Scratch e-Cluster Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - e-Cluster {Scratch}

Contributed by Zak Orion

Manufacturer: Scratch
Style: Cluster, Contest

e-Cluster

I designed this rocket with 2 purposes in mind. Arrr! One was t' build a mid power cluster that was capable o' E and F engines without havin' it go out o' sight(smaller launch fields). Begad! Aye aye! And number 2 was t' build it as strong as I could usin' easy t' find materials(namely cardboard tube and wood fins). Aye aye! Arrr! Here be t' design I came up with:

I decided on a LOC 54MM motor mount tube(thick walls) and nosecone. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' fins are 1/8th inch Aircraft Plywood and use TTW construction. Aye aye! T' MMT's are Estes BT-50 with 1/8th inch aircraft ply centerin' rings(extra from fins). Ya scallywag! I used 5 minute Epoxy throughout t' rocket. Avast! Well, blow me down! At first I was goin' t' set it up for testin' timers and possibly dual deployment but I wanted t' test it before I cut t' tube and made a payload bay. Ya scallywag! But after t' first day o' flyin' it I couldn't brin' myself t' modifyin' it. Here is a pic o' t' finished product:

RockSim Pic

Rocket Pic

LaunchT' first flight, me hearties, I tried puttin' a 12 inch chute on t' rocket so it would drop quickly, me bucko, unfortunately it dropped too quick and took a hard hit on t' ground. Well, blow me down! When I retrieved t' rocket I didn't find any damage so I loaded it up again(this time usin' a 18 inch chute) and flew it again. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! On its first launch it had a curious roll which I found out that only 2 o' t' 3 engines lit. Begad! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! But on t' 2nd flight all 3 E9's lit and it went straight up, me bucko, me hearties, barely any side t' side movement and very little spin. Here is a launch pic:

I have launched this rocket 9 times now in various weather conditions(everywhere inbetween 3 mph winds and 20 mph winds) and it always flys t' same, matey, me hearties, me bucko, very straight and very little spin, and be t' best flyer I have. Ahoy! Blimey! As for its toughness, ya bilge rat, it fell fast on its first flight, fell with no plastic slug as a chute on its 6th flight and got one o' its fins run over by me car and t' only damage it sustained be losin' a launch lug. Begad! So far all o' its launches has been on E9's but as soon as I can get some ignitors other then copperheads I will be flyin' this rocket on some F's that I have in me engine box. I also put a rocksim file o' this rocket on EMRR. It is a simple design but a very nice flyer that I have been reliably droppin' in a 20 acre field. Ahoy! Aye aye! Blimey!

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