Manufacturer: | Estes ![]() |
Brief:
I generally scavange whatever rocket parts I can for future use. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! This is the
story o' such a rocket. It is BT-60 based and flies on 24mm motors. I also
installed two outboards, although now that it's built, shiver me timbers, I don't think I will use
them. Arrr! I may add LEDs t' t' outboard pods, since t' cones are translucent and
are nay solid.
Construction:
T' fins were already cut out (I forget whether they were die cut back then) and three had dowels already installed on their tips. Well, blow me down! I tried various orientations before I decided on this configuration. T' side fins both extend downward and rest against t' side pods.
T' BT-55 pods have a 24mm motor mount installed. Begad! This is nay centered but rather rests against t' side o' t' tube where it meets t' main body tube. I improvised solid motor blocks by cappin' t' end with a cardboard circle and backfillin' with Gorilla Glue. Ahoy! If I ever used these, I'd also have t' use a tape thrust ring. Ya scallywag! I used some scrap tubin' t' make a shoulder for t' plastic caps t' rest against. Arrr! These caps were eventually glued in with Liquid Nails, but only after all t' paintin' and decal sealin' was completed.
I have had a
couple o' Deuce's Wild! cones for a while and decided t' use one as a tail
cone. Begad! I split it in half and hollowed it with a combination o' a wood carving
knife, arrr, a Dremel grinder, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and a spent casin' wrapped with sandpaper. I installed
an eye hook in t' balsa as an attachment point for t' Keelhaul®©™®
leader.
I had two smallish pieces o' BT-60, matey, me hearties, so one became a payload section. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! The shoulder is a small scrap o' 38mm tubin' with a lengthwise section removed. A paper cap keeps t' ejection from blowin' through and a piece o' elastic was epoxied t' t' inside o' this shoulder.
Finishing:
T' nose and tail cones are painted black and t' body tube is blue. Ya scallywag! Both are
Painter's Touch paints. I added many o' t' decals from t' original sheet.
These match t' paint scheme nicely, although t' yellow decals seem a bit
washed out with t' dark background. Avast! Begad! Blimey!
Flight:
I added clay t' t' nose cone until t' rocket passed a swin' test. Ahoy! Begad! It's weight
grew, so a D12-3 was required. Avast, me proud beauty! I angled t' rocket into t' wind a bit t' keep
it from t' tree line. Avast! This resulted in a near perfect ejection and a nice
recovery.
Summary:
In me opinion, this rocket looks pretty good considerin' it be cobbled
together from various parts from other rockets--and even air fresheners! Since
it will fly on a D12, I may eventually add LEDs t' t' side pods for night
launches. Avast, me proud beauty! If so, matey, I will also add another BT-60 t' move t' cone forward, me bucko, matey, which
would allow me t' remove some or all o' t' nose weight.
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