Scratch Micro Darmok Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Micro Darmok {Scratch}

Contributed by Dick Stafford

Manufacturer: Scratch

Micro Darmok

Brief:


I ran across some teardrop-shaped plastic Christmas ornaments that I intended t' use as wing-tip pods. Ya scallywag! However, I smartly saw t' similarity t' Rocket Team Vatsaas' Darmok and Jilad at Tenagra. Avast! Blimey! I love their bulbous rocket designs, matey, so I just had t' build one.

Construction:

  • Plastic ornament
  • 6mm tube
  • 1/64” ply
  • Thin Keelhaul®©™
  • Lead shot
  • Section o' a spent Estes motor spacin' tube
  • 6mm-10mm centerin' rin' (Totally Tubular)
  • Piece o' an ink tube from a ball point pen

T' build be simple. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' prep t' ornament, matey, I removed t' hanger and cut that section off. I then cut t' ornament in half just above t' mid-point. Blimey! I mounted a MicroMaxx motor tube usin' 6mm-10.6mm centerin' rin' and a chunk o' an Estes motor spacin' tube. T' latter also served as a ‘reverse shoulder' for t' cone. 5-minute epoxy be used throughout. Blimey! I added thin Keelhaul®©™® t' keep t' pieces together and added nose weight per t' RockSim file. Avast! Arrr! T' fins were eyeballed based on t' Vatsaas design and were cut from 1/64” ply usin' scissors.

Finishing:
I painted t' fins usin' Testors silver model paint (brush-on).

 

Flight and Recovery:
There wasn't much prep for this little rocket since it uses break-apart recovery. Begad! I've flown it twice. Ahoy! It be stable, unlike its bigger relative. Ahoy! However, due t' its weight and diameter, it isn't much o' a performer. Aye aye! On t' first flight t' body didn't separate and it lawn darted, but t' second flight went as planned.

Summary:
I love plastic doohickies and this was a quick way t' make a micro, ‘retro-style' rocket. T' ornaments are useful for pods and cockpits too!

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