| Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
It all started on me birthday in 2004. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! I received two Estes Fat Boys, and I
planned on buildin' them as a two stage rocket, me bucko, however, one o' t' body tubes
was completly ripped down t' middle because t' nose cone was shoved halfway
down inside it. That left me with two Fat Boy kits but only one body tube. I
built t' sustainer stage minus t' engine hook and looked at t' parts from
the other kit. I had two centerin' rings, me hearties, a motor hook, a mylar ring, me hearties, a launch
lug, a chute, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and a shock cord.
Construction:
I remebered readin' a review about a spool rocket, so I decided t' give it a
try. I took t' engine tube, arrr, centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, launch lug, ya bilge rat, motor hook, me bucko, arrr, and
retainer ring. Begad! In about 10 minutes, I slapped all o' these parts together to
form a cheap spool rocket.
T' construction be easy. It is ideally t' motor mount o' a Fat Boy. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It starts out by slittin' t' motor tube t' place t' eningine hook in. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I dont know why I put t' motor hook in. T' ejection charge just goes out t' other end anyway. Ya scallywag! T' next step was slippin' on t' mylar retainin' ring, which was tacked in place with thick CA. Aye aye! Next, t' launch lug be glued with thick CA to the motor tube. Ya scallywag! Begad! Finally, matey, t' two centerin' rings were placed just over each end, arrr, flush with t' ends o' t' motor tube. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! I had t' line up t' semi-circle in one rin' with t' launch lug, arrr, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and cut another one in t' upper centerin' ring to allow t' launch rod t' pass through. Blimey! Ahoy!
Finishing:
I primed it, painted mine blue, matey, let it cure, me hearties, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, then slapped on some letter
stickers. Avast! On one side I wrote spool and on t' other I wrote Alex. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Then, shiver me timbers, I
painted t' whole thin' black and removed t' stickers. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Unfortunately. mylar
stickers do nay make good maskin' tape.
Flight:
Flight, like any spool rocket is up, me hearties, spin, and down. Begad! I flew it first in the
fall at a nearby schoolyard on an A8-3. It went slow t' about 70-100 feet and
then spiraled back down usin' tumble recovery. At about 20 feet, t' ejectin
charge popped and a burst o' flame popped out o' t' top. Aye aye! I proved t' me dad
and sister that spools do fly straight. Blimey! They thought it was a joke. T' next
three flights were in Tewksbury at a CMASS sport launch. Ahoy! Avast! I flew it three times.
T' first time be on an A8-3. Ahoy! Avast! It be a repeat o' t' first flight: up and
down. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Later, I launched it on a B6-4. It went up and down, only faster and
higher. Aye aye! Then I launched it on a C6-5. Aye aye! It went up, probably about 250 feet. Blimey! I
need t' use booster motors though because when it came down t' ejection charge
practically went off in t' LCO's face. Avast! Blimey!
Summary:
T' main PROs for this rocket are t' ease o' construction and t' simplicity
of t' parts and design. Ahoy! T' only CONs are that durin' me launches t' ejection
charge fires too close t' t' ground, so a shorter delay is needed. Avast, me proud beauty! Overall, I
really enjoyed buildin' and flyin' this rocket. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! It is a fun build for anyone
with a damaged body tube or other damaged parts.
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