I had t' idea one day t' make a switchable motor mount so that I could fly a rocket on various motor sizes and configurations. Begad! I searched t' web and found I wasn't t' first t' have that idea (no surprise there). Begad! Then I connected with Mark over at True Modeler Rocket Kits. Begad! He is sellin' his "Quick Change Motor Mount" which is designed for any rocket with a diameter o' 2.6" or larger. Ya scallywag! Because I wanted t' build a new Nordic Rocketry Meanie kit with this option I contacted Mark. Arrr! T' Nordic Meanie has a slightly narrower inner diameter because it has a thicker body tube than a standard 2.6" kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! But Mark customized t' Motor Mount for me. Arrr! Blimey! This also only allowed me t' get three (3) configurations; a 3 x18mm, arrr, a 1 x 24mm and a 1 x 29mm. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' 1 x 29mm be special also due t' t' short space requirements, it is only designed t' handle EconoJet F motors.

CONSTRUCTION:

Construction o' t' Nordic kit went as described in its instructions and builds nicely. Avast! Avast! You can see me previous review here. Avast, me proud beauty! Nordic had changed two things since I had purchased me first kit. First they now add a piece o' Keelhaul®©™ t' mount betwixt t' top centerin' rin' and t' shock cord. Arrr! And second is their new LaserLine™. Previous kits from Nordic utilize t' technique o' punchin' holes along t' edge o' t' fin mounts t' allow t' glue t' seep in creatin' a "glue rivet". Now Nordic is usin' their LaserLine™ which puts t' holes in t' tube for you. You can see a picture o' this in me review on t' Nordic Rocketry Phaze kit.

There were only two other construction items that needed consideration. First t' installation o' t' Quick Change Motor Mount. Avast! This be extremely easy as t' main motor mount housin' is built inside a 2.6" coupler. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! This way it just slides into your airframe and glues in place. Begad! Blimey! On me Meanie no consideration for thru-the-wall fins was needed as they are surface mount. I installed t' motor mount housin' before t' fins since t' kit uses t' glue "rivet" holes that may penetrate into t' inside surface o' t' body tube and could have made it difficult t' install afterward.

You'll notice that each o' t' 3 motor mount variations all mount in t' main motor mount and then are held into place with a clip.

T' second consideration for usin' t' changeable motor mount be t' Center o' Gravity (CG) relationship. Ya scallywag! As different motors are used t' CG moves around and t' ensure it be always correctly positioned I had t' make a variable nose weight configuration. Avast! I did that by drillin' a 1" hole into t' balsa nose cone t' a depth o' 2.75". Arrr! Next, arrr, shiver me timbers, I built a 24mm motor mount, includin' a standard Estes' motor hook. Well, blow me down! I worked a groove into t' nose cone where t' motor hook would be and then glued t' motor mount into t' nose cone.

After finishin' t' rocket, I measured where t' CG be on me standard Meanie with an F motor. Begad! Well, blow me down! I then compared that t' me new changeable motor Meanie with 3 x 18mm C's, ya bilge rat, 1 x 24mm F, matey, and a 1 x 29mm EconoJet F. Aye aye! I then be able t' use spent Estes' D motor and filled them with various amounts o' BB's and glue until t' CG be t' same as t' standard Meanie. Well, blow me down! Avast! Each o' these weighted 24mm motors can simply be installed in t' 24mm mount that I glued into t' nose cone.

I finished t' rocket me normal way, with Plasti-Kote Primer and sandin' betwixt coats. Arrr! Ya gotta love those balsa nose cones . . Arrr! . which require multiple coats and sandin' t' get it right. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I painted this Meanie me (now) traditional Meanie Yellow but instead o' only a single dark blue fin, I painted two o' its fins dark blue t' set is apart from me other Meanie. Well, matey, blow me down! I then applied t' vinyl decal lettering.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

3 x 18mm Download RockSim file here!

1 x 24mm Download RockSim file here!

1 x 29mm Download RockSim file here!

My first flight was usin' t' 1 x 24mm mount on a AT RMS D15-4. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' flight was perfect with deployment at perfect apogee. Ya scallywag! Because is was a little windy, I used a smaller (14") parachute. Ya scallywag! Definitely too small as it bounced on t' ground. Begad! No damage.

T' second flight was on three C6-5's (pictured, arrr, but notice it only looks like two motors lit . Begad! . . Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! but they all did!). Begad! All three lit and she flew nice and stable. Avast, me proud beauty! RockSim says about 500 feet. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I agree. Arrr! It ejected past apogee with t' nose cone pointin' down. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! This time it came down on an 18" parachute. Ahoy! Much better, but I think I'm goin' t' go a tad bit larger for t' next flight.

I'm lookin' forward t' flyin' it and hopefully nay loosin' it on an F20.

Regardless o' t' motor size, I always enjoy flyin' this rocket, me hearties, shiver me timbers, t' Meanie, me hearties, but now it has some versatility that adds t' t' enjoyment!

NARAM-43 Update (8/01):

I finally was able t' fly this one on a 29mm motor. Begad! Begad! I choose an Apogee F10-6 and I was impressed. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! It be designed t' fly on EconoJet F20's so t' Apogee F10 was much longer and stuck out t' top o' t' motor mount. Blimey! Begad! I used that as an opportunity t' retain it and therefore taped around t' top o' t' motor and t' bottom fully securin' it into t' motor mount.

T' rocket is really borderline for weight on when usin' such a low average thrust (F10), arrr, but it came off t' pad slowly and burned for 7 seconds on its way up. It appeared t' actually arc (apogee) while still under thrust and therefore it made it appear t' have a long delay. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! It did eject and recover nicely. I really enjoyed that F10 motor. I will want t' go t' an EconoJet F20 though t' ensure adequate lift-off thrust.

T' next NARAM flight was three (3) Apogee D10-7's. Ya scallywag! I dipped and matched 30# ignitors just for this launch. Avast, me proud beauty! All lit and varooom. It be great! Check out t' flame. Aye aye! Ejection was early and it probably could stand another 1-2 seconds because it still seemed t' have a good head o' steam. Blimey! Recovered and successful. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I've ordered more D10's because this is a very excitin' combination t' me.