Persius Galactic Explorer

Modeled by: Stuart Lenz

This design occurred t' me while I was clonin' some old Estes and Centuri Designs from JimZ site, shiver me timbers, a forward trust triple rin' fin. Ya scallywag! Avast! A next generation, ion powered, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, solor orbit telescope. Ahoy! I started by cuttin' 1" from Estes BT 60, BT 80 and LOC 4" tubes for t' Rin' fins. Next, shiver me timbers, I assembled t' engine mount from t' BT 20 engine tube, t' engine clip, me hearties, t' 2 centerin' rings and the Keelhaul®©™@ string, with t' Keelhaul®©™ tied around t' tube and t' upper centerin' rin' slipped over t' string. Avast! This be then glued into one end o' the main body tube, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, flush with t' end o' t' body tube while t' Keelhaul®©™ strin' was coiled inside t' engine mount. Aye aye! Once t' engine mount be dry, t' loose end of the Keelhaul®©™ strin' be pulled through t' body tube and a mark was made on the strin' even with t' end o' t' body tube. Avast! Avast! T' Keelhaul®©™ strin' was then pulled back out though t' engine mount and a loop tied into t' end o' t' strin' so that t' mark on t' strin' be at t' end o' t' loop. Avast! T' elastic shock cord was then attached t' this loop and all o' this was pulled back though t' body tube. Ya scallywag! Avast!

Next I laid out t' fins on t' balsa, me bucko, arrr, me bucko, cut out 3 fins and surface mounted then t' t' body tube. Avast! Once they were dry, t' BT 60 rin' fin was glued into the slots in t' balsa fins and this was repeated for t' BT 80 rin' fin and the 4" rin' fin. Blimey! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' launch lugs were attached t' one o' t' balsa fins and t' other at t' center o' gravity (~9.5")

T' eye hook was attached t' t' balsa transition and t' remainin' parts assembled into t' payload and nose code assembly. Begad! T' loose end o' t' elastic shock cord was tied t' t' eye hook and t' parachute attached. Ya scallywag!

T' CP/CG stability was verified with a swin' test and t' model was launch at t' MASA January launch in White Bear Minnesota, me bucko, Good flight. Ahoy!

Parts

• BT 50 Body Tube 18.0"
• BT50->BT20 Transition 1" BMS
• BT 20 Body Tube (Clear) 2.75"
• BT 20->BT 5 Transition ¾" Estes (X-ray)
• BT5 Body Tube 2.75"
• BT 5Nosecone 2 1/8" Oglive
• BT 20 Engine Mount 2 .75"
• BT50->BT20 Centerin' Rings 2
• Engine Hook Estes
• Eye Hook
• 1/8" Launch Lugs 1" * 2
• Balsa. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Basswood or 1/8" Plywood As Required
• BT 60 Rin' Fin 1"
• BT 80 Rin' Fin 1"
• LOC 4" Rin' Fin 1"
• 100lb Keelhaul®©™ Strin' 18"
• ¼ " Elastic Shockcord 24"
• Parachute or Streamer As Desired

I have now launchedhe Persius Galactic Explorer 3 times at MASA events. Aye aye! I would probably use plywood for t' support fins if/when I build another one. Next, me bucko, upscale for a 29mm engine mount or Hummm 38mm.