Scratch Little Red Max Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Little Red Max {Scratch}

Contributed by Brian Ray

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Brian Ray - 11/03/09)Scratch - Little Red Max

Brief:
This rocket was a leftover from a build I did for a family reunion launch. Blimey! I threw together a pile o' scratch rockets and let each o' t' kids pick one. This one wasn’t chosen by any o' t' kids so I worked into a variant o' t' Der Red Max. Begad! I call it t' Little Red Max.

Construction:
My primary components were:

  • BT-50 about 4"
  • BT-20 about 4"
  • Cardstock transition
  • 3 downscaled Red Max fins, me bucko, arrr, drawn and cut by hand. Aye aye!
  • NC – half o' an Easter egg
  • Elastic shock cord.
  • Hartle Engineerin' streamer

This be a fun build. Begad! T' one thin' that I sometimes struggle t' remember is t' mark t' lower BT for fins prior t' attachin' t' transition. Well, blow me down! Arrr! It’s a pain t' mark it post-transition. Aye aye!

T' rocket is painted in a Red Max-esque theme; nay exact, shiver me timbers, but an homage. T' paint I used was given t' me by a family member prior t' their movin' out o' state. Begad! It’s designed for plastics – specifically for remote control cars. Begad! Avast! I was curious t' see how it did on wood and paper and be pleased with t' results. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! For me it’s prohibitively expensive t' ever buy for this application.

T' decals were printed on Avery label paper and sealed with Wal-Mart clear coat.

Flight:
This rocket flew just once on a C6-7. Begad! It flew high and straight. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Too high, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, as a matter o' fact. Well, blow me down! We thought we had a bead on it as it came down but apparently nay so much. Avast, me proud beauty! Its maiden voyage was its last.

Summary:
This was a fun little rocket, shiver me timbers, especially since it became its final incarnation pretty much as an accident. Arrr! And I’ll try t' remember next time that a rocket this small has a good chance o' disappearin' with that much motor.

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