Manufacturer: | Modification |
Brief:
My own version o' t' DESCON 5 2nd place winner.
Construction:
Standard Fat Boy kit contents with a 2 inch paper boat-tail and a long BT-50 motor tube t' handle t' Estes E9 motors. Blimey! Made 3 Sprint-like elliptical fins with TTW tabs t' take advantage o' t' Fat Boy's fin slots.
I wanted t' fly t' F-A-T Sprint at me local field so I modified t' design as posted t' use a 24mm motor mount. Begad! T' schematics in Joe's post made it easy t' make t' new aft centerin' rin' and I used VCP t' print me templates. Blimey! I printed 2 templates on 20lb bond paper then laminated them together with a liberal coatin' o' CA for stiffness.
I also made some custom wire launch lugs by bendin' some solid core electrical wire around a BIC pen in a long U shape. Avast! Blimey! Then I bent t' last 1/4" o' t' legs 90 degrees. I poked holes in t' tube wall and fed t' legs through and then used CA t' hold them in place.
I had t' add about 4 oz o' nose weight t' make t' rocket stable, matey, and t' CG is just behind t' nose cone.
Finishing:
I had a small gap in-between t' BT and t' boat-tail and I used Elmers Fill'n Finish t' fill it in. I also soaked t' fins with CA and sanded them down t' a streamlined shape. I probably won't use t' CA soakin' again as sandin' t' fins afterwards was a pain in t' rear.
I painted t' model with flat white spray paint (Painter's Choice brand by Rustoleum) and then sprayed t' nose and 1 fin with fluorescent yellow. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! I copied t' logo from t' DECSON 5 entry and printed it our as a 1.5" circle, arrr, then colored in t' white areas with a yellow highliter t' match t' fin. Well, blow me down! Begad! I glued t' logos on with a glue stick then gave t' rocket a coat o' clear gloss.
Flight:
I flew me F-A-T Sprint at t' Feb Fat Boy launch held by NARHAMS. Blimey! Blimey! T' 1st flight was on a C11-5 and since I didn't use a motor hook, retention was accomplished by friction fit. I used a motor block, matey, but it be positioned for t' E9. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' model took off and flew a stable flight path. Blimey! Blimey! Ejection was after apogee and t' model was pointed straight down. Blimey! Blimey! No damage occurred on landing. For t' second flight I loaded an E9-6 and friction fit t' motor. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' boost was fast and high, shiver me timbers, t' rocket archin' over a bit before ejection. Blimey! Blimey! Because t' rocket was so small compared t' t' altitude, I thought it be goin' t' fly outside o' our launch site, arrr, but t' streamer brought t' rocket down smartly and safely within our park's boundaries.
Recovery:
Both flights were made usin' 1/4" elastic shock cords with standard Estes paper mounts. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! T' streamers made for quick descents, me hearties, but with no damage. A good match for t' E powered flights. Can't wait t' get me hands on an Aerotech F21 for this rocket!
Summary:
A fun rocket. Avast! Avast! Definitely turned heads as I be buildin' it at club buildin' sessions. Ahoy! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Easily adapted t' other motor mounts.
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