Scratch Pringles Recycled Rocket Project (PRRP) Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Pringles Recycled Rocket Project (PRRP) {Scratch}

Contributed by William Beggs

Manufacturer: Scratch
Style: Odd-Roc

Pringles Recycled Rocket Project

Brief:
I have wanted t' build a rocket out o' a Pringles can for a long time now and I finally got t' opportunity with this recycle contest.

Construction:
Materials:

  • Pringles can for body tube
  • Pringles lid and snow cone paper cup for nose cone
  • Garcia & Vega plastic cigar case for t' body tube
  • A slice o' a used Estes C motor casin' for a motor block
  • USPS Priority Mail box for fins and centerin' rings
  • Dental floss for parachute lines
  • Plastic Garbage bag for parachute
  • Priority mail label t' attach lines t' parachute
  • Elastic from old “Fruit o' t' Loom” underwear for t' shock cord
  • Two 1.25” pieces o' a Bic plastic pen case for t' launch lug
  • 1.25 oz o' nose weight. Arrr! I used a crushed up rock

Pringles Recycled Rocket Project

Additional materials:

  • Two-part 5 minute epoxy for assembly
  • CA t' attach nose cone t' Pringles lid
  • X-acto with #11 blade
  • Scissors t' cut out parachute and stickers for attachin' parachute lines.

I first started by cuttin' out t' centerin' rings and fins out o' a USPS Priority Mail box that I received via an eBay auction. I then attached t' two centerin' rings t' a Garcia & Vega plastic cigar case usin' two-part epoxy. I decided t' use t' two-part epoxy since thar are many different materials bein' used and didn't figure t' plastic cement or white glue would have t' bondin' strength that I was lookin' for. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I then applied some epoxy approximately 2-1/2 inches into t' motor tube t' secure t' motor block. I then inserted t' slice o' a used Estes C motor casin' into t' cigar case and then used an Estes 18mm motor t' push t' slice t' t' correct depth. Begad! Blimey! This is pretty much a standard motor tube buildin' practice when thar be no metal engine hook bein' used.

Pringles Recycled Rocket Project I then modified t' Pringles can by drillin' a hole in t' metal end t' accept t' plastic cigar case/motor tube. This didn't have t' be perfect since I was nay usin' this hole t' center t' motor tube. Aye aye! Avast! T' centerin' o' t' motor tube is attained by t' two centerin' rings that have already been attached t' t' motor tube. Ahoy! Blimey! I then glued t' motor assembly into t' Pringles can usin' two-part epoxy.

Next, I scratched off some o' t' Pringles label so as t' make a suitable surface t' attach t' cardboard fins. Ya scallywag! I then attached t' four USPS cardboard fins t' t' Pringles can with two-part epoxy. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' fin dimensions are a 2” root edge, matey, arrr, a 1” tip, and 3” wide. Arrr! Aye aye! They were also cut from t' folded edge o' t' box so they are double thick.

Pringles Recycled Rocket Project I made a slit in t' Pringles plastic lid and fed one end o' t' “Fruit o' t' Loom” elastic through t' slit and epoxied it in place.

I then added epoxy t' t' bottom o' t' snow cone cup and poured in t' 1.25 oz o' rock weight. Blimey! After t' epoxy cured, me hearties, I then placed t' snow cone paper cup over t' Pringles plastic lid and applied a generous amount o' CA. Begad! Aye aye! I also applied CA t' t' snow cone paper cup so as t' stiffen it up.

I then secured t' launch lug assembly t' t' Pringles can usin' two-part epoxy and scratchin' off some o' t' finish on t' can so that a good bond could be made. Blimey! I ended up cuttin' two 1.25” pieces o' a Bic pen t' be used for t' launch lug. Begad! Begad! I stacked one on top o' t' other so that t' launch rod would clear t' overhang o' t' nose cone. T' launch lug is located approximately 4 inches from t' bottom o' t' can. Arrr! Blimey! This location roughly straddles t' CG o' t' rocket.

Next, matey, arrr, I attached t' other end o' t' “Fruit o' t' Loom” elastic shock cord t' t' inside o' t' Pringles can usin' t' typical Estes technique o' foldin' paper over t' end o' t' elastic and then gluin' it t' t' inside o' t' can.

Pringles Recycled Rocket Project Finally, I made t' parachute usin' an Estes 24” parachute as a pattern on t' black plastic garbage bag. Avast, me proud beauty! I then attached t' Priority mail label stickers that were cut down into approximately ½” squares so that I would have a place t' attach t' lines. Begad! Avast! I poked a hole through t' stickers and fed t' dental floss through t' hole and tied it off. This be t' same procedure that Estes recommends. Avast, me proud beauty! I then attached t' parachute about 2” down from t' plastic lid.

 

Finishing:
There be no finishin' done t' t' rocket so as t' specifically show off t' recycled parts.

T' entire assembly took about 5 hours once all o' t' materials were cut and gathered. T' main amount o' time spent on assembly was on waitin' for t' epoxy t' cure.

Pringles Recycled Rocket Project

Flight and Recovery:
T' first flight was on a C5-3 and was a perfect flight. Ya scallywag! Since t' diameter o' t' rocket is fairly large, me bucko, I ended up usin' 10 pieces o' Estes waddin' t' protect t' parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! I also added tape around t' bottom part o' t' motor tube t' securely fasten t' motor. Well, blow me down! T' rocket deployed its parachute right at apogee.

T' second and third flights were also on t' same C5-3 motors and worked perfectly. Begad! Blimey! I didn't get a good launch picture until t' third flight. T' previous two launches were just pictures o' smoke trails.

Pringles Recycled Rocket Project T' fourth flight was nay so perfect. Blimey! I ended up usin' a single-use Aerotech D21-7 motor. Ya scallywag! I thought that t' delay might be a little long but decided t' try it anyway. Blimey! I should have used me better judgment. It was beginnin' t' be quite windy and t' rocket zipped off t' pad and right into t' wind. Avast, me proud beauty! At this point it was more like an artillery round than a rocket. Blimey! Well, blow me down! As it was descendin' I thought that t' parachute would be deployed but alas it hit t' ground like a lawn dart. Begad! Upon recovery I was surprised t' find that t' only thin' really damaged was t' nose cone. Ahoy! Arrr! Since thar was so much space betwixt t' nose cone tip and t' cap o' t' Pringles can, me hearties, ya bilge rat, it softened t' impact. Begad! T' booster section o' t' rocket just flew off t' t' side with very minor damage. Ya scallywag! Arrr! In order for it t' fly again I just need t' get another Pringles lid, matey, arrr, snow cone cup, and nose weight and I'll be good t' go.

Summary:
T' PRRP flies great! I don't think t' nose cone configuration will hold up for numerous flights but initial flights seem t' suggest otherwise.

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