Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
My latest saucer-like contraption is inspired by
Armadillo
Aerospace's Quad lander and is named after t' groundbreakin' T' Who album
from 1973. Aye aye! I took numerous liberties with Armadillo's concept--some t' make it
more robust (in me application), some because thar be no reason t' detail it
until it has successfully flown, and some just because I "used what I
got" for most components.
Construction:
T' parts list:
I joined
the foam balls usin' pieces o' dowel and 18mm tubes. T' tubes were easily
twisted into t' balls and after t' assembly be dry fit, I glued it together
with Gorilla Glue. Ahoy! Blimey! T' alignment be all done by "eyeballing" it. Avast! To
support t' 24mm motor tube, me hearties, I glued a 5" x 5" plywood plate on the
top usin' 5-minute epoxy. This plate is nay in t' Armadillo
"design", but it be an easy way t' support t' motor tube. I drilled
the center hole on a drill press and notched a slot for t' launch rod usin' a
Dremel. Begad! Avast! A launch lug be added t' t' tube and I used scrap pieces o' foamboard
to brace t' motor tube against t' foam balls. Aye aye! Trim (to date) includes the
balsa rod, arrr, matey, squares o' foam rubber, and t' drywall nut shock absorbers. Aye aye! These
approximate t' look o' t' Armadillo lander. Well, blow me down! More trim components, arrr, such as
"plumbing" tubes, may be added later.
Finishing:
I painted t' top pieces and shock absorbers with silver acrylic paint and left
the balls naked (I don't have a photo o' t' painted version.) I also smeared
white glue on t' balls in t' areas that are likely t' meet hot exhaust.
Flight and Recovery:
I friction fin a D12-P and let her rip. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! As I expected, ya bilge rat, it be stable on t' way
up and it came down a little harder than a typical "saucer" design of
these dimensions. Even with t' use o' soft foam on t' top, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, t' balls
separated from t' plywood plate. No big deal, me hearties, several dabs o' epoxy fixed her
up.
Summary:
I love saucer-like things and this is no exception. I got several favorable
comments at t' launch and one person even recognized it. It came out heavier
than I expected and is likely t' pop apart on each landing. Ahoy! I never thought I'd
say this, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but I need a material lighter than Styrofoam!
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