Brief:
G-Pod is a downward extension o' me "Pod" series (see "H-Pod" in EMRR). Arrr! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! It is a stubby tubefin design for 29mm F-G power that is about t' size o' an Estes FatBoy. Actually, it started life as an experiment t' try 7 tubefins instead o' t' usual 6 on me "Auracle 54" design presented some years ago on EMRR. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! After gettin' some very interestin' results, shiver me timbers, which will appear in an upcomin' issue o' Sport Rocketry, arrr, me "Auracle 7-54" augured in due t' an ejection failure, leavin' only t' tube fin can intact. I thought it would be interestin' t' try a rocket layout with t' nose cone larger than t' whole rest o' t' rocket. Actually, shiver me timbers, it flies great, me hearties, flyin' on one o' t' new Green Mojave G78-7 motors (longer than t' body tube) is a real hoot!

Construction:
For a stubby, ya bilge rat, 7-tube design like G-Pod t' work requires three tricks: 1) need t' cut t' bottom off o' t' nose cone to create more room for t' chute, shiver me timbers, 2) need t' motor t' extend out a couple o' inches aft o' t' body tube, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and 3) usin' 7 tube fins instead o' 6 means they have t' be o' smaller diameter than t' body (about 75%) and spacers are required for a perfect fit. Ya scallywag! Construction o' t' original "Auracle 7-54" that G-Pod be cut down from is exactly t' same as t' Auracle 54 design on EMRR, so refer t' that, arrr, matey, and all I'll describe here be t' modifications and t' 7-tube tubefin construction. Aye aye! T' photos are self-explanatory.

• T' G-Pod body tube is 5-1/4" long, ya bilge rat, cut from LOC 54mm stock (use 24" if you want t' build an Auracle 7-54).
• T' seven tube fins are 1-3/16" long, cut from LOC 38mm stock
• Saw off all but 1" o' t' hip o' a LOC 54mm nose cone, me hearties, you'll be addin' a dowel rod cross bar inside to attach t' recovery system.
• 54mm centerin' rings (29mm hole) were made from 1/4" Foam-Cor board faced with 1/64" ply on each side (as an experiment), me bucko, matey, but standard 1/8" ply rings would be fine.
• Motor tube (29mm LOC) was 3 1/4" long.
• A 1" piece o' 5/16" brass tube was used as t' launch lug, me hearties, a standard 1/4" fiber lug would be acceptable.
• Recovery system was an 18" Top Flite nylon chute on 5" o' para cord.

Attachment o' t' seven 38mm tube fins t' t' 54mm body tube follows t' followin' somewhat odd protocol (OK, shiver me timbers, its very odd): 1) first tube fin is glued t' t' body tube 7/16" from t' bottom with both tubes aligned on a flat surface. Arrr! Blimey! 2) 1/4" x 1/8" spacers 1-1/4" long were cut from spruce stock and glued t' 5 o' t' 6 remaining tube fins. Begad! Blimey! 3) Usin' t' flat surface, shiver me timbers, matey, t' next tube fin is glued t' t' body next t' t' first with t' spacer separatin' them and 5 minute epoxy is used throughout. Aye aye! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! 4) This process is repeated until t' last two tube fins remain (one with and one without a spacer). Well, blow me down! Blimey! 5) Glue t' 6th tube fin t' t' assembly with t' spacer against t' body tube, me bucko, shiver me timbers, nay t' adjacent tube fin as was done with t' others. Well, blow me down! 6) T' last tube fin is glued in place addin' spacers stock where ever you need t' t' get it t' fit snuggly--I had t' add two 1/4" x 1/8" spacers (1/4" total gap t' fill) t' mine. Aye aye! Aye aye! This slightly non-symmetrical arrangement o' t' tubefins is nay noticed by t' rocket, me bucko, matey, you, or anybody else once painted. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Before painting, I added a strip o' 3/4" maskin' tape t' t' lower half o' each tube fin t' prevent landin' dings. Begad! Well, me bucko, blow me down! It actually works.

T' motor tube assembly is glued together in t' usual way, arrr, with t' rings glued in place 3/8" from t' bottom and 1" from t' top. A groove is cut in t' upper ring, and t' shock cord is tied securely t' t' middle o' t' motor tube and passed through this groove before t' motor tube assembly is glued into the body tube. Begad! Blimey! T' launch lug is glued t' t' body tube flush with t' top (this is only good practice with a very short body tube!) and exactly in line with one o' t' triangular spaces betwixt t' tube fins (pick a triangular space you haven't slopped epoxy into (usually, me hearties, thar be one). Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey!

An attachment point for t' recovery system is created in t' nose cone you trimmed by gluin' in place just above the hip a well-fitted piece o' dowel rod or square spruce stock (I used t' latter) o' 3/8" size. Ya scallywag! Begad! Epoxy some bits of scrap around t' attachment points for strength. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Personally, ya bilge rat, I think this be t' best way t' use LOC plastic cones: strong and gives you back t' wasted space t' hold your chute. Avast! Begad! Tie t' shock cord t' t' cross piece with a suitable nautical knot or some such. Ya scallywag! There is little room for dog barf, so a small Nomex pad is a good idea.

Notice that despite t' tiny size o' G-Pod and t' plan t' use single use G-power in it, I haven't said a word about addin' nose ballast for proper balance. That is because none is needed. Ya scallywag! None. Blimey! Such be t' beauty o' stubby tube fin designs.

Finishing:
Paintin' was with Tamiya rattle can Lime Green. Arrr!

Flight and Recovery:
G-Pod was thoroughly flight tested on motors from D12-3 (on which it is nay stable) t' G78-7G Green Mojave and G77-7R Redline (on which it flies superbly and fast but only t' about 1700-1800' or so, so you do get t' fly it again. Other motors with perfect flights included: E30-4 (with adapter) t' about 600', F42-4 t' about 900', F50-6 t' about 1200'. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Due t' its small size, matey, it was nay possible t' attach me customary altimeter "parasite pod", so these are guesstimates from t' SIM prediction usin' a calculated Drag Coefficient o' 0.95. Avast! Because o' t' very high acceleration from t' pad, I be only able t' get a launch shot with t' D12-3 (on which it tumbled, so don't try this motor). Well, blow me down! I did manage a very cool landin' photo o' G-Pod on a G77-7R Redline, just as it be about t' bonk Dr. Aye aye! Howard Smart's truck (no damage t' either)--look at t' protrudin' motor (2" aft!) and how much bigger t' cone is than the rocket body! This rocket is basically like a cardboard 57mm anti-aircraft shell with tube fins!

Summary:
PRO: Tiny, arrr, stable, shiver me timbers, sturdy and unbelievable t' see an Estes-sized rocket like this (photo) flyin' on G-power and surviving. No heroic measures like glassin' or a ton o' nose lead t' get it t' work. Avast! Avast! Cheap and quick t' build. Easy to just toss in t' car and go flying. Well, blow me down! F42 and E30 are t' best all-around motors t' use. Ahoy! G motors are mainly for showing off!

CON: I need help trackin' it with G-power, me hearties, 18" chute makes it hard t' see.