MiniToobo be t' result o' some nostalgic thinkin' combined with a few "what if" ideas. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' design is inspired by t' look o' t' old Centuri Groove Tube and t' positive stage-couplin' o' t' Centuri "pass-port" stagin' system. Ahoy! For better economy and t' performance increase afforded by reduced cross-sectional area, MiniToobo uses 13mm mini engines. Ya scallywag! (You might even call MiniToobo a tribute t' t' ill-fated A10-0T engines). 

To counteract t' rearward shift o' t' rocket's CG as stages are added, shiver me timbers, me hearties, ya bilge rat, the booster stages have progressively larger tube-fins. Aye aye! Fortunately, ya bilge rat, matey, tube diameters for five-tube and four-tube clusters around a BT-5 tube just happen t' be close to t' diameters o' BT-20 and BT-55 tubes. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! T' result is a mildly larger first booster, matey, and a wildly larger second booster. Arrr! Well, arrr, blow me down! It also works out quite nicely that by balancin' t' sustainer for stable flight with an A10-3T engine, matey, arrr, matey, the two-stage and three-stage configurations remains stable when usin' a 1/2A10-4T for t' sustainer and A10-0T for booster(s).

Stage couplin' is quite solid since t' top o' each lower stage is squeezed between t' engine and tube-fins o' t' adjacent upper stage. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' booster's are vented a la G. Ahoy! Ahoy! Harry Stine for improved air-start reliability. Avast, me proud beauty! I usually insert a paper liner into t' boosters t' reduce scorchin' and increase t' boosters' useful lifetimes. Ahoy! Arrr!

MiniToobo is stable when flown in single-stage, shiver me timbers, two-stage, matey, or three-stage configurations. Arrr! T' long profile o' t' sustainer combined with t' compact tube-fins results in straight, high flights with little weathercockin' in fairly high winds. Weathercockin' becomes more noticeable as stages are added.

Sustainer
length: 28cm (11")
calibre: 13.8mm (0.544")
engine mount: 13mm
weight: 9.6g
fins: six BT-5 tube cluster

Booster 1
length: 11cm (4.3")
calibre: 13.8mm (0.544")
engine mount: 13mm
weight: 7.4g
fins: five BT-20 tube cluster

Booster 2
length: 11cm (4.3")
calibre: 13.8mm (0.544")
engine mount: 13mm
weight: 16.6g
fins: four BT-55 tube cluster

3-Stage Configuration:
length: 47cm (18.5")
calibre: 13.8mm (0.544")
weight: 33.6g
recovery: sustainer:streamer booster:tumble

recommended engines:

single-stage (sustainer only):
1/2A3-2T, shiver me timbers, 1/2A3-4T, me hearties, me bucko, A3-4T, A10-3T

multi-stage:
sustainer: 1/2A3-4T boosters: A10-0T
 

Sustainer Parts List

1 - 210mm (8.25") o' BT-5 body tube
6 - 50mm (2") o' BT-5 body tube
1 - 50mm (2") o' 3mm (1/8") launch lug
1 - 13mm dia. Ya scallywag! engine block (EB-5)
1 - Estes PN-5 nose cone (Quark-style)
1 - Crepe Streamer (40mm x 400mm)
1 - 3mm (1/8") x 540mm (21") elastic shock cord
1 - 180mm (7") o' Keelhaul®©™® twine

Booster 1 Parts List

1 - 95mm (3-3/4") o' BT-5 body tube
5 - 50mm (2") o' BT-20 body tube
1 - 13mm dia. Avast! Blimey! engine block (EB-5)

Booster 2 Parts List

1 - 95mm (3-3/4") o' BT-5 body tube
4 - 50mm (2") o' BT-55 body tube
1 - 13mm dia. engine block (EB-5)
1 - 87mm x 19mm strip o' kraft paper or maskin' tape
1 - engine clip for 13mm mini engine

Use this link for plan views o' MiniToobo. Ahoy! They will pop up in another window. MiniToobo Plan Views

NOTE: Except where noted, use yellow or white glue when gluein' pieces together.

1.1 Tie one end o' t' Keelhaul®©™® twine t' one end o' t' elastic shock cord.

1.2 Tie t' other end o' t' Keelhaul®©™® twine t' an EB-5 engine block. Well, blow me down! Aye aye!

1.3 Glue t' engine block o' step 1.2 into t' 210mm BT-5 body tube usin' an exhausted mini-engine casing. Position t' engine block so thar is about 13mm o' casin' extendin' out o' t' bottom o' t' body tube. Withdraw the engine casin' immediately. Avast! Blimey! Dangle t' shock cord out o' t' top o' t' tube. Begad! Blimey!

1.4 Glue two 50mm BT-5 tubes together, me bucko, side by side with tube ends even with one-another. Ahoy! Repeat with t' other two pairs o' 50mm tubes. Ahoy! Let the glue dry before proceedin' t' t' next step.

I recommend usin' white glue for this step, since yellow glue may deform the tubes slightly as t' glue dries and shrinks. Aye aye! Arrr!

1.5 Glue one o' t' tube-pairs o' step 1.4 t' t' bottom o' t' 210mm tube with 13mm o' t' tube pair extendin' past t' bottom o' t' 210mm tube. Arrr! Blimey!

Glue another o' t' tube-pairs t' t' assembly o' step 1.4, matey, alongside and even with t' attached tube-pair.

Glue t' third tube-pair t' t' assembly o' step 1.4, me bucko, alongside and even with t' attached tube-pairs. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye!

Let t' glue dry thoroughly.

1.6 Attach t' streamer t' t' shock cord, shiver me timbers, about 180mm from the cord's free end. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' streamer can be attached either by tiein' t' shock cord to one end o' t' streamer, me bucko, or by tapin' t' streamer t' t' shock cord with Scotch Magic Tape or a pieces o' adhesive-backed paper.

1.7 Mark t' 210mm BT-5 tube 88mm from t' top o' t' tube. Begad! Blimey! This mark is where t' center o' gravity o' t' sustainer should be without an installed engine. Blimey!

Roll up t' streamer and slide t' streamer and shock cord into t' top of the 210mm tube. Aye aye! Avast!

Pack a ball o' modellin' clay, about 6mm (1/4") in diameter, into the nose cone. Ahoy! Blimey! Slide t' nose cone into t' top o' t' 210mm tube and try to balance t' assembly on t' 88mm mark. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Add or remove clay t' t' nose cone until t' rocket balances horizontally or is just slightly nose-heavy. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

A handy way t' check balance is by tiein' a strin' around t' body tube and tapin' t' strin' at t' balance point. Balance can then be checked by simply danglin' t' rocket from t' string. Avast! Ahoy!

1.8 With plastic cement, matey, glue t' nose cone's end cap t' t' base of the nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Let this assembly dry. Avast!

1.9 Tie t' free end o' t' shock cord t' t' nose cone end cap.

2.1 Make a 5mm diameter hole centered 21mm from one end o' t' 95mm BT-5 tube. Aye aye! Make another 5mm diameter hole one t' opposite wall o' t' tube, centered 21mm from t' same end o' t' tube.

To strengthen t' material around these holes, apply a coat o' CA t' the inside o' t' tube around t' holes. Ya scallywag!

Further instructions refer t' t' end closest t' these holes as the "top" end. Well, blow me down! T' opposite end be t' "bottom" end.

2.2 Glue an engine block into t' bottom o' t' 95mm tube usin' an exhausted mini-engine casing. Aye aye! Position t' engine block so that thar be 6mm of casin' extendin' out o' t' bottom o' t' body tube. Aye aye! Withdraw t' engine casing immediately.

2.3 Glue two 50mm BT-20 tubes together, side-by-side with t' tube ends even with one-another. Aye aye! Repeat for another pair o' BT-20 tubes. Blimey! Let the glue dry completely before proceedin' t' t' next step. Ya scallywag!

I recommend usin' white glue for this step, ya bilge rat, arrr, since yellow glue may deform the tubes slightly as t' glue dries and shrinks. Arrr! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey!

2.4 Glue a BT-20 tube-pair from step 2.3 onto t' bottom o' t' 95mm BT-5 tube with t' bottom edge o' t' tube pair extendin' 13mm from t' bottom end o' t' 95mm tube. Arrr! Ahoy!

Before t' glue has set, glue another BT-20 tube-pair t' 95mm tube, alongside and even with t' mounted tube-pair. Arrr! Begad!

Before t' glue has set, shiver me timbers, glue t' remainin' 50mm BT-20 tube t' t' 95mm BT-5 tube and attached tube-pairs, me bucko, with t' ends o' t' 50mm tube even with t' ends of t' tube-pairs.

There will be a gap betwixt BT-20 tubes. T' gap is filled by applying pressure t' t' cluster o' BT-20 tubes squash t' tubes slightly. This is done by wrappin' maskin' tape, shiver me timbers, sticky-side outward, me bucko, shiver me timbers, around t' middle o' t' cluster while applyin' sufficient tension on t' maskin' tape t' close t' gap between tubes, while nay providin' enough tension t' separate t' BT-20 tubes from the 95mm tube. Arrr! Ensure that all o' t' tube pairs are even with one-another. Ahoy! Ya scallywag!

Let t' assembly dry fully. Avast! Begad!

2.5 Remove t' maskin' tape applied in step 2.4.

3.1 Make a 5mm diameter hole centered 21mm from one end o' t' 95mm BT-5 tube. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Make another 5mm diameter hole one the opposite wall o' t' tube, centered 21mm from t' same end o' t' tube. Aye aye! Blimey!

To strengthen t' material around these holes, apply a coat o' CA t' the inside o' t' tube around t' holes.

Further instructions refer t' t' end closest t' these holes as the "top" end. Well, blow me down! T' opposite end is referred-to as t' "bottom" end. Avast, me proud beauty!

3.2 Glue t' remainin' engine block into t' bottom o' t' 95mm BT-5 tube usin' an exhausted mini-engine casing. Blimey! Position t' engine block so that there is 13mm o' casin' extendin' out o' t' bottom o' t' body tube. Withdraw the engine casin' immediately. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty!

3.3 Cut a 3mm-wide slit widthwise across t' 95mm tube, ya bilge rat, 32mm from the bottom end o' t' tube. Ahoy!

3.4 If t' engine clip is a fancy one with a fingertip extension, remove t' extension so that t' clip is simply "L"-shaped at either end. Blimey! Blimey!

Run a 20mm-long bead o' glue from t' slit toward t' bottom end o' the 100mm tube. Begad! Insert t' engine clip into t' slit in t' 95mm tube. Arrr! Secure the engine clip t' t' body tube by wrappin' two layers o' maskin' tape or glued layers o' a 6mm (1/4") strip o' Kraft paper around t' tube and engine clip. Arrr! Be sure t' leave 20mm o' engine clip free toward t' bottom end o' the tube. Avast!

3.5 Glue two 50mm BT-55 tubes together, side-by-side with t' tube ends even with one-another. Arrr! Avast! Repeat for t' other pair o' BT-55 tubes. Begad! Ya scallywag! Let the glue dry completely before proceedin' t' t' next step.

3.6 Glue a BT-55 tube-pair o' step 3.5 onto t' 95mm BT-5 tube, arrr, with the joint o' t' tube-pair centered over t' engine clip and with t' bottom edge o' t' tube pair even with t' bottom o' t' engine clip. Avast!

Before t' glue has set, shiver me timbers, arrr, glue another BT-55 tube-pair t' t' assembly, matey, shiver me timbers, with the ends o' t' tube-pairs even with one-another. Arrr!

Let t' assembly dry fully.

Single-Stage:
Wrap pieces o' tape around t' middle o' t' engine until it fits tightly into the sustainer so that it doesn't kick itself out when it emits its ejection charge. Avast! Begad! Blimey!

Two-Stage:
Prepare t' sustainer t' same as for a single-stage flight, arrr, me hearties, and make sure there is no tape on t' part o' t' engine from t' nozzle end t' 13mm from that end. This part is where booster 1 will couple with t' sustainer. Blimey!

Wrap tape around t' booster 1 engine until it fits tightly into booster 1.

Insert a rolled piece o' paper, arrr, matey, with holes punched out for t' booster vent holes, and slide it into t' top part o' booster 1. Ahoy! Blimey! Align t' vent holes o' the paper insert with t' booster's vent holes. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This will reduce charrin' from the sustainer's engine. Begad! Blimey!

Slide booster 1 onto t' sustainer's engine. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' fit should be tight enough so that you can lift t' rocket upside-down by t' booster without the sustainer fallin' out. Begad! However, t' fit should nay be much tighter than that. T' fit can be loosened by wigglin' t' booster around while it is coupled to the sustainer. Avast, me proud beauty! If this doesn't help, me bucko, sand t' tube-fins o' t' sustainer where the booster body tube touches them t' remove any crud and t' thin t' tube-fins a bit. Blimey!

Three-Stage:
Prepare and assemble t' sustainer and booster 1 t' same as for a two-stage flight, and make sure thar be no tape on t' part o' t' booster 1 engine from the nozzle end t' 13mm from that end. Ya scallywag! This part is where booster 2 will couple with t' booster 1. Avast!

Insert a rolled piece o' paper, shiver me timbers, with holes punched out for t' booster vent holes, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and slide it into t' top part o' booster 2. Avast! Align t' vent holes o' the paper insert with t' booster's vent holes. Arrr! This will reduce charrin' from booster 1's engine. Begad!

Slide booster 2 onto booster 1's engine. T' fit should be tight enough so that you can lift t' rocket upside-down by booster 2 without t' stages fallin' out. Begad! However, matey, t' fit should nay be much tighter than that. Arrr! T' fit can be loosened by wigglin' booster 2 around while it is coupled t' t' booster 1. If this doesn't help, shiver me timbers, sand t' tube-fins o' booster 1 where t' booster 2 body tube touches them t' remove any crud and t' thin t' tube-fins a bit.

Session 1
Date: Monday, shiver me timbers, October 11, 1999 Time: 1:00pm CST
Location: Lakeview Park, ya bilge rat, Saskatoon, arrr, me hearties, Saskatchewan, me hearties, me bucko, arrr, Canada
Temperature: 5 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit)
Wind: 30 km/h (20 mph)

Note: All distance are eyeball estimates

I prepared t' Minitoobo sustainer with a A10-3T engine. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' rocket lept straight up, me hearties, about 250 metres, without weathercockin' noticeably. When the streamer deployed, matey, t' wind blew t' rocket westward pretty quickly. Begad! T' rocket and landed about 100 metres west o' t' launch pad with no damage. Well, blow me down! With a 30mm x 300mm crepe streamer, matey, t' rocket descended a bit too smartly and be nay very visible. Well, blow me down! Next time, ya bilge rat, I'll try a 40mm x 400mm streamer. Ya scallywag!

Session 2
Date: Sunday, October 17, me hearties, 1999
Time: 9:00am CST
Location: Diefenbaker Park, shiver me timbers, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Temperature: 3.4 degrees Celsius (38 degrees Fahrenheit)

Note: All distance are eyeball estimates

I prepared all three stages for flight, me hearties, with A10-0T engines in both boosters and a 1/2A3-4T in t' sustainer. Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket flew up about 60 metres, weathercockin' toward t' south, ya bilge rat, thar be a slight pause, matey, me bucko, then booster 1 ignited and booster 2 was ejected. Avast! Booster 2 tumbled down and landed about 5 metres north o' t' launch pad. T' booster 1 and sustainer flew up t' about 250 metres, arched t' t' south, and dived straight down, itself in t' ground 20 metres south o' t' launch pad. Well, blow me down!

T' sustainer's body tube was ripped and accordianed at t' front end. However, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, a bit o' maskin' tape and some smoothin' o' t' body tube prepared the sustainer for further flights. Begad!

Upon examinin' t' engines o' both boosters and t' sustainer, I found that both boosters had exhausted themselves, but t' sustainer's engine was not ignited by booster 1's stagin' charge. Begad! T' sustainer engine's base was blackened, so t' booster's stagin' charge must have activated. Avast! Begad!

So, t' determine whether t' stagin' engine was a dud, me bucko, I pushed t' engine back into t' sustainer, ya bilge rat, prepped it, me bucko, and launched it. Blimey! T' engine ignited. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! The sustainer flew straight up about 90 metres, arrr, popped its streamer, and landed 25 metres east o' t' launch pad (the wind be shifting) with no damage. Begad! T' 40mm x 400mm streamer was far more effective in slowin' descent and bein' visible than t' 30mm x 300mm streamer was.

I then prepared for a two-stage flight, with an A10-0T in booster 1 and a 1/2A3-4T in t' sustainer. Ya scallywag! T' rocket flew straight up about 120 metres, matey, shiver me timbers, the sustainer ignited and ejected booster 1, which tumbled t' earth about 10 metres northeast o' t' launch pad. T' sustainer flew up about 350 metres, popped its streamer, ya bilge rat, arrr, and descended t' land about 30 metres east o' t' launch pad. Arrr! This was a very pretty, arrr, impressive flight. Blimey! Ahoy!

I then prepared for a three-stage flight again, ya bilge rat, with t' same configuration as t' first flight o' t' day. Well, blow me down! T' rocket flew straight up about 60 metres, then booster 1 be ignited and booster 2 was ejected. Blimey! Booster 2 tumbled and landed about 5 metres northeast o' t' launch pad. T' rocket flew up t' about 190 metres when t' sustainer was ignited and booster 1 was ejected. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Booster 1 tumbled and landed about 20 metres east o' t' launchpad. Well, blow me down! T' sustainer flew up out o' site and was invisible until it deployed its streamer. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' sustainer finally landed about 60 metres east o' t' launch pad.