Scratch Express Mail Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Express Mail {Scratch}

Contributed by Drake "Doc" Damerau

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Drake Damerau - 03/30/05) (Scratch) Express Mail

Brief:
Mid power rocket made with free Priority mail boxes, matey, shiver me timbers, parachute recovery.

Construction:
To build this rocket, you will need two triangle priority mail tubes, me hearties, packing tape, me hearties, wood glue, and a hobby knife.

T' first step is t' make t' body. Ahoy! Begad! Cut t' end flaps off o' one o' the tubes (picture below-left). Ahoy!

Peel t' self stick tape off o' t' side flap and seal t' box. Aye aye! Set this aside for now (picture below-right). Ahoy! Well, me hearties, blow me down!

T' next step is t' make t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Cut about 9 inches off t' end of one o' t' boxes. Aye aye! Use t' end that has t' flaps. Begad! Now cut t' self stick flap from t' side. Arrr! This be t' trickiest part o' t' build. You will need t' trim the sides and "work" t' fold in t' middle t' make it fit into the other box. T' fit has t' be good t' ensure that t' pressure doesn't leak out and fails t' blow off t' nose cone. Well, blow me down! Arrr! When you get a good fit, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, use packin' tape to close t' end and side. Aye aye! Begad!

Flaps Tape

(Scratch) Express MailNow you can make t' motor mount. I used an 11" x 17" sheet o' paper wrapped around a couple o' E engines and secured it with some packin' tape. Soak the paper liberally with CA t' stiffen it up. Ahoy! I did this t' keep it a free paper rocket, arrr, but you can use a MMT if you wish. Aye aye!

Now make two centerin' "rings" (centerin' triangles really) out of the leftover tube. You can use your motor tube t' draw circles t' cut the holes. You will need t' cut a hole for t' tube now in t' box you made for the body tube. Aye aye! Glue t' motor tube assembly in t' rocket as you would with any other rocket. Begad!

(Scratch) Express Mail Cut three fins out o' t' remainin' box. Aye aye! Blimey! I chose t' glue them t' t' sides but you can arrange them any way you wish. Arrr! Blimey! Launch lugs were made from a discarded Aerotech igniter tube. Recovery can be installed usin' any system you wish.

T' finished weight without recovery was 15.6 oz.

Finishing:
I chose nay t' finish mine. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! If you wish t' finish yours, I would recommend two coats o' primer t' seal t' cardboard before painting. Blimey! Blimey! Another idea would be to just seal it with a clear coat t' prevent t' cardboard from soakin' up moisture.

Flight:
T' first flight be on an E16-4W. It looked like it went t' about 500 feet. T' delay was good but t' flight be underpowered. Begad! This is an F powered rocket.

Recovery:
I used a 24" paper parachute for this flight. Aye aye! T' recovery was good, but it landed in a stream. Well, blow me down! By t' time I got t' it, matey, it was soaked beyond repair. Ya scallywag!

Summary:
This be a fun rocket t' build. Ahoy! T' price was right and its nice t' do somethin' unusual.

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