Scratch SynerJet Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - SynerJet {Scratch}

Contributed by Kathy Kippen

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Kathy Miller - 06/21/09) (Scratch) Synerjet

Brief:
This a scratch built spaceship rocket designed for t' 2009 Design-A-Spaceship contest. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! It is constructed o' 110lb cardstock and presentation board.

Construction:
T' parts include:

  • BT-50 for t' internal tube/motor mount
  • screw eye
  • presentation board for centerin' rings, fins, and bulkhead
  • ¼" elastic shock cord
  • 1" plastic streamer
  • 1/8" launch lug
  • 110lb cardstock
  • clay for nose weight
  • 1 BT-50 size centerin' ring
  • motor block for BT-50 tube
  • 1-½" long coupler t' fit into BT-50 tube (can make from BT-50 tube)

I first cut t' centerin' rings, me bucko, bulkhead, shiver me timbers, and fins from t' presentation board. Ahoy! Next I cut t' BT-50 to 4-½". Begad! Well, blow me down! I used an online transition template t' print out t' templates for t' nose cone, arrr, body, me hearties, and tail cone. Ya scallywag! For t' larger centerin' rings, I used t' template printout from RockSim. For t' bulkhead, I just used one of t' 'holes' from a centerin' ring.

After printin' out t' templates on t' cardstock, ya bilge rat, I then carefully shaped t' nosecone and transition sections into cone shapes. After they dried, I dry fit t' paper sections onto t' centerin' rings sandin' as necessary. Blimey! Well, blow me down!

Next, matey, arrr, I glued t' motor block into t' tube usin' a spent 24mm motor t' push it into place leave ¼" t' 3/8" o' t' motor stickin' out. After that had set, arrr, I glued t' centerin' rings onto t' body tube: the smallest rin' ¼" below t' top o' t' tube, t' two larger tubes at 2-½" and 2-¾" from t' top o' t' tube and t' medium rin' flush with t' bottom o' t' tube.

After t' glue has dried, I carefully glued t' middle transition section t' t' top end o' t' tube makin' sure it is perfectly straight on t' top centerin' rin' and top middle centerin' ring. Then I added t' transition t' the bottom again makin' sure t' piece was perfectly straight on t' lower middle rin' and bottommost ring. Begad! I let it thoroughly dry.

(Scratch) Synerjet(Scratch) Synerjet

T' finish t' nose cone, I glued t' coupler onto t' nose cone bein' careful t' get it straight. Aye aye! When it was dry, shiver me timbers, I filled t' cone with clay leavin' a ¼" lip t' t' edge. Begad! Glued t' bulkhead into t' coupler. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! When all was dry, I added t' screw eye for shock cord attachment.

As this is a tricky design, arrr, I glued t' launch lug t' a fin makin' sure it was straight.

T' shock cord is mounted in t' Estes fashion with t' other end tied t' t' screw eye. Begad! Blimey! T' streamer is tied on about 1/3 from t' nose cone.

Finishing:
Since I used color cardstock, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I didn't really need t' paint anything. Aye aye! I used a color highlighter marker t' paint the fins t' match t' cardstock.

Flight:
T' Synerjet flew on C11-3s for all three flights. Avast! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' first flight was unstable. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! For t' second flight, me bucko, matey, I used a spacer t' extend t' motor out t' back ½". Avast! Ya scallywag! This caused t' rocket t' be even more unstable. Avast! Begad! T' third flight was a recreation o' t' first.

Recovery:
Recovery for all flights was after t' rocket hit t' ground. Each landin' broke a forward fin off.

Summary:
I would say this is nay a good rocket design as it is too stubby t' be stable. Arrr! Blimey! Even tryin' t' upscale it in RockSim it was nay stable. It was a fun and interestin' build.

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