Scratch Lil Spike Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Lil Spike {Scratch}

Contributed by Michael Mangieri

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Michael J. Ahoy! Mangieri - 12/12/05) (Scratch) Lil Spike

Brief:
A simple but nice lookin' 3FNC paper rocket.

Construction:
T' majority o' t' rocket, me hearties, except for t' shock cord and streamer, me hearties, ya bilge rat, is made of 110# cardstock paper. Aye aye! T' fin cores are cut from presentation board. Well, blow me down! The template and instuctions can be downloaded here.

Startin' with t' airframe, mark t' reverse side o' t' body tube sheet with a line usin' t' front side line as your guide. Begad! This is where t' glue will start as it is important nay t' get glue beyond this line. Rollin' t' body tube is made easier by first usin' engine casings t' start t' rollin' process. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Apply gentle pressure and roll t' tube only until t' inside edge touches t' other side o' t' cardboard (one complete revolution). Avast! Then, arrr, use a 1/4" wood dowel t' roll t' same section o' tube once again, producin' a smaller radius of curvature. Begad! Begad! Do this two or three times t' set in a tighter curl. Ahoy! Then go back with t' engines casings and roll t' tube completely. This process will make it easier for t' leadin' edge o' t' paper t' meet at t' proper point without creasing. Well, arrr, blow me down! Once t' tube has taken on t' proper form, me hearties, apply rubber cement to the paper up t' t' last 1". Avast! Roll t' tube and when competed, use white glue t' fasten t' last 1" o' tube. Begad! You can use white glue throughout and get a stiffer tube, but t' rubber cement has worked well for me and is nay as messy.

Score t' lines o' t' engine block with a ball point pen t' make the folds easier. Then fold and glue. Avast! Before t' glue sets, roll t' engine block usin' a 1/4" wood dowel t' set t' curl. Ahoy! T' two edges o' t' paper should meet t' complete t' block. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Test fit in t' tube. Ya scallywag! Begad! If too large, cut a small section o' t' block off and then glue t' block 2 1/4" in from t' rear of t' tube.

Carefully cut out t' nose cone followin' t' guides. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Cut t' small "v" shaped slits along t' base o' t' nose cone creatin' a saw tooth pattern. Aye aye! Shape t' nose cone by rollin' t' pattern over a narrow dowel or very small pencil. Aye aye! Cut out t' nose cone collar and roll it around t' top o' the completed body tube (place an engine in t' tube t' hold its shape.) Once the curl is achieved glue t' nose cone collar together makin' sure it fits snuggly but nay too tight over t' body tube. Place a drop o' glue on t' end o' each tab at t' base o' t' nose cone and carefully attach t' nose cone t' t' nose cone collar. Blimey! Press t' tabs t' t' collar until t' glue sets. When completely dry apply a fillet o' glue t' t' outside joint betwixt t' collar and t' nose cone and set t' assembly aside t' dry. Ahoy!

Cut out three fin cores out o' illustration board usin' t' template as a guide. Begad! Begad! Cut out and glue t' fin covers t' each o' t' fin cores. Sand t' root edge o' each fin and glue t' t' body tube alignin' t' bottom o' each fin with the aft o' t' body tube. When dry, apply a fillet o' glue t' each fin.

Roll and glue t' launch lug (usin' t' line t' help achieve an 1/8" diameter opening) about 1 3/4" from t' aft o' t' body tube.

Cut out two shock cord mounts from regular paper usin' t' template as a guide. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! You can use 1/8" elastic, ya bilge rat, or Keelhaul®©™® cord for t' shock cord. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I would recommend about 2' - 2.5' o' elastic or 2.5' to 3' o' Keelhaul®©™®. Glue one end o' t' shock cord t' one o' t' shock cord mounts usin' the typical Estes technique. Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Create a loop about 8" from t' other end for the streamer t' be attached. Ahoy! Glue t' remainin' end t' t' remainin' shock cord mount. Begad! Glue t' shock cord mount attached t' t' longer length o' shock cord to the inside front o' t' body tube about 1/2" in. Glue t' remainin' shock cord t' t' inside o' t' nose cone shoulder as far up into t' shoulder as you can. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! Attach a streamer t' t' loop in t' shock cord.

Test t' completed rocket with an engine mounted for stability. Avast! Begad! Add some clay t' t' inside o' t' nose if needed. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! (I found added weight wasn't necessary.)

Finishing:
Since t' template already has t' artwork pre-printed, me hearties, all you need do is spray t' completed rocket with clearcoat a couple o' times t' protect the model against moisture and handling.

Flight:
I would recommend 1/2A6-2s for first flight, then A8-3 for t' second flight. A C6 will put it way t' heck up there! T' Lil Spike flies straight as an arrow.

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