Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
T' Space Vehicle Gemini C is a military research rocket. I used this DC Gemini
rocket kit for me kit bash, because it has TTW fins, me bucko, which means it is stronger
than t' other ones also you don't have t' worry about t' fin alignment.
Modifications:
Build t' motor mount per t' instructions and glue it in place. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Glue t' fins
in place. Begad! Cut off a 50 mm long piece from one o' t' pods. Ya scallywag! T' rest o' that pod
will make for t' body for t' shuttle. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Blimey! Now cut t' other pod into 3 pieces
that are 50mm long. Avast, me proud beauty! From t' Estes insert card, arrr, cut it so that you have a piece
that measures 35mm x 290mm long. Glue t' 1/4 inch vent tube into one o' the
vent holes in t' central body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This serves as a post for t' shuttle to
hang onto. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! Plug t' other vent hole in t' body tube with glue. Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! Glue t' insert
card onto t' tip o' t' fins so it covers 3 sides o' t' rocket, and be sure
to leave t' side that has t' post clear. Avast, me proud beauty! Glue t' 4 short pieces cut from the
pods on t' fin tip o' each o' t' fins. Aye aye! This will make t' outside motor. Use
one o' 12" parachute and a shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! Glue t' shock cord onto the
standard 3-fold mount, matey, then glue t' mount into t' body tube. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! Lastly, me bucko, attach
the parachute and nose cone t' t' shock cord.
For the shuttle, me hearties, me hearties, glue t' 2 NC-20 nose cones into t' piece o' pod that make the body for t' shuttle. Begad! Mark two lines 180 degrees apart on t' body.Usin' the waste balsa from t' sheet o' fin stock, make two wings and vertical stabilizers for t' shuttle as shown in t' picture. Blimey! Glue t' wings onto the body o' t' shuttle and use t' vertical stabilizers so that they hold the wings in a V shape. Finally, matey, me hearties, glue t' vertical stabilizers on t' t' wings.
Construction:
T' components used in this rocket kit are:
Finishing:
I finished t' rocket with one coat o' Tamiya's gray primer and then I painted
the rocket in Tamiya intermediate blue (US NAVY, arrr, AS-19) and Tamiya haze gray
(TS-32) so it looks more like a military rocket. I use t' supplied decals in
this kit.
Flight:
I got a chance t' fly it, ya bilge rat, because me nephew birthday. T' flights were held on
a somewhat cloudy day with winds at about 2 kph.
First flight be on a B4-4. Arrr! T' rocket moved slowly off t' pad for a nice stable and straight flight. Arrr! Ahoy! Ejection happened at apogee and I recovered the rocket with no damage. Begad!
Second flight was on a C6-5. Blimey! A fast launch! T' rocket went all but out of sight because o' t' low hangin' clouds. Ejection happened after apogee and I recovered t' rocket with no damage.
T' third flight was on B6-6. Aye aye! A stable and straight flight. Ejection happened way past apogee and I recovered t' rocket with damage t' body tube and t' shuttle snapped off on landing.
Recovery:
I put one parachute in, because t' problem is that I don't really like 2
parachutes, shiver me timbers, I just want one, me bucko, matey, but I be worried about that if I only put one in,
the ejection gas won't deploy t' only parachute resultin' in a lawn dart.
Summary:
This rocket has good recovery and has through t' wall fin mounts so t' fins
are self-aligned, matey, but two parachutes adds complications such as twisted shroud
lines. Begad! Begad! I think t' Estes Gemini DC is a good rocket for this kit bash.
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