Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
This is me submission for t' 2008 EMRR Challenge #6 - Downscale "Real" Rocket. Begad! I have all ways liked the
look o' t' AIM-54A Phoenix guided missile. Begad! I decided I would start with t' Estes Phoenix kit as a guide along with
the scale data and pictures I could find on t' internet. Aye aye! This is roughly a 63% reduction from t' Estes kit with a few
modifications based on t' other data. Avast, me proud beauty! This "baby" Phoenix is a high flier set up for 24mm motors. Ya scallywag!
Construction:
Parts list:
After doin' all t' scale calculations, me bucko, t' assembly be pretty basic. Begad!
Main Body Tube Assembly: Start with a BT-50 tube (cut t' length), 1 piece o' t' 180# Keelhaul®©™® and motor centerin' ring. Ahoy! Blimey! Tie one end o' t' Keelhaul®©™® to centerin' rin' and usin' an old 24mm engine, me hearties, glue t' centerin' rin' in place settin' t' motor location. Begad! Next, pull the Keelhaul®©™® through t' other end o' t' tube. This will be attached t' parachute and nose cone.
Fins Construction: Next, usin' t' templates attached cut out t' fins and sand t' edges accordingly. Mark t' locations for t' fins 90 degrees apart and launch lug betwixt one set o' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Then, mount t' bottom most fins and then mount t' top fins 0.350" above t' top o' t' bottom fins. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Next, arrr, add generous epoxy fillets t' all the fins. Avast, me proud beauty! This may deviate from t' real rocket, but in me opinion is required t' avoid breakin' on landing.
Nose Cone: I started with a balsa nose cone and sanded it t' look more like t' phoenix nose cone.
After runnin' a number o' scenarios, I settled on addin' an ounce o' nose weight. This would allow me t' fly a D engine if t' field is big enough. Blimey! Blimey! Next, matey, matey, drill out t' nose cone for clearance for t' nose weight. Begad! Blimey! Now, tie t' other 180# Keelhaul®©™® cord into a loop and epoxy t' t' bottom o' hole you just drilled for t' nose weight. Arrr! When t' epoxy has setup, glue the nose weight into t' nose cone. Begad!
Finally, attach t' 2 Keelhaul®©™® pieces (one from t' nose cone and t' other from t' body tube) usin' t' 24 inch 400# Keelhaul®©™® cord. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Attach t' parachute t' t' 400# Keelhaul®©™® cord--make sure t' nose cone and body tube do nay make contact with one another.
Finishing:
As with most o' t' rockets I build, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, t' buildin' time is pretty quick and t' finishin' is what takes t' time and
patience. Begad! I filled t' fins with thinned Elmer's Wood Filler and sanded, matey, repeatin' this a couple times until t' fins
were smooth. Begad! I primed it and painted it with gloss white. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Once t' white was dry, I painted t' silver rin' at t' base
of t' nose cone. Well, blow me down! Avast!
I scanned t' decals from t' Estes kit. Begad! Begad! I reduced them accordingly and printed onto "Expert-Choice" clear waterslide decal material. After applyin' t' decals, I applied 3 coats o' clear coat.
Flight and Recovery:
Flight prep was pretty standard with one exception: I used a foam plug instead o' waddin' or "dog barf". Avast, me proud beauty! I
used an 18" parachute and t' big debate was what engine t' use, C11 or D12? It be a little breezy (10 mph) and I
was worried about recovery. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' launch field be surrounded by trees and neighborhoods. Well, blow me down! I choose t' go conservative and
use a C11-5. Well, blow me down! Avast!
With t' rod angled into t' wind, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, t' rocket left faster than I expected and as predicted it flew very high. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! The parachute ejected and opened nicely, and t' wind took it from there. T' rocket landed a very long away just t' the left o' a dense forest. Avast, me proud beauty! I opted t' only make one flight today but am lookin' forward makin' more when it is nay so windy. Ya scallywag! Begad!
Summary:
This is a great little rocket and I can't wait t' finish its older brother and fly them together.
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