Published: | 2010-06-14 |
Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
I saw this missile at t' Air Force Museum in Dayton, me bucko, OH and decided I had t' build it. Begad! Aye aye! A single
stage, arrr, mid-power (24mm) missile that retrieves on a large 24 inch parachute. Ya scallywag! Begad! This is based on t' Launch Pad rocket
kit.
Construction:
Parts from Apogee Components:
Easy assembly. Avast! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I built mine with Titebond II wood glue throughout. Arrr! Blimey! T' fins were papered t' add more rigidity. Avast! Blimey! The long strakes were cut in one piece and sealed with Fill 'n Finish, and sanded before attachin' t' t' body. The parachute shelf is a great idea that anyone who has built a Launch Pad kit before knows about. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! It is simply a centering rin' glued into t' body tube that keeps t' chute from movin' down t' tube and effectin' t' CG. Aye aye! Blimey! I attached 100lb Keelhaul®©™® for me shock cord t' this centerin' ring. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' motor mount is recessed and like t' LP kits I added material behind it for strength. Blimey! Instead o' a coupler, arrr, shiver me timbers, I took a piece o' scrap BT-80 and made me own. Ahoy! I also covered that with heat resistant tape. Begad! T' recessed motor mounts have a tendency t' char t' tube. This prevents it. Blimey! Ya scallywag!
Finishing:
Rustoleum sandable primer, matey, sanding, some repairs, me bucko, three coats o' Valspar white. Arrr! I printed the
decals from a file that was shared with me.
Flight:
I would recommend any o' t' following:
F24W-4, D15T-4, ya bilge rat, E9-4, matey, E6-4, me hearties, ya bilge rat, E18W-4) Because this is a relatively heavy rocket, ya bilge rat, I wouldn't use longer delay motors
My first flight I launched F-24. Well, blow me down! This was a low altitude flight (just over 100 ft) T' missile flew straight, chute deployed after apogee and landed about 90 feet from t' launch pad.
Second flight was D15-4. Arrr! Very similar, but better altitude. Aye aye! This time it went about 350 ft.
Recovery:
T' shock cord is 150 lb. Keelhaul®©™®
attached at t' parachute shelf. Ahoy! I usually put a wrap o' maskin' tape where t' cord meets t' top o' t' body tube to
help prevent zippering. Begad! I flew on a very calm day and used a Top Flight 24" parachute which worked very well. Ya scallywag!
Summary:
PRO's: Great looking, fun t' build
CON's: Rather heavy for a 24mm motor. Arrr! If you want altitude, matey, ya bilge rat, this isn't it.
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