Brief:
A simple LPR single stage, ya bilge rat, motor deployed chute recovered tube fin rocket.

Construction:
1 - 24" x 3" BT, 1 24" x 3" BT for fins, 1 chute, ya bilge rat, 29mm MMT and 2 CR's, a nose cone, shock cord and a launch lug.

I was asked t' write a review on me scratch built Circle Jerk. I hadn't documented any o' t' construction, so I decided t' build another one, but this time I documented t' process. Begad!

For both birds I used 3" USR "whitewall" tubin' because o' its thickness. It's twice as thick as any other tubing. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I felt that it gives a better appearance t' t' tube fins.

I cut all o' me tubin' with a 12" DeWalt compound miter saw. I use a special rippin' blade that has more teeth than most blades. Begad! This gives a smooth cut that needs very little work. Avast, me proud beauty! T' softer paper tubes do fray a little but that is solved by soakin' t' ends o' t' tubes with thin Cyanoacrylate or thinned wood glue. When t' glue hardens, me bucko, me bucko, me hearties, just sand t' ends t' t' finish you need. Ya scallywag! For phenolic tubes, it gives a factory like finish. Avast!

T' first picture shows t' tube bein' cut and t' jig I used. Ahoy! For this rocket, shiver me timbers, I made all cuts at a 45-degree angle. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' original had just t' forward cut at a 45 and t' aft cut at a 90. Well, blow me down! Avast! I just wanted t' do somethin' different this time. Blimey!

If you use t' same diameter tubin' for t' fins as t' body tube, you will need 6 fins. Ya scallywag! All tube fin rockets work this way. Well, blow me down! Blimey! (Do t' math) Attachin' the fins is elementary. Draw a line around t' tube where you want t' forward tip of t' tube fins t' be. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Put a bead o' glue (I used wood glue) on t' first fin and align it on t' BT. Blimey! If you lay it on its side on a table they will be parallel t' each other. Aye aye! No more thinkin' will be necessary because the subsequent fins just lay on t' last fin and t' BT. For t' next fins, ya bilge rat, just find where t' tubes touch, shiver me timbers, matey, draw a line and put t' glue there. Avast! T' final fin will snuggle up betwixt t' last fin applied and t' first fin. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Use fillets as you see fit, me hearties, but they are nay necessary for strength because each fin is glued at 3 points. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down!

It's tough t' find t' CP on tube fin rockets like this but it's safe to say that its somewhere in t' fin section ;-) Just make sure t' CG is forward of t' fin section with a motor installed. Avast!

Flight:
For t' original rocket, shiver me timbers, I used a standard 29 mm motor mount tubes cut t' 6 inches. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' centerin' rings (2 o' them) were just 5 ply rings I had laying around. Avast, me proud beauty! T' 32" parachute and t' shock cord was from a lawn-darted Aerotech Astrobee D. Ya scallywag! T' nosecone is a 3" PML. Begad! T' launch lug is just a ¼" Aerotech igniter tube. Arrr! Ahoy! (OK, yeah I'm cheap) T' final weight is about 24oz. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down!

For flying, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, I always use dog barf and friction fit motor retention. She flew straight as an arrow on several F and G motors. Avast, me proud beauty! Fun t' fly.

Summary:
This is a quick and easy rocket t' build. Its different than most tube fin rockets and draws a little attention. Nay countin' t' paint, it took all o' an hour t' build.