Starburst Cam Modification

Scratch - Starburst Cam {Modification}

Contributed by Solomon Westerman

Manufacturer: Scratch

 

Brief:
Well, at first this started out as a modification t' tie me friends LOC Vulcanite H76 for max motor power. Aye aye! Arrr! When I look back at it, ya bilge rat, it was a pretty stupid idea. Nay only is anythin' over a H waaaaay too powerful for this, shiver me timbers, but I have t' use an adapter every flight. Ya scallywag! I also added pencam.

Modifications:
T' pencam mount is simply a coupler with two bulkheads mounted on each end. T' assembly is mounted in t' payload section o' your rocket, me hearties, which has a hole cut t' exact size o' your pencam (mine be t' Aiptek 1.3Mb SD). I then mounted t' camera facin' down with a custom made shroud made out o' aluminium screwed t' t' payload section. Well, blow me down! There is an extra screw that goes from t' outside o' t' payload through t' couple t' keep t' entire assembly from rotating. I also added a small piece o' foam on t' bottom bulkhead so t' camera has paddin' t' prevent damage durin' acceleration. Avast! At launch I turn on t' camera t' start filmin' (it has 11 minutes o' video with a 128mb SD card), shiver me timbers, then take strappin' tape and put one wrap around t' payload and camera. Well, blow me down! Finally, I screw t' shroud on and launch t' rocket.

Construction:
It's just your basic LOC Starburst with a single 38mm mount instead o' t' dual 24mm mounts. Well, blow me down! Here is a list o' t' small modifications:

  • Attached a nylon shock cord (drilled through forward centerin' ring, knotted, shiver me timbers, and epoxied t' motor mount)
  • Added a 12ft orange nylon shock cord
  • X-Type parachute from Top Flight Recovery, LLC
  • Pencam mount

T' Construction o' t' Starburst itself was nothin' special, ya bilge rat, matey, just your standard LOC Kit: high quality, strong, and very stable. Begad! T' only problem was t' elastic shock cord, matey, which I replaced (as you should do with ALL o' your mid/high power rockets).

T' quality o' t' LOC kit be outstanding, shiver me timbers, as usual. No damaged body tubes or anythin' out o' t' ordinary. Begad! Blimey! T' instructions are LOC type (the back page o' t' picture o' t' kit), me bucko, but I did nay use them (not that it would have done much good, it was pretty much all about t' 2 motor tubes). Aye aye! Blimey! All parts fitted together with minimal sanding, shiver me timbers, and all seemed top quality. Paintin' was a breeze usin' automotive paints. T' only gripe I have with LOC is that they did nay extend t' fins t' reach t' motor tube, shiver me timbers, me bucko, arrr, because t' fin tabs are very small. This could become a problem in t' future with large thrusts, matey, but this rocket is light enough that I am scared t' launch it on a 'H', much less a 'J'.

Flight:
I was afraid o' nay gettin' enough speed on a G80, so I loaded up a H128 at Tripoli Quad Cities. I had no problem with t' LCO t' set up t' camera and launch first. T' rocket flew a little off due t' t' uneven drag o' t' shroud but it was pretty stable. Begad! Arrr! T' rocket landed and I got video, which you can download at me web site, ya bilge rat, off t' SD card. Avast! Bein' consumed with need t' put a big motor in it on t' very same day, me hearties, I loaded up a H268R. T' rocket kicked off t' pad super fast--I wouldnt be surprised it if broke mach, arched over, matey, still comin' down, shiver me timbers, still comin' down.....!@#$%%!!! It landed on a soft dirt field about 300 feet away from t' pads. Ahoy! T' entire payload section was buried, me bucko, and t' camera was TOTALLY destroyed. Well, blow me down! Begad! However when I looked in t' camera, matey, I saw that t' SD card was still intact!!! I am in t' process o' gettin' a new camera now so I will be able t' see crash footage. Ahoy! T' booster section o' t' rocket is in pretty good shape, shiver me timbers, only one small kink betwixt t' centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, but everythin' 3in forward o' t' centerin' rings will need t' be replaced. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Upon inspection, we concluded that t' motor failed because o' a combination o' things: nay enough ejection powder (although I had t' same as t' H128), matey, too tight o' a fit for t' coupler, ya bilge rat, and very, very high thrust crushin' everythin' down (includin' payload).

MODS LOC Starburst Pencam MODS LOC Starburst Pencam

MODS LOC Starburst Pencam MODS LOC Starburst Pencam

Summary:
PROs: Cheap, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, instant gratification for your work, and some sweet pictures/video!!

CONs: Always pack more ejection than you think you need...

Related Products

comment Post a Comment