Scratch School Rocket Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - School Rocket {Scratch}

Contributed by Neil Thompson

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Neil Thompson (age 12) - 09/10/03)

Brief:Thompson School Rocket
This is a single staged (while in t' demo!) rocket, me bucko, which I used t' teach a small class o' 4 students t' basics o' model rocketry. Ya scallywag! Blimey! We knew t' teacher, a very old friend o' me parents. Well, blow me down! This rocket worked very well for t' students, who all built their rockets well enough t' fly well, shiver me timbers, even though they had never built a rocket in their lives. T' age group be 8-12. (I am currently 12 and a half.)

Construction:
One body tube, 3 fins, shiver me timbers, 1 lug, me bucko, a streamer, arrr, shock cord, ya bilge rat, and a nose cone. Nothing special, shiver me timbers, just a half dozen rockets I whipped up from old parts because I did not have time t' order anything. Just your basic 3 fins and a nose cone (3FNC). T' tube is 6-8 inches long, dependin' on what I had available.

Just t' normal assembly. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! glue t' fins t' t' tube, etc. Fin template is included with this review. Begad! T' kids had a few alignment issues but I be able to correct them, shiver me timbers, and they all flew their rockets.

Flight:
Each person flew their rocket once, since that is all t' engines I had at the time. Avast! Use any mini motor (13mm) you have. If it fits in t' rocket, matey, it is the right motor.

Summary:
PROs: Cheap. Well, blow me down! Begad! I did nay spend any loot on anythin' special, I just went with what I had lyin' around. Ahoy! Good flyer and very stable.

Thompson School Rocket CONs: I try t' design all me rockets so they have no cons. I do suppose, me hearties, matey, arrr, however that we should have set a little more time aside for glue drying. (One fin fell off one rocket in flight.)

Other:
Use this design for school projects and it will be fine. Ya scallywag! Nay an altitude seeker but it is a very good tool t' teach t' basics o' t' hobby.

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