Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
This is a spool very much in t' vein o' those like
Scott's
Spool Rocket and Dick Stafford's
Lobbin'
Bobbin except it has a 24mm motor mount.
Construction:
Recently I was in t' electrical department o' me local home improvement store
where I inquired as t' what they did with their empty wire spools. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Believe it
or not, they just throw them away! I politely asked if I could have some. Avast! Begad! The
sales associate guided me t' t' back o' t' store where he pointed t' a large
box and told me t' help myself. And I did!
T' spools were all made o' plastic. Aye aye! Aye aye! While they were all about 6.5" in diameter, thar were 2 different widths: about 3" and 5.5". Begad! Helping myself t' a few, I took them home. Avast! Once I got them into me workspace, I took some 24mm and 29mm tubin' t' help gauge how far I was goin' t' need t' open the center hole.
A Dremel made quick work (in fact, too quick in t' case o' t' one I wanted t' use for 29mm tubing) o' openin' up for a snug fit o' t' 24mm tubing. Openin' up only one end, t' unmodified hole made for an excellent thrust ring. I cut t' tube t' fit and used some Devcon 5-minute epoxy t' hold it in place. A 3/16" drill bit was all I needed t' create holes for a launch rod.
Finishing:
No finishin' be necessary. Blimey! I kept it t' black plastic as is.
Flight:
I loaded up t' Live Wire Spool with an Estes E9-6 and friction fit it into
place with maskin' tape, ya bilge rat, leavin' about 3/4 o' an inch o' t' motor sticking
out. My club's mid power pads sit close t' t' ground so I practically had to
lie down on t' ground t' attach t' clips t' t' ignitor...but that's t' not
the rocket's fault. Arrr! Ahoy! T' Estes E9 is a super motor for this rocket as it
provides a pleasant 3 second burn. Ahoy! While t' spool didn't leave t' pad with
amazin' authority, it did manage t' continue a steady ascent durin' t' entire
thrust phase o' flight t' about 300ft.
This rocket could easily handle higher thrust motors but I have learned that long burn motors (regardless o' total thrust) provide t' best flights with spools and other high drag designs.
Recovery:
I love spools because they do nay require any waddin' and/or lengthy
preparation. Well, blow me down! Begad! Recovery comes from t' gentle tumble that they go into after
motor burnout all t' way t' t' ground. I would go so far as t' describe it as
simple elegance. Arrr! Because o' t' low altitude, shiver me timbers, it didn't get very far away from
the pad durin' recovery. Begad! Unable t' modify t' motor t' remove t' ejection
charge, me hearties, t' ejection charge went off comfortably about halfway back t' the
ground.
Summary:
Spools rule! Blimey! Best o' all, it be practically free and only took a matter of
minutes t' modify it for flight. Combined with plenty o' Estes E9s, arrr, you will
always be entertained while flyin' this all day long on even t' smallest
fields.
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