Home Improvement, T' Rocket

Background

Also, me bucko, since it fit with t' theme, ya bilge rat, I chose t' include Donald Qualls' (a.k.a. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' Silent Observer) U.M.R.S. (Universal Motor Retention System) as published in t' July/August 1998 Sport Rocketry.This system uses PVC plumbin' parts t' retain 29mm (and 24mm w/ adapters) motors in t' a rocket.I've wanted t' try this for a while and Home Improvement was t' perfect opportunity.  Too bad one o' t' inspirations for t' U.M.R.S., shiver me timbers, t' DarkStar motors, have been discontinued.(I do have one F62-4 and two F62-6's stashed away... Ya scallywag! Ahoy! but I haven't decided if Home Improvement be t' proper use for t' -4 yet).

Parts List

Construction

1. U.R.M.S. Begad! components:You may want t' read Don Qualls' excellent write up on this motor retention method at this link.To cut t' nipple, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I used t' band saw at work with pretty good results.This can probably also be done with a hack saw and a steady hand or a miter saw (watch your fingers, shiver me timbers, this part is nay very big!)You can make another U.R.M.S. Arrr! Avast! with t' other end.My nipple ended up t' be just about 11/16" long.I drilled a 3/4" hole in t' pipe cap but left off t' AR2050 referenced in t' U.R.M.S. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! article as me motor fit snug without it.
2. Motor Mount:T' motor mount is put together pretty much like you're average rocket except, bein' t' Home Improvement Rocket, we use Liquid Nails for t' assembly (See Adhesive note).T' aft centerin' rin' needs t' be positioned according to how t' PVC nipple was cut for t' U.R.M.S. Ahoy! Begad! (step 1 above) such that when t' nipple is butted up against t' aft centerin' ring, arrr, t' end of the motor mount tube will be recessed in t' nipple about 3/16".  For me setup, me hearties, t' nipple is 11/16" so subtractin' 3/16" o' recess leaves 1/2".So t' aft centerin' rin' is set up 1/2" on t' motor mount tube.
3. U.R.M.S. Avast, me proud beauty! Nipple Shim: T' provide a snug fit for t' nipple on the motor mount tube, me hearties, a cardboard shim is needed.I used a piece o' cardboard from t' back o' a legal pad.Cut it 1/2" wide and just long enough to wrap around t' tube.Since t' fit was snug, shiver me timbers, I used wood glue here t' prevent a thickness build up from t' Liquid Nails.
4. Shock Cord:I chose t' mount me shock cord t' t' motor mount as shown in t' figure.I simply notched t' forward centerin' ring to allow t' cord t' get t' t' front o' t' motor mount and wrapped the cord around t' motor mount tube several time usin' liquid nails t' secure it in place.To keep t' shock cord from gettin' glue on it in the followin' steps, fish t' end o' it back through t' motor mount tube, bundle it up and keep it in t' tube with a piece o' maskin' tape.
5. Motor Mount Installation:Usin' sandpaper, rough up t' inside of t' thick nap paint roller at t' locations where t' centerin' rings will sit within t' tube.Usin' a dowel or similar device, shiver me timbers, apply your adhesive o' choice in a rin' about 6" into t' aft end o' t' paint roller.Slide t' forward end o' t' motor mount assembly into the roller but stop before touchin' t' adhesive.Now apply a rin' o' adhesive just inside t' aft end o' t' tube (You have t' work around t' motor mount tube).In one smooth motion, matey, push t' motor mount assembly into t' tube until t' aft end o' t' aft centerin' ring is flush with t' aft end o' t' paint roller.Allow t' dry.
6. U.M.R.S. Blimey! Aye aye! Nipple Attachment:As instructed at t' U.M.R.S. page, use thickened PVC cement t' glue t' nipple t' t' aft end o' the motor mount which is stickin' out t' back o' t' paint roller.Make sure you butt t' nipple against t' aft centerin' ring. 
7. Coupler Construction:Make a coupler for t' two paint rollers from t' saran wrap roll.Cut a 3" section off o' t' roll.  T' tube is too big for t' roller I.D.'s so you need t' remove a lengthwise slice from t' coupler.About 1/8" does it but check as you go to make sure.Once you have a good (slightly loose) fit in t' paint rollers,glue t' coupler together usin' some more cardboard as a backin' on t' inside part o' t' coupler.
8. Coupler Assy: Rough up t' I.D. Avast! Ahoy! o' t' paint roller.Apply  your adhesive o' choice t' t' inside o' t' front end o' t' paint roller and slide t' coupler approx. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! 1.5" into t' paint roller and allowed to dry.Once dry, me hearties, rough up t' I.D. Aye aye! o' t' end o' t' t' blue foam roller, me hearties, applyadhesive t' t' I.D. o' t' blue foam roller and slide it over t' coupler buttin' it up against t' paint roller.Make sure t' tubes are aligned and straight.
9. Liquid Nails Tube Preparation:If nay empty, me bucko, use your caulk gun and empty t' contents o' t' liquid nails tube in a safe place/manner.  Cut off t' aft metal rin' on t' tube.There will probably be some left over smears o' Liquid Nails on t' inside o' t' tube.This is all right except for t' aft 3/4" where t' Liquid nails tube will interface with t' blue foam roller.If necessary, sand t' aft 3/4" o' the tube t' remove any o' this residue.
10. Liquid Nails Tube Shock Cord Mount & Shoulder Stop:
    
    Using the Saran wrap tube, construct two 3/4" thick rings as shown in t' figure to fit inside t' Liquid Nails tube.These must be fit individually to account for t' Liquid Nails residue inside t' tube.One will be recessed into t' tube 2-1/4" and will be t' shock cord mount.  T' other will be recessed into t' tube 3/4" and will provide a shoulder stop when t' Liquid Nails tube is slid over t' blue foam roller.  Tie one end o' t' shock cord around t' shock cord mount ring.Glue this rin' in t' aft end o' t' Liquid Nails tube and recess about 2-1/4".  Thread t' shock cord through t' shoulder rin' and glue this rin' into the aft end o' t' Liquid Nails tube and recess about 3/4".
11. Foam Roller Front Coupler:
    
    To provide a coupler for t' top Liquid Nails tube t' slide over t' blue foam roller, we use none other than Duct Tape.First you need t' remove t' forward 2" o' foam from t' roller.  Simply use your hobby knife t' score a line around t' tube at t' 2" mark and you can peal off t' foam.T' image shows me first test cut of 1/2" and t' a dimension for t' full 2" which was eventually removed. Note: there is a small amount o' foam which will nay come off but that's not a big deal. Then build a surface by wrappin' t' duct tape around this 2" area until t' Liquid Nails tube will just fit over it (Like the fit o' a nose cone in a normal rocket).
12. Paint Brush Fins (2):To prepare t' paint brush fins, arrr, cut off one corner as shown in figure and make a bunch o' cuts on t' surfaces to be glued so t' glue has somethin' t' bite into.You will be aligning the end o' t' metal bristle retainer with t' aft end o' t' paint roller (Refer t' any full size picture o' rocket in this page).Lay down nice size beads o' Liquid Nails where t' brush will contact t' tube and press t' brush into t' tube.Make sure t' brush is straight and true as you would a fin.You need t' hold each brush in place for about a half hour or it will probably move on you.I couldn't figure out a quick way t' clamp t' irregular surface so I bit t' bullet and waited it out.Full cure will o' t' Liquid Nails will take a couple days.
13. Plastic Scraper Fins (2):Ok, this is kind o' a cop out but you install t' plastic scraper fins just like t' paint brushes except you don't need t' cut a flat surface on them.
14. CPVC Elbow Launch Lugs:
    
    To Prepare t' elbows for use as launch lugs.Drill a 5/16" Hole parallel t' one leg o' t' elbow and as far up as you can.Then rough up t' bottom usin' a razor saw or band saw so t' glue has somethin' t' bite into.In-between a Paint Brush and Plastic Scraper, shiver me timbers, attach t' launch lugs by applyin' a liberal bead o' glue around t' roughed up end and holdin' in place for about 30 minutes.These I was able t' clamp into position with quick clamps.  Point t' elbows at each other as shown below and make sure t' launch rod holes line up before t' glue sets up.
15. Miscellaneous Final Assembly:
    
    All that's left is t' tie the two shock cords together and provide a chute o' some sort.I was goin' t' use some old plastic tarp that I used t' cover a pile o' wood last winter but time constraints prevented me from that so I recycled my parachute from another "flounder" model t' Quaker Oat Boy.T' ideal waddin' would be cellulose insulation but I didn't have any o' that either so a heat shield from Prat Hobbies was what I used.
16. To prep t' U.M.R.S. Wrap some 3/4" maskin' tape around t' aft end of the motor t' create a thrust collar.Then just slip t' motor into the mount and tighten t' PVC cap.Don't tighten too much or you may nay be able t' get it off.Much more info is at Don Qualls' site on t' U.M.R.S.

Flight Report

T' center o' gravity seemed a little far back by t' "feel" method but time was a-wastin' and I knew I wasn't that far off from what it should be.T' field was big enough and empty so I couldn't do too much damage anyway :-)A quick 5 count and a little chuff and WHAM, the F20 burped t' life.Unfortunately, matey, at around 40 ft. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! things got real unstable and Home Improvement, me bucko, T' Rocket did a couple loops and acrobatic moves before free fallin' from maybe a total o' 60 ft.Ejection happened about a half second after touch down.:-( ... I guess t' "feel" method isn't always that bad after all...We missed a picture of the launch but here is one o' Home Improvement, T' Rocket just before crasin' back t' earth(You can also see some o' t' smoke from the lift off in t' image).

T' only damage be that one o' t' launch lug elbows had gotten very loose.It be a little loose t' begin with but with all that glue impregnated into t' paint roller "fur" I didn't think it would come off.  Since t' beginnin' o' t' flight seemed stable, arrr, matey, I don't think this contributed significantly t' t' crash.