Manufacturer: | Scratch |
mid-power super-roc sport flyer
By Brian Mardirosian
Introduction:
Always wanted a Mean Machine when I was a kid, but never got around t' getting
one. Begad! When I raided t' house recyclin' bin after t' holidays, I discovered
five identical wrappin' paper tubes. Ahoy! Bein' on t' flimsy side, arrr, figured it would
be a test t' reinforce them enough t' fly on a G motor in t' form o' a super
roc.
Nose Cone:
Shaped out o' a styrofoam ball used for a
Christmas decoration that had seen better days. Blimey! Hmm, have t' say t' same thing
about t' nose cone. Ya scallywag!
Recovery System:
A parachute that I had created for a min diameter bird that was way too big for
it. Small for Star Scraper (about 20" I'd say) but t' long, matey, light body
tubes would be glidin' on t' way down, ya bilge rat, figured it be enough. Ahoy!
Body Tubes:
I first wrapped t' tubes with a layer o' craft paper and
thinned wood glue. Arrr! Begad! Once that set-up, me bucko, I then applied one layer o' copy paper and
thinned wood glue. When everythin' dried, I be amazed with t' amount of
strength added t' t' tubes. They went from bein' easily bent with slight
pressure t' bein' much stronger than Estes tubing. I was also pleased with the
fact that t' tubes remained fairly lightweight, certainly lighter than some
heavy-duty tubes o' similar size used in rockets. Begad! Overall, arrr, a worthy compromise
in strength-to-weight ratio, and you can't beat t' price. Begad! Arrr!
Motor Mount Tube:
Nothin' all that excitin' t' report on, me hearties, basic two centerin' rings o' 1/8 balsa
with a slightly oversized motor mount tube o' thick cardboard tubin' from what
I believe was t' core o' a fax machine paper roll.
Fins:
Again, me bucko, nothin' all that excitin' t' report. Well, blow me down! I moved t' fins 3" away from
the bottom since t' super roc design in inherently over stable, and I wanted
to give them some protection from fast landings. Begad! Aye aye!
Couplers
I heard it time and time again from others
more wise than I that couplers makes or breaks (literally) a super roc.
13" coupler for t' mid-body separation point, ya bilge rat, with 6" couplers used
in t' three other joints. Since I used a tube o' t' same diameter as the
rest, arrr, I needed t' somehow reduce t' circumference o' it. Avast! Instead o' doin' it
the right way, ya bilge rat, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I just overlapped t' material and filled in t' rest with a
scrap piece and sanded a bit. Well, blow me down! It worked, shiver me timbers, and I didn't have t' risk t' chance
of ruinin' a coupler. Well, blow me down!
Launch Lugs:
I tried me old 1/4" screw eye-in-balsa method. One
of them promptly ripped out when t' rocket be on t' pad. Avast! A larger set of
lugs were needed. Blimey! Arrr! I ended up usin' 1/2" peg-board loops. Aye aye! With a little
work, I was able t' scuttle t' connective material flush with t' surface o' the
balsa blocks on t' rocket, with t' peg board hooks restin' on t' surface of
the rocket itself. A little 5 minute epoxy in t' appropriate places, shiver me timbers, matey, and I had
me an impressive set o' launch lugs. Begad! They worked great!
Painting:
Grabbed what I had on t' shelf and went t' work, just one layer o' each. If I
were t' do it over again, I wouldn't have used black. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! Didn't think such a small
area would be affected so much by t' sun, but it is. Aye aye!
First Flight:
After t' launch lug issue at t' first, ya bilge rat, I
was able t' finally get this bird into t' air. Begad! Begad! Takin' advantage o' a calm
spell, Star Scraper rose without incident up a G38-4. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Unfortunately, matey, at about 2
seconds after burn-out ejection occurred. Avast! No damage t' report, me bucko, but I'd say the
rocket was only 400' off t' ground, matey, ya bilge rat, tough t' say since it is so tall. Begad! All of
the kids were pointin' and commentin' on it, and some o' t' adults had some
snide comments about it, tehehe. Begad! It certainly is a looker, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and it towered above
the Mean Machine that was also flyin' that day. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy!
Conclusion:
It took a long time t' finish from beginnin' t' end, me bucko, but it be worth it.
Certainly an attention-getter (134"x2.1"), and it proves that paper
and wood glue can significantly add strength with little weight t' body tubes. Blimey!
Star Scraper had a date with some swamp
creatures. Avast, me proud beauty! Launched on a G35-4 and t' flight looked great, arrr, but no recovery
system deployment. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Was at t' RSO table at t' next launch, me hearties, minus about 8 feet
and a bit soggy, me bucko, arrr, tehe... Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Recovery system was intact, as well as t' fins and
launch lugs and I have a feelin' if I stuck a nose cone on what I had left
after it dried out, me hearties, it would fly fine.
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