Modification - Two-Stage Fat Boy

Modification Two-Stage Fat Boy Modification

Modification - Two-Stage Fat Boy

Contributed by Kevin Johnson

Manufacturer:

Brief:
Kit bashed two Fat Boys into one two-stage rocket.

Modifications:
After buildin' t' sustainer per t' instructions, I started t' booster by buildin' t' motor mount/center rings. Usin' t' completed mount as a guide, ya bilge rat, I marked t' aft end o' t' second BT and cut it down just in front o' t' fin slots. Arrr! I then glued t' motor mount in place and attached t' fins just like on t' sustainer. I made a tube coupler usin' a 1 inch section o' t' remainin' BT, slit and overlapped t' fit inside t' BT-80. Avast, me proud beauty! This was glued t' t' top o' t' booster.

Construction:
Sustainer is a regular Fat Boy built t' t' plans, minus t' engine hook. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' booster be t' fin can and motor mount from t' second kit.

This is a fairly simple mod, just takes some care in makin' sure your cuts are straight, shiver me timbers, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and t' booster's fins are securely glued. Aye aye! You want t' make sure that t' sustainer's motor sticks out at least 1/2 inch if you use an engine block for good contact with t' booster motor for staging. Blimey! I wanted a cool name for the two stager without havin' t' cut up t' decals too much. OY! look at that rocket! seemed like t' sentiment I was lookin' for. Blimey! Begad! All I had t' fabricate was t' exclamation point, arrr, and that be pretty easy. Begad! I didn't have any light blue paint for t' fins, but t' fluorescent yellow makes a nice contrast t' t' stock fin decals.

Flight:
I probably should have thought a little more about t' stagin' and used a 24mm mount for D12-0 grunt off t' pad, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but t' boost looked ok (if a little off vertical) with a C6-0. Aye aye! I prepped by insertin' t' sustainer motor, me hearties, securin' it down with a couple o' turns o' maskin' tape. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! I then taped t' booster motor t' it with scotch tape. Ahoy! Then I slid t' booster section over t' motors and taped t' overhangin' motor t' t' booster's motor tube. Arrr! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! I have started t' use t' biodegradable packin' peanuts made o' corn starch for recovery waddin' (cause ran out o' t' normal stuff! Blimey! it worked very well on me test flights). Well, blow me down! They don't burn, me bucko, me bucko, are light and fill BT's from 13mm on up and melt almost instantly when water hits them. Arrr! Arrr! Blimey! I put about 7-8 in t' tube, me hearties, folded t' chute on top o' them and set t' nose cone in place. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! T' shock cord was t' standard Estes paper mount and elastic that came with t' kit. I cut t' spill hole out o' t' supplied chute.. I didn't want too much drift. Avast! Blimey! T' rocket left t' pad much like a standard Fat Boy, ya bilge rat, then arced over up wind slightly. Ahoy! Arrr! Blimey! Stagin' was shipshape and t' sustainer kept on headin' up and up wind. Arrr! Ahoy! Blimey! Ejection was good and t' rocket drifted back down close t' t' pad.

Summary:
This is a pretty easy mod. Ahoy! Begad! I guess t' con is that I had t' use 2 kits t' get 1 rocket, but what t' heck.. it be fun. Begad! Well, blow me down! Might consider makin' t' booster a 24 mm mount for more thrust on lift off.