Lander

by Tater Schuld

For this contest I plan on enterin' a model rocket that was inspired by t' cover artwork o' Amazin' Stories, July 1986, ya bilge rat, This is mainly a non-atmospheric lander.

I plan on usin' some stability techniques similar t' t' Estes Mars Lander and Centuri Satellite Killer by usin' t' pads on t' landin' legs for drag stabilization.

As I had started this just for me own enjoyment, shiver me timbers, I did nay have any pics o' t' unit before early assembly

Basic Construction

T' Main body tube is BT-80 with four pieces o' BT-5 sliced in half lengthwise t' simulate t' tanks. Slicin' t' body tube this way is difficult, ya bilge rat, and I think next time I'll fill them with expandin' foam t' help reduce twisting.

T' nose cone is a block o' 3" styrofoam, drilled t' accept a 3/8 inch dowel that was chucked in a drill press and sanded down. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I had over-did t' sandin' and used a thin rin' o' BT-80 for a shoulder. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I then painted t' foam with wood glue until t' pores were filled and then a coat o' primer.

T' landin' legs are made o' balsa sheet, ya bilge rat, bamboo skewers, shiver me timbers, and thick cardstock for t' landin' pads.

Engine mount was a question. Well, blow me down! I was thinkin' o' submittin' this for DesCon 12 IF we had done either cluster or sci-fi (non-comedy). Avast, me proud beauty! I also though o' makin' an interchangeable mount in case I wanted more flexibility. Ahoy! Arrr! I decided that all o' these would be addin' too much weight where it is nay wanted and decided t' go with an easy 18mm engine mount. Well, blow me down! This should be adequate as I am expectin' t' same type o' performance as a Fat Boy. Begad! then I realized I was short o' centerin' rings.

Well, I thought it over and realized that you really do nay need 2 centerin' rings, me bucko, just one t' block t' gasses for ejection. Begad! I went and put fin tabs on t' help center t' mount and help take some o' t' load.

Recovery system was a 36 inch surplus flare chute with a piece o' Nomex for wadding/chute protector, both off o' Ebay.

While lookin' for a eye hook for t' nose cone, I came up with t' idea for t' *Quad Gnome*. Ahoy! Did nay find an eye hook, shiver me timbers, so I stabbed a deep hole in t' styrofoam nose, arrr, stuffed a doubled length o' Keelhaul®©™ in it, ya bilge rat, and hoped t' glue would stick.

Unfortunately, matey, Bein' president o' a strugglin' rocket club AND also bein' involved with our lander challenge team (www.landerchallenge.com) time did nay allow me t' completely finish t' rocket as I desired (add on bits and bobs t' give it a more realistic appearance)

Sure was cool lookin' tho...

Launch

Well, ya bilge rat, as always, ya bilge rat, this be a last minute project, so we had t' schedule an after work, ya bilge rat, before t' sun goes down, lets hope t' weather is right, me bucko, get a pic before t' deadline, matey, launch. myself and other members o' t' club went out and launched our entries, arrr, shiver me timbers, with me stuck gettin' t' takeoff shots (I do moderately well gettin' them, me hearties, so I get stuck with it).

Well, this time, me hearties, tryin' out new stability theories ended up with me learnin' something, instead o' confirmin' what I already knew. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! at about 15 feet, ya bilge rat, t' lander did 2 loops, and crashed into t' ground, breakin' ONLY one o' t' landin' legs, me bucko, and ejectin' t' chute after touchdown. too bilge-suckin' I had t' camera set for such a slow speed, matey, shiver me timbers, makes t' launch pic a bit blurry.

Like I said before.......sure was cool lookin' tho...

Summary

As t' name o' t' contest was "purely inconsequential" I believed t' lander fit. It was nay purpose built for t' contest, ya bilge rat, and was somethin' I wanted t' do just t' do, unlike t' video rocket, t' sticker shock rocket, ya bilge rat, t' lander challenge rocket, t' micro hybrid specific saucer, ya bilge rat, t' micro Hybrid Fat boy (all comin' soon t' a website nearby) All o' which I wanted t' do in order t' have them do something.