Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Published: | 2013-05-29 |
Manufacturer: | Scratch |
My inspiration came from me two grandsons. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! T' older one had a Batman themed birthday a couple o' years ago and he gave me his deflated balloon. Arrr! While colorin' with me youngest grandson in his Batman colorin' book, I saw two different shaped wings. Aye aye! Begad! T' rest is history.
Items I used, all o' which I had lyin' around.
I started construction with t' center tube/motor mount. Ahoy! T' tube I had was a little larger than a BT50. Usin' a spent engine casing, matey, I wrapped paper around it until it fit into t' center tube. Blimey! Avast! I unwrapped it and rewrapped usin' a thin layer o' glue betwixt each wrap. This was made long enough t' accommodate an E engine and t' engine block. Blimey! I glued t' engine block in t' sleeve and glued t' sleeve into t' center tube. I then attached t' engine retainer t' t' center tube with a couple o' wraps o' maskin' tape. Begad! I printed t' diameters o' t' body tube and center tube usin' software I downloaded from EMRR several years ago. Arrr! I used a glue stick t' adhere them t' t' foamboard. Aye aye! A sharp blade works wonders when cuttin' these out. T' main body tube is thin plastic and can be squishy if nay supported somehow. Blimey! I decided four rings would be sufficient. Begad! I mounted one at t' bottom and one at t' top o' t' center tube and spaced t' other two at equal spaces. Not bein' sure how well t' foamboard would adhere t' t' plastic, me bucko, I cut another CR out o' lite ply and glued it t' t' bottom CR. I attached t' kevlar cord t' t' bottom o' t' top CR and glued in place. Begad! Begad! I used a length o' kevlar that extended approx. Begad! 6" past t' end o' t' body tube. Arrr! T' elastic shock cord would then be tied t' t' kevlar. Ahoy! I inserted t' center tube assembly into t' main body tube. Ya scallywag! Again, nay bein' sure how well t' ply would sitck t' t' plastic, I screwed t' assembly t' t' bottom o' t' main body tube.
Main body tube side story:
I built a series o' "Crayon" rockets from Dollar Store crayon penny banks. T' yellow was a lawn dart and smashed t' nose cone beyond repair. Aye aye! So I bought another one t' replace t' nose. Avast! Arrr! That left me with a tube and no nose. Avast! Ahoy! It hit me that t' LOC nose cone I had might just fit, and viola!, arrr, it did (with a few wraps o' yellow duct tape).
Now on t' t' fins. Begad! Blimey! I transfered me patterns t' a piece o' cardboard usin' a glue stick, cut them out then traced them onto t' thin plywood. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I stacked t' pieces o' plywood togther usin' double stick tape and proceeded t' t' scroll saw. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Blimey! I gave them a good sandin' and was ready for paint. Well, blow me down! I decided t' paint them prior t' attachin' t' main body tube since it did nay require paint.
I used me grandson's deflated Batman mylar balloon for t' parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Blimey! I left it in its round shape and tied on kevlar strin' for t' shroud lines. I reinforced t' holes with standard paper hole reinforcin' rings, one on each side. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! I gathered all t' shroud lines and attached a swivel clip which in turn be clipped t' t' nose cone. Begad! Blimey! T' elastic shock cord was tied t' t' nose cone and a dab o' glue on t' knot for safe keeping.
T' Main body tube did nay require paint. Begad! Begad! I sprayed t' fins and nose cone with two coats o' primer, then a couple o' coats o' black. Blimey! I asked me daughter if she would cut t' name usin' her CrikCut machine if I bought t' vinyl. Avast, me proud beauty! She gladly said yes. Ya scallywag! Then I sprayed t' whole thin' with a couple o' light clear coats.
3/30/2013 - First Flight (and only flight so far). Nice, me hearties, arrr, sunny day with a slight breeze out in me son-in-law's field. Packed t' parachute with some waddin' and loaded a D12-3. Blimey! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I manned t' video camera and grandson Josiah manned Launch Central. We counted down and off he went. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Nice boost off t' pad and arched so slighty into t' breeze. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! I don't think I will use a D12-5 or 7.
Chute popped just about right at apogee and Batman2 returned safely t' t' ground. Aye aye! I would venture a guess o' approx. Ahoy! Arrr! 400' be t' altitude. Arrr!
All in all this be a fun build and cheap. Avast, me proud beauty! T' only cost I had was for t' main body tube which really doesn't count because I bought it for another reason.
Sponsored Ads