate delay (at local elevation o' 600’, air temp 59 degrees, me hearties, adjustin' for weights as given by NARRRRR testing) were:

Mfgr/Motor Altitude Deployment speed

• Estes E9-8 1420’ -16 fps
• Apogee E6-8 2286’ +11 fps
• AT F32-15 5107’ -63 fps
• AT G25-15 7543’ -34 fps

Flight tests: Estes E9-8s were selected for initial testing. Ya scallywag! Masking tape be used t' friction-fit t' motor in into a 29/24mm adapter, and t' fit the adapter into t' rocket. Aye aye! T' tests were flown in moderate (5-10 MPH) winds. Boosts were perfectly vertical with no tippin' or weather cocking. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! On t' first flight t' altitude appeared greater than expected, arrr, shiver me timbers, estimated at 2000’. Ejection occurred prior t' apogee, contrary t' t' simulation. Begad! This was at first taken t' be a slight motor malfunction producin' an early ejection. However, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' second flight displayed t' same characteristics: altitude appeared greater than predicted and ejection be before apogee. Begad! Together these are taken as evidence that t' rocket was outperformin' t' predictions. In both cases recovery was nominal, me bucko, t' circular chute/streamer slowin' it adequately and bein' well visible from t' time o' ejection. No burnin' was evident, me bucko, indicatin' that t' copper mesh protected t' Mylar sufficiently.

Conclusion: Bucky II appears t' perform better than expected. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! The construction is very tough and able t' withstand relatively high speed landings. Avast, me proud beauty! T' home made ejection baffle works well. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' only problem with its performance is findin' motors with suitable delays – t' G motors with adequate delays are nay commonly available. Blimey! An altimeter has been obtained for use in accurate testin' t' verify whether t' rocket performs as well as, me hearties, me bucko, if not better than, t' predictions made from t' design. Ya scallywag! Begad! A second build o' this design will be done t' attempt t' replicate t' results.