Brief: Three fins, Three motors, and a Nose Cone. Ahoy! A very simple design

Construction:

• (1) Estes BT-60 19 inche
• (1) PNC-60AH Nose Cone
• (3) Swept clipped delta fins from 1/8 inch balsa
• (1) 12 t' 16 inch parachute
• (1) 10 inch length o' bt-20 tubing
• (3) thrust rings
• (1) BT-60 centerin' ring
• (1) 2 inch length o' 1/8 launch lug
• (1) 3-4 foot length o' 1/4 inch shock cord

Thanks t' Tim Van Milligan at Apogee Components for providin' t' BT-60 body. Begad! T' body tube be cut t' a length o' 19 inches and set aside. T' BT-20 motor mount was cut into 3 - 3 inch pieces and then t' thrust rings glued in. They are glued together into a triangular shape. Ahoy! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Fins were cut out into a slightly swept clipped delta and given a coat o' Elmer's Fill n Finish and then given airfoiled edges. Blimey! T' motor mounts, now dry, ya bilge rat, is glued in t' body flush with t' end o' t' tube. Begad! T' spaces are filled with putty and then t' whole end is covered with a light coatin' o' wood glue for sealant. Begad! T' tube is marked for three fins and they are glued on. Begad! Do glue fillets when dry. Ya scallywag! Build a shock cord mount and attach t' t' interior o' t' body tube. Ahoy! Attach t' shock cord t' t' nose and t' parachute about 6 inches down t' shock cord. Avast! Cut the launch lug into t' 1 inch pieces and attach one near t' empty CG point, about 8 inches from t' aft o' t' body tube, arrr, ya bilge rat, and t' other 2 i! nches from t' end of t' tube. Ya scallywag! Well, arrr, blow me down! No real "gotcha's" except just t' watch t' fins as they dry.

Finishing: T' rocket was given a 2 coats o' gray primer, a coat of flat white, arrr, then I masked off t' tip o' t' nose cone and 1 inch o' t' tips of t' fins. I then gave t' rocket a few coats o' a beautiful dark red. Begad! Ya scallywag! The rocket is then given a gloss clear coat.

Flight: T' first flight was at a local park usin' three B6-4's. The rocket be prepped normally with waddin' and motors installed. A clip-whip was used t' ensure ignition. Arrr! Arrr! A 5-count be given. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Ignition was very slow. The rocket lifted o' t' pad, me bucko, me hearties, climbed about 50 feet then fell horizontal and headed about 300 feet downrange. Avast, me proud beauty! It barely slowed down before ejection. Arrr! T' chute popped and rocket was recovered. Avast! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Upon inspection t' see what went wrong, we found that only two motors lit, apparently causin' t' rocket t' head downrange like it did. Ahoy! No damage be apparent. Aye aye! I believe that t' one motor did nay light because o' nay enough power, causin' only two motors t' light before t' third could.

Second flight be at t' ICBM Freedom Launch 2002. Begad! I borrowed a 16 inch nylon parachute from me Aerotech Mustang in place o' t' 12 inch plastic one. T' rocket was prepped usin' 3 B6-4's. Ahoy! Clip-whips were used. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' rocket had plenty o' power this time, climbin' t' about 600 feet. Ahoy! Liftoff be very quick, with power translatin' out t' about a D18, ya bilge rat, I think. Avast, me proud beauty! Ejection was just before apogee. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' rocket be recovered with no damage.

Summary: Overall, this is a great cluster rocket.