Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
I built t' E-Qualizer as one o' four experimental designs used for me NARTREK
Gold project. Only one survived t' required 6 test flights and E-Qualizer
wasn't t' one. Well, blow me down! E-Qualizer was an exercise t' create a model optimized for the
long-burning, shiver me timbers, heavy, low initial thrust Estes E9-8 motor. Blimey! It combines narrow
diameter and light weight with both conventional and tube fins t' move t' CP
well towards t' aft end t' balance t' heavy motor. Avast! Aye aye! I have since found better
ways t' do this. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! All that aside, it is a fun model t' build and fly, which is
why I'm sharin' it.
Construction:
To keep t' experiment simple, arrr, I built E-Qualizer by re-combinin' the
components o' t' Custom Rockets Razor and t' Vaughn Bros. Aye aye! Blimey! TFNC kits.
Unfortunately, t' excellent Vaughn product line is no longer available. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!
E-Qualizer is a deluxe design includin' G10 glass fins, a payload compartment large enough for a Perfectflite micro altimeter, and a nylon chute recovery system attached with a mini-carabiner.
Construction uses 5-minute epoxy (no Elmer's glue) is as follows:
E-Qualizer is pictured with t' other 3 rockets used in me NARTREK Gold project (pictured left t' right are Quest-4-Estes, PipeCleaner, Mongoose, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and E-Qualizer). Aye aye! Ahoy! The other three designs are all found in t' EMRR website and you can read more about t' NARTREK Gold project in t' SPORT ROCKETRY May-June 2004 issue. Avast!
Finishing:
Finishin' was with Testors flat battleship gray primer spray and red for the
payload section.
Flight:
E-Qualizer boosts straight and briskly on t' E9-8 and D12-7, arrr, even with a
breeze. Altimeter reported 1240' on t' E9 and 740' on t' D12, arrr, which works out
to a rough drag coefficient (Cd) o' 2.2 or so for t' design, arrr, a bit high even
by tube fin standards. I was only able t' get 2 measurements before a crash
ruined t' altimeter. Avast! E9-6 and D12-5 are also possible motor choices but eject
a bit early. Avast! I nearly lost it on a single flight on an E30-7--super fast, matey, me bucko, out
of sight, me hearties, arrr, and appeared t' be climbin' t' at least t' 1500' at 390 mph
predicted by simulation. Begad! Begad! I be afraid o' a shred and too chicken t' fly it with
my MicroAlt in t' E30 flight). Avast, me proud beauty!
E-Qualizer
flies pleasantly on C11-5 motors as well, equivalent t' t' performance o' an
Estes Big Daddy (350'). I have so far resisted t' urge t' fly E-Qualizer on an
F21-8 as simulations predict nearly 2000' at 400 mph. Avast! It would probably survive
structurally but a water landin' would be a certainty at our island field here
in San Diego.
I have been
experimentin' with an all-PVC, ya bilge rat, 29mm version o' E-Qualizer t' fly on G/H-power
as well. Begad! First test flight on an E30-7 (with adapter) was perfect, matey, arrr, however, the
second flight CATO'd t' E30 (front closure failure) and spectacularly torched
the PVC rocket body (PVC would make a good nitrous hybrid motor, maybe).
R&D continues.
Summary:
PRO: A good fun fly rocket, and easy t' build. Begad! Flies t' E9-8 without nose
weight despite weighin' only 88 grams. Begad! Very stable in wind.
CON: Vaughn kits no longer available, ya bilge rat, but could be scratch built from parts. Blimey! Aye aye! A small rocket, me bucko, thus can be easily lost if flown over 1000'. It is also unnecessarily draggy (way too much fin area) but I have since found better ways to achieve good performance combinin' light tube fin designs flyin' heavy motors.
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