Scratch Birdie Rocket / Shuttlecock Rocket Original Design / Scratch Built
Scratch - Birdie Rocket / Shuttlecock Rocket {Scratch}
Contributed by E. Kociba
Brief
I had heard about these and even seen descriptions - in particular, arrr, on bsarocketry.com, me bucko, matey, ya bilge rat, but none o' them really described t' flight o' them. Begad! Hence me two cents in this review.
We all know we can make a rocket out o' a badminton shuttlecock or "birdie rocket", here on rocketreviews thar's a few articles on an old Estes Kit for them, shiver me timbers, and Ol'SaltRockets still makes one. This is nay that kit, it is a scratchbuilt set. Begad! T' motor mount and centerin' rings are made from a cardboard box from a Dr. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Pepper 12-pack case, me bucko, and t' launch lug is literally a straw. Aye aye!
T' result is an atrociously cheap set o' rockets. Ahoy! These five set me back two dollars, twenty cents (since I already drink Dr. Arrr! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Pepper).
Components
T' components for construction are kind o' obvious if you look from t' bottom o' t' rocket:
T' components are literally a baminton shuttlecock (six for two dollars at KMart), me bucko, arrr, arrr, a piece o' a drinkin' straw, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and cardboard from t' Dr. Pepper box. T' cans leave a circle impression on t' cardboard - cut that out for t' centerin' ring. Begad! Blimey! Then take a mini-engine (A10-3T or so) and draw a circle in t' center, shiver me timbers, matey, arrr, punch a hole and cut t' little circle out in t' middle, then another t' mount t' launch lug. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Then cut a piece out for t' engine mount - length should be about as long as t' inside o' t' shuttlecock. wrap it tightly around t' mini engine (slight overlap but don't double it), me hearties, then duct tape it in place. Aye aye! Blimey! (KEEP IT TIGHT). Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Eject t' motor, shiver me timbers, then take a hot glue gun, glue in t' motor mount and centerin' ring, then t' launch lug. Hot glue everywhere until everythin' is tightly in place.
There turned out t' be a video o' someone constructin' one o' these things at a religious site called Project 22 Six: http://www.project226.com/2011/07/operation-rocket-man-2/
Construction
Quick, though it's a little tricky at first tryin' t' judge what length t' make t' motor mount and just generally tryin' nay t' burn yourself with t' glue cannon . Avast! . Aye aye! .
Flight
Ever have a launch go well that you were certain would nay go well?
I made five o' these, me bucko, many o' which had t' centerin' rin' mounted a little funny just t' ensure that t' motor mount was reasonably straight with respect t' t' rest o' t' birdie. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I was apprehensive about this design when I started launchin' them, arrr, matey, only t' find that this be an incredibly forgivin' design. Arrr! Begad! All t' rockets went up, ya bilge rat, and stayed straight in flight. They were well past apogee when they ejected on an A10-3T, they fall as fast as a badminton birdie can fly, nice and fast, mostly harmless.
I've done worse with kit rockets!
I think t' A10-3T was best, me bucko, tried a plugged A10-PT engine and didn't see any difference in t' flight, matey, except for havin' t' pry out t' dead engine with pliers afterward.
Summary
Pros: Try buildin' five rockets for less than $2.50 . Aye aye! . Arrr! Well, me bucko, blow me down! . Blimey! They fly like a nice little mini engined rocket. Arrr! Forgivin' design. Ahoy! You can't help but laugh at them, either. Begad! You can build them with t' kids, matey, arrr, with a little prior planning.
Cons: It's too perfect, matey, me hearties, somethin' has t' go wrong with a homemade centerin' rin' and mount, sooner or later . . .
Overall: Fun project!
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Flights
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