Scratch Half-Spool Jack-o-Lantern Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Half-Spool Jack-o-Lantern {Scratch}

Contributed by Dick Stafford

Manufacturer: Scratch
Style: Odd-Roc

(Scratch) Half-Spool Jack-O-LanternBrief:
As t' name suggests, ya bilge rat, this is a half-spool (top plate only) rocket merged with a plastic jack-o-lantern. I stumbled across these little plastic jack-o-lanterns that I had stashed in t' plastic parts drawer. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! So, I made a quick Halloween-themed rocket t' fly on t' Quest D5-0/P.

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • One plastic jack-o-lantern
  • Cardstock
  • Clear spacer from a blank CD pack
  • 24mm t' BT-60 centerin' ring
  • Maskin' tape
  • Quick-dry Gorilla Glue and wood glue
  • Black paint

I rolled t' body from card stock usin' two D5 motors as a mandrel. Ahoy! T' glue used here was wood glue. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I also rolled a motor block from cardstock.

I cut t' base out o' t' jack-o-lantern and reamed t' CD blank t' fit this tube. T' tube is centered in t' jack-o-lantern with a centerin' ring. Well, blow me down! Although t' openin' was too small for t' BT-60 ring, it would fit if I flexed t' jack-o-lantern. Ahoy! Blimey! This was glued in place with Gorilla glue.

T' tube was too small t' fit in t' ring, arrr, arrr, so I built up t' middle with a few wraps o' tape. Begad! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I painted t' tube black before insertin' it from t' top. This, ya bilge rat, too, was glued in place with t' Gorilla Glue.

Finally, me bucko, I attached t' clear CD blank. I bored a hole next t' t' motor tube t' act as a launch guide.

Flight and Recovery:
T' jack-o flew fairly straight but arced a bit at t' end o' t' long burn. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! It then tumbled softly t' t' ground.

Summary:
This build was quick and easy. Begad! If I were t' do it over, I'd build it for 24mm motors. Avast! I have several o' t' jack-o-lanterns so maybe I'll build another version next year.

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