Brief:
A simple LPR single stage, motor deployed chute recovered tube fin rocket.

Construction:
1 - 24" x 3" BT, 1 24" x 3" BT for fins, 1 chute, me bucko, me bucko, arrr, 29mm MMT and 2 CR's, me bucko, a nose cone, me bucko, me bucko, shock cord and a launch lug.

I was asked t' write a review on me scratch built Circle Jerk. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I hadn't documented any o' t' construction, ya bilge rat, so I decided t' build another one, matey, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but this time I documented t' process. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast!

For both birds I used 3" USR "whitewall" tubin' because o' its thickness. It's twice as thick as any other tubing. I felt that it gives a better appearance t' t' tube fins. Arrr!

I cut all o' me tubin' with a 12" DeWalt compound miter saw. Begad! I use a special rippin' blade that has more teeth than most blades. This gives a smooth cut that needs very little work. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' softer paper tubes do fray a little but that is solved by soakin' t' ends o' t' tubes with thin Cyanoacrylate or thinned wood glue. When t' glue hardens, shiver me timbers, just sand t' ends t' t' finish you need. Arrr! Aye aye! For phenolic tubes, it gives a factory like finish. Ahoy! Blimey!

T' first picture shows t' tube bein' cut and t' jig I used. Avast, me proud beauty! For this rocket, I made all cuts at a 45-degree angle. Arrr! T' original had just t' forward cut at a 45 and t' aft cut at a 90. Arrr! I just wanted t' do somethin' different this time. Blimey!

If you use t' same diameter tubin' for t' fins as t' body tube, you will need 6 fins. Avast, me proud beauty! All tube fin rockets work this way. Ahoy! Arrr! (Do t' math) Attachin' the fins is elementary. Avast, me proud beauty! Draw a line around t' tube where you want t' forward tip of t' tube fins t' be. Avast, me proud beauty! Put a bead o' glue (I used wood glue) on t' first fin and align it on t' BT. Avast, me proud beauty! If you lay it on its side on a table they will be parallel t' each other. Begad! Ya scallywag! No more thinkin' will be necessary because the subsequent fins just lay on t' last fin and t' BT. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! For t' next fins, shiver me timbers, just find where t' tubes touch, draw a line and put t' glue there. T' final fin will snuggle up betwixt t' last fin applied and t' first fin. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Use fillets as you see fit, but they are nay necessary for strength because each fin is glued at 3 points. Avast! Blimey!

It's tough t' find t' CP on tube fin rockets like this but it's safe to say that its somewhere in t' fin section ;-) Just make sure t' CG is forward of t' fin section with a motor installed.

Flight:
For t' original rocket, ya bilge rat, I used a standard 29 mm motor mount tubes cut t' 6 inches. T' centerin' rings (2 o' them) were just 5 ply rings I had laying around. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' 32" parachute and t' shock cord was from a lawn-darted Aerotech Astrobee D. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' nosecone is a 3" PML. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' launch lug is just a ¼" Aerotech igniter tube. Aye aye! Blimey! (OK, matey, yeah I'm cheap) T' final weight is about 24oz. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

For flying, I always use dog barf and friction fit motor retention. Ahoy! She flew straight as an arrow on several F and G motors. Fun t' fly.

Summary:
This is a quick and easy rocket t' build. Begad! Avast! Its different than most tube fin rockets and draws a little attention. Nay countin' t' paint, it took all o' an hour t' build.