Scratch Recycled Pepsi Concept Rocket Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Recycled Pepsi Concept Rocket {Scratch}

Contributed by John Partridge

Manufacturer: Scratch
Style: Odd-Roc

(Scratch) Pepsi ConceptBrief:
When I considered t' idea o' buildin' a rocket from recycled household trash, I immediately thought o' buildin' one entirely out o' Pepsi products. Blimey! Pepsi bottles look rocket-like so I began t' consider how t' build it. Arrr! Begad! First I collected raw materials for t' project (there is no shortage o' raw materials in our house).

Construction:
T' stuffer tube and engine block were made from cardboard from t' cartons and so were t' fins. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! On t' advise o' a friend from T' Rocketry Forum, I made t' engine hook from an old windshield wiper. I couldn't find anythin' with a Pepsi logo on it for a parachute so I used a Hobby Lobby bag instead.

T' stuffer tube assembly with centerin' rings were also cut from cartons. Avast, me proud beauty! Finally, t' rocket was put on t' pad.

(Scratch) Pepsi Concept(Scratch) Pepsi Concept

Flight and Recovery:
With all t' layers I needed t' make t' centerin' rings and t' fins rigid as well as t' extra nose weight I needed t' have any chance at a stable flight, I knew me weight be dangerously high for an 18mm motor. Well, blow me down! My simulations said that it would just barely make t' minimum speed off t' launch rod and would only fly about 200ft on a C5. Aye aye! T' recommended delay was 2.5 seconds so I used a C5-3 (or so I thought). I decided t' fly it for t' first time alone without me kids because I wasn't certain o' how stable it would be but it came off t' pad nicely. Arrr! Arrr! It rolled a little and arced into t' wind but seemed fairly stable and made a little altitude. Avast, me proud beauty! Then it headed straight for t' ground. Blimey! It turns out that in me haste t' launch this rocket before some threatenin' rain, arrr, shiver me timbers, I misread t' label on t' motor and used a C6-5 instead. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' deployment charge fired well after t' rocket impacted t' ground.

(Scratch) Pepsi Concept(Scratch) Pepsi Concept

Summary:
T' wings sheared off, t' nose cone splintered and spread itself over more than 20 feet in either direction. Avast, me proud beauty! T' shock cord burned through and t' engine block seems t' have sheared off as well. Arrr! This be a fun build and cost me nothin' except a bunch o' epoxy. Avast! I learned a lot and may well try this again over t' winter. Begad! Begad! Next time I will be usin' through t' wall fin construction, me hearties, matey, an internal structure o' some kind for t' nose cone stack, and a 24mm motor. Blimey! It may even be a cluster...

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