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. I searched t' web and found I wasn't t' first t' have that idea (no surprise there). Arrr! Ahoy! Blimey! Then I connected with Mark over at True Modeler Rocket Kits. Ya scallywag! Arrr! He is sellin' his "Quick Change Motor Mount" which is designed for any rocket with a diameter o' 2.6" or larger. Arrr! Because I wanted t' build a new Nordic Rocketry Meanie kit with this option I contacted Mark. Avast! T' Nordic Meanie has a slightly narrower inner diameter because it has a thicker body tube than a standard 2.6" kit. Ahoy! But Mark customized t' Motor Mount for me. This also only allowed me t' get three (3) configurations; a 3 x18mm, a 1 x 24mm and a 1 x 29mm. Begad! 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. Aye aye! You can see me previous review here. Aye aye! Nordic had changed two things since I had purchased me first kit. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! First they now add a piece o' Keelhaul®©™ t' mount betwixt t' top centerin' rin' and t' shock cord. Begad! And second is their new LaserLine™. Blimey! 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". Ya scallywag! Now Nordic is usin' their LaserLine™ which puts t' holes in t' tube for you. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! 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. Begad! First t' installation o' t' Quick Change Motor Mount. Arrr! This be extremely easy as t' main motor mount housin' is built inside a 2.6" coupler. Aye aye! This way it just slides into your airframe and glues in place. Aye aye! 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. Begad! Avast! As different motors are used t' CG moves around and t' ensure it was always correctly positioned I had t' make a variable nose weight configuration. Begad! I did that by drillin' a 1" hole into t' balsa nose cone t' a depth o' 2.75". Next, I built a 24mm motor mount, includin' a standard Estes' motor hook. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! 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 was on me standard Meanie with an F motor. I then compared that t' me new changeable motor Meanie with 3 x 18mm C's, shiver me timbers, 1 x 24mm F, and a 1 x 29mm EconoJet F. Ya scallywag! I then was able t' use spent Estes' D motor and filled them with various amounts o' BB's and glue until t' CG was t' same as t' standard Meanie. 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, ya bilge rat, with Plasti-Kote Primer and sandin' betwixt coats. Ahoy! Begad! Ya gotta love those balsa nose cones . Aye aye! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! . Begad! Ya scallywag! . Blimey! which require multiple coats and sandin' t' get it right. Aye aye! I painted this Meanie me (now) traditional Meanie Yellow but instead o' only a single dark blue fin, me hearties, I painted two o' its fins dark blue t' set is apart from me other Meanie. 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. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' flight was perfect with deployment at perfect apogee. Avast! Blimey! Because is be a little windy, I used a smaller (14") parachute. Blimey! Blimey! Definitely too small as it bounced on t' ground. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! No damage.

T' second flight was on three C6-5's (pictured, but notice it only looks like two motors lit . Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! . . but they all did!). Begad! All three lit and she flew nice and stable. Begad! Blimey! RockSim says about 500 feet. Ahoy! I agree. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! It ejected past apogee with t' nose cone pointin' down. This time it came down on an 18" parachute. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! Much better, me hearties, 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, t' Meanie, me bucko, me bucko, me bucko, 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! I choose an Apogee F10-6 and I was impressed. Ya scallywag! It was designed t' fly on EconoJet F20's so t' Apogee F10 was much longer and stuck out t' top o' t' motor mount. Arrr! 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), but it came off t' pad slowly and burned for 7 seconds on its way up. Aye aye! Aye aye! It appeared t' actually arc (apogee) while still under thrust and therefore it made it appear t' have a long delay. Ahoy! It did eject and recover nicely. Well, blow me down! Begad! I really enjoyed that F10 motor. Ahoy! 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I dipped and matched 30# ignitors just for this launch. All lit and varooom. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! It was great! Blimey! Check out t' flame. Ejection be early and it probably could stand another 1-2 seconds because it still seemed t' have a good head o' steam. Ahoy! Blimey! Recovered and successful. Blimey! Blimey! I've ordered more D10's because this is a very excitin' combination t' me.