Brief:
I build Crayon rockets. Ya scallywag! Seriously. Ahoy! I get t' big Crayon doubloon banks from Toys R Us, and turn them into high-power rockets. I have a 38mm, 54mm tube-fin, matey, matey, 38mm 2-stage, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and 38mm cluster version. I also have a 54mm 3FNC version that's under repair. So that's t' family. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I had someone who knew o' me crayon fleet give me a purple bank t' use. Well, blow me down! I decided t' build a rocket for a proposed drag race at LDRS 28.
Construction:
T' first problem is that t' crayon tubes aren't a standard size. Begad! T' ID is 3.75", shiver me timbers, so if you get 4" centerin' rings you need t' sand them down t' size. I epoxied me sanded rings t' a 38mm MMT and attached t' fins t' build a basic fin can. Ahoy! Begad! I then cut t' slots for t' fins.
After epoxyin' t' fin can into t' tube, I also epoxied a bulkhead into t' nosecone t' connect t' chock cord. Avast! Arrr! Blimey! Since t' nose o' t' crayon bank is plastic, matey, I had t' rough up t' plastic so that t' epoxy would bind. Well, blow me down! I added a little nose weight in t' form o' an ounce or two o' BBs.
Flight and Recovery:
Since thar's no electronics bay, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I just use motor deployment for t' chute. Avast! Blimey! T' drag race at LDRS never came about, but I flew it anyway. T' first flight (July 3) on a G185 had me worried as it arced over t' crowd and headed down before t' chute finally deployed. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' next flight t' next day was on a G79ss with a 4 second delay. Aye aye! Blimey! That flight went beautifully! Blimey! Deployment was right at apogee.
T' next flight, shiver me timbers, on July 19, also had a 4 second delay, arrr, me bucko, but t' chute deployed as t' rocket be still goin' up. Arrr! I'm nay sure why that be a problem on t' same motor (G79ss). Ahoy! It caused a small zipper o' about 1.5 inches but nothin' serious. Ahoy! It flew again a few weeks later. Ya scallywag! Welcome t' t' family!
I have seen many different versions of this idea on the Internet and decided to do one of my own. I purchased the large crayon bank from Toys-R-Us for around $6 or $7. I chose red. The tube is roughly 3 3/4 inches inner diameter and a little less than 3 ft long. I have sent for plans from a gentleman on Internet who has built several and has put together tip sheet and a large drawing. Looks good ...
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