37" x 4" - 14 oz
29mm
parachute

Brief:
This is an Odd Roc built with found materials ($3.50 worth) It flies well on F's and G's (Econojets, ya bilge rat, me bucko, o' course). It is actually quite rugged and a longer version would stand up t' bigger motors. Begad! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! It is a kid and crowd pleaser wherever it flies.

Construction:
T' body tube are Snack 'Ums cans with t' steel bottoms removed via can opener. Avast, me proud beauty! T' nosecone is a Styrofoam cone sold at craft stores for Christmas crafts.($1.35). I made two centerin' rings usin' t' Budget Rocketry circle cutter and a wood bit for t' center hole. Aye aye! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! They are made out o' 1/8" balsa and then circles o' cereal box are laminated t' each side o' t' balsa T' fins are rectangles o' 1/8" balsa laminated with cereal box material (Froot Loops, matey, matey, O' course. There is a cereal for every type o' Snack'Um so you can go crazy). Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Shock cord is 6' o' 3/8" elastic from Wal-Mart. Begad! Shock cord attachment is with a 12" 20 lb test wire fishin' leader (3/99 cents). Parachute was 20" or 30" from me range box dependin' on t' weather.

This is an easy rocket t' build and went together in about 2-3 hrs, shiver me timbers, not includin' dryin' time. Ahoy! I prepped t' cans by removin' t' bottoms. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I also peeled t' metal rin' off t' top o' each can. Ya scallywag! (It isn't hard t' do) I used non-matchin' Snack 'Ums cans as tube couplers by cuttin' them in half (4.5") and slittin' them lengthwise t' make them smaller in diameter. Avast, me proud beauty! Note that t' colored material is removed from t' outside o' the "payload" coupler t' enhance separation. Be sure t' sand t' inside of t' body tubes and outside o' t' couplers thoroughly before gluing. Blimey! Begad! There is a lot o' wax on t' paper.

Slot t' bottom tube with a ruler and an Exacto for t' number o' fins you want. Arrr! I laminated t' CRs with cereal box material usin' Z-poxy finishin' resin, ya bilge rat, covered with wax paper and allowed to dry under weight on a flat surface. Well, blow me down! Thin CA would work equally well, I think. Aye aye! I also put two T-nuts in t' back centerin' rin' for motor retention. Well, blow me down! T' 29 mm motor tube be out o' a crashed rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I used about 8" for this. Aye aye! Aye aye! Loop the fishin' leader over t' motor tube and slide t' front CR over it so t' end is stickin' out t' front. Blimey! Glue t' front CR t' t' motor tube with 5 minute epoxy and then glue it into t' lower tube with fishin' leader stickin' forward.

Put t' back CR on t' align it, but don't glue t' back CR. After T' front CR dries, glue t' root edge o' t' fins t' t' motor tube. Arrr! If you make your rectangles carefully, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' amount stickin' through t' slot in t' BT will leave a square fin. (Like t' Vaughn Bros. Arrr! Begad! Blobbo) Leave t' unglued aft CR in place until t' fins set up t' keep things aligned. Well, blow me down! Then remove t' aft CR. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! I filleted t' fin attachments t' t' motor tube when I be filletin' the outside. Begad! See Public Missiles Web Page for an exhaustive description o' this technique. Avast, me proud beauty! I used 30 min epoxy with enough Sig microballoons t' get the consistency o' chocolate syrup. Begad! After t' fillets were dry, I put t' back centerin' rin' on with epoxy. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' front CR ends up at t' front o' t' slot, and t' back CR at t' back, so t' motor thrust is distributed over t' whole fin can. Well, blow me down! Avast! Important with sketchy materials such as these.

T' next section o' tube is attached t' t' bottom section with t' homemade tube coupler. Avast, me proud beauty! Additional sections could be added o' course - just make your fishin' leader longer, and use whole cans as couplers for extra strength. Ahoy! The 3/8" elastic is tied t' t' fishin' leader.

T' Styrofoam cone is epoxied t' t' top section o' tube t' form a nosecone/payload. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It is a good idea t' epoxy t' 3/8" elastic t' the bottom o' t' NC before gluin' it t' t' "payload" section. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! I squashed an Estes BNC-20 on top for a point. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! I sealed t' Styrofoam with Z-poxy finishin' resin. Ahoy! Very necessary if you want t' paint t' NC. Aye aye! Most spray paint will eat Styrofoam. Ahoy! I don't have a bulkhead on t' bottom o' t' NC - t' chute is attached below t' payload section and will deploy when t' NC separates.

Now, arrr, matey, it's ready t' fly!

Flight:
First flight: 12/26/2000, temp 30 F. Avast! It was clear with no wind - an ideal time. Arrr! I used an F-20-4 Econojet. T' rocket went straight up t' my amazement, arrr, arced over and deployed right at apogee. Ahoy! Begad! Good recovery, shiver me timbers, although the soft NC dented slightly.
Second flight: 1/13/2001 in Lucerne, matey, CA. G-35-7 EJ. T' bigger motor was fun. Blimey! Arrr! Probably got about 1200' although it is hard t' judge in t' clear desert air.
Third flight: 1/13/2001 G-38-7. Aye aye! Blackjack was nice touch and it really went high. T' tip o' t' NC broke on recovery.
Repair: I squashed another BNC20 onto t' cone and gooped microballon epoxy t' enhance t' joint. Begad! I also re-coated t' entire NC with Z-poxy finishin' Resin thickened with microballoons.
Fourth flight (shown): 2/10/2001. Begad! F-22-5 Delay be too long, but otherwise no problem. Ya scallywag! T' NC held up much better this time.

Recovery:

Summary:
Pros - this started out as lark and wound up with a very satisfying result. Begad! T' rocket never fails t' turn heads, and t' kids can identify with it. Arrr! They will also enjoy eatin' t' product t' generate your building materials. Arrr! Aye aye! T' VB Stretch Blobbo - inspired design is simple and makes a straight flyin' rocket.
Cons - tube material is nay phenolic (doh!) but if you are careful when you slot it and use t' fillet everywhere method, t' thrust is well distributed. Blimey! Styrofoam is nay a great NC material unless you resin it. Avast, me proud beauty! I was too lazy t' glass it but that would have helped immensely.