THUNDERCHILD

Dennis "Doctor DynaSoar" McClain-Furmanski's Descon-14 Entry

L: Full length (12" ruler for scale)
C: Cockpit detail
R top: Profile o' motor tubes
R bottom: Aft view

Who would have believed, that in t' early years o' t' 21st century, minds immeasurably superior t' ours still wouldn't have learned their lesson, and we'd have t' kick their Martian butts all over again? No germs, this time. Avast! This time it's personal. Avast! Arrr! This time we're takin' t' fight t' them -- on Mars. Ahoy!

This is Thunderchild, named for t' Royal Navy ship that died protecting Londoners escapin' via steam boat from t' Martian tripods in War O' T' Worlds (at least in t' musical version). Arrr! Begad! Blimey! Designed for flight direct from Earth surface t' Martian atmospheric tactical use and return, matey, t' sleek aerodynamic shape hides a rock hard heart. Martian cylinder launchers are targeted by triple kinetic kill rocket launchers midships.

This is me DESCON 14 entry. It's essentially 12" o' BT70, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me hearties, with nose and tail both Apogee PNC56 cones. Arrr! T' tail is cut t' allow projection o' t' 3 x 18mm cluster motor tubes**. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' motor mount is from a 3x18mm in BT70 cluster mount from Thrustline, me hearties, modified by usin' 12" long motor tubes and 2.75" engine hooks, with t' regular ply centerin' rin' fore and a BT60 coupler epoxied against t' aft inside end o' t' tail. T' nose cone cut for the boat tail was cut off even around t' shoulder, and t' ply centerin' ring epoxied t' that after t' fins had been glued in place. Begad! A rin' o' BT60 couple around t' external part o' t' motor tubes anchors t' engine hooks.

T' cockpit (second panel) is a 13mm ogive nose, cut lengthwise, me bucko, t' bottom half cut off o' one, ya bilge rat, and t' remainin' top half inserted backwards under the longer half. Ahoy! Blimey! This is surface mounted t' t' nose with epoxy. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' "rocket launchers" around t' middle are 1/4" styrene tubes, me hearties, with an internal diameter o' 7/32", matey, makin' them 3/16" capable launch lugs. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Highlights on cockpit, launcher/lugs and around t' motor tubes is Pactra stripin' tape. Ya scallywag! Blimey! A band o' very thin styrene was wrapped around t' very top o' t' body, for both cosmetics and for anti-zipper.

T' fins are 1/8" basswood with tabs that fit through slots in t' tail cone (though nay all t' way t' t' motor tubes) for gluin' inside t' tail. Fin design is fairly directly from t' Concorde's S shaped leadin' edge and straight trailing. Blimey! T' fillets are far thicker than strength calls for; they are two layers o' epoxy, shiver me timbers, for a nice smooth curve for cosmetic reasons. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' finish is Rustoleum chrome/stainless steel*, over a healthy layer of white satin finish* for spiral fillin' on t' body, and over flat white primer on tube and cones. Well, blow me down! Recovery is 150 pound kevlar cord anchor, arrr, arrr, looped double, shiver me timbers, and run betwixt t' ply centerin' rin' and t' body and glued in place with a loop left open. A doubled loop o' ¼" elastic shock cord (3 feet exposed cord) runs from t' anchor loop t' t' nose cone. An 18" Rocketheads chrome mylar parachute brings it home. Begad! Blimey! No nose weight was needed or added, except t' cockpit added a bit. Ahoy! Blimey!

Loaded for flight, ya bilge rat, it comes in at 14 oz. Well, blow me down! (CG right at t' foremost point of fin/body joint), a bit heavy for C6's, so t' faster boost C5s (3 sec. Aye aye! delay) were used, as was a 4 foot rod due t' lugs bein' a foot up t' rod already. After a brief display o' three flames on t' pad, t' rocket lifted smartly and straight. Ejection was about 1 second past apogee and deployment was immediate and without incident. Landin' on soft soil, one o' t' fin cut an inch or so into t' dirt, matey, but no breakage or scuffin' occurred. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down!

* Rustoleum's metal finish paints, especially t' chrome, are very slow drying. Arrr! Days later, touchin' them can leave fingerprints. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Blimey! Nay smudges - real ridged prints. Begad! Avast! Blimey! Same with t' satin finish. It makes a great spiral filler and provides a great base for t' chrome (which can be painted over t' satin in an hour) but expect it t' take betwixt one and two weeks t' dry completely. Aye aye! As the chrome (and other new Rustoleum metallics) says, matey, matey, ya bilge rat, do nay use clear over coat. It won't help. Arrr! It will hurt. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Blimey! T' chrome will turn into semi-gloss grey. Aye aye! Blimey! Once dry, the chrome paint has a durable surface. Aye aye! If you want a clear coat anyway that won't mess up t' finish, use Future floor wax (I did).

** Acknowledgment and thanks t' Sandman for cuttin' t' complex curve of three cylinders projected axially through an ogive.