Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
This is a minimum-diameter, ya bilge rat, 38 mm, all fiberglass rocket. It is a very simple, basic design but is very rugged and high performance. Blimey! Blimey! ...'Scuse me, while I kiss t' sky'...-Jimi Hendrix
Construction:
T' followin' is a list o' t' components. Ya scallywag! T' major items were all bought from Giant Leap Rocketry
This is a *very* easy rocket t' assemble:
Nose Cone Assembly - I drilled a hole in t' scrap dowel t' fit an eyebolt. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' dowel and eyebolt were epoxied into t' nosecone, which does nay provide an attachment point.
Fin can - After roughin' up t' tube and inside o' t' fin can, arrr, it be epoxied t' t' airframe such that t' aft end is ~ 1 1/4" from t' end o' t' airframe. I initially had nay decided on a motor retainer so I wanted t' make sure thar was room t' install one.
AeroPack motor retainer - After roughin' up t' tube and inside o' t' fixed portion o' t' retainer, ya bilge rat, I glued it t' t' airframe with JB Weld epoxy (per AeroPack recommendation).
Rail buttons - I epoxied t' aft button in t' middle o' t' fin can. T' second be attached via a 2" bolt approximately 11" from t' aft end o' t' airframe. Ahoy! T' bolt extends through t' airframe and be cut flush with t' airframe opposite t' rail button, matey, usin' a Dremel cuttin' disc. This limits t' largest motor which can be used, but I decided I would never want t' fly this rocket on anythin' over a small "I" (movin' t' rail button forward would fix this). Ahoy! A nut was used as a spacer betwixt t' rail button and t' airframe since t' aft button is on t' body o' t' fin can.
Recovery harness - T' harness is 3/4" tubular nylon with a quick link on each end. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Loops were made at each end as described in t' article "Attachin' Shock Cords", arrr, matey, Edward Shihadeh and Bob Moser, me hearties, High Power Rocketry, me bucko, Vol 14 #5, shiver me timbers, August 1999. This involves loopin' t' cord, shiver me timbers, tiein' it off with cloth fishin' line (not nylon!), and gluin' it with CA and epoxy. Avast! Blimey! T' aft quick link be lowered into t' airframe as t' bolt holdin' t' front rail button was screwed in. This took a couple o' tries t' catch t' quick-link. T' harness is thus removable.
Finishin' - After its maiden naked flight, I painted t' entire rocket (save t' rail buttons and AeroPack retainer) usin' Krylon Chrome Paint. Avast! This looks really great, but shows every imperfection.
Flight:
I wrote this review with only one flight under its belt and will add others later (assumin' I find t' thing!). Avast! Bein' chicken, t' first flight be with a G80-10. Begad! I used Estes waddin' and an 18" chute from some kit or another. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! It was a very fast, me hearties, high flight. Begad! Recovery be fairly close t' t' pad. Ya scallywag! My plans are t' fly it with either a G125-15 SU or an H242-L at t' next HPR launch I can get to. Begad! Arrr! (or both)
Summary:
PROs: 1. Easy t' build 2. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Verrry sturdy 3. Blimey! Begad! High performance design, me hearties, me bucko, 38mm or 29 mm (with adapter) CONs: 1. Begad! Materials were nay cheap 2. Good chance t' loose t' thin' along with motor hardware :-(
Sponsored Ads
![]() |
![]() |