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