Scratch My Little Cupcake Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - My Little Cupcake {Scratch}

Contributed by Dick Stafford

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Dick Stafford - 10/01/01)

Brief:
This is a very simple "flyin' saucer" style rocket for Micro Maxx motors. Begad! Its main component is a 2 ½" paper bakin' cup.

Rocket Pic

Construction:
T' materials used include: one 2 ½"paper bakin' cup, one Styrofoam picnic plate, matey, arrr, one piece o' note paper, maskin' tape, me bucko, and a 2 ½" long Estes launch lug.

To make t' motor tube, ya bilge rat, matey, ya bilge rat, I applied a thin layer o' white glue on some paper and wrapped it tightly around t' tube from an Aerotech Copperhead. After it dried for a while, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I cut off a 7/8" section. Ya scallywag! Next, I cut 1.875" and 2.375" rings from a Styrofoam plate. Avast! I made t' holes for t' motor tube a little big (oops), matey, so I built-up t' motor tube with maskin' tape until it fit snugly. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, arrr, blow me down! T' smaller rin' be placed at t' end o' t' motor tube and set into the bakin' cup. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' second rin' was slipped down until it just touched the sides o' t' cup. Ya scallywag! Arrr! This assembly be removed, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and t' rings were glued in place with white glue. Begad!

After t' glue set, I made notches for t' launch lug and slid it through the rings. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It fit snugly and I decided nay t' glue it in. Aye aye! Avast!

Finally, me hearties, arrr, t' motor mount assembly be glued into t' bakin' cup. Well, blow me down! While this dried, shiver me timbers, I set t' cup back into t' package on top o' other cups, me hearties, in order to provide even support around its circumference. Blimey! I be originally goin' t' cut the lug flush with t' front ring, me hearties, but decided t' leave it as is. Begad! T' only finishin' step be t' application o' an American flag sticker.

Flight:
T' MMX motor is held in with a wrap o' maskin' tape. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! In order t' mate with the launcher, I had t' let t' motor overhang t' motor tube by ~1/4". Aye aye! The saucer flew straight t' an altitude o' maybe 25 feet and floated down nose first. Usin' a launch lug that is considerably wider than t' Micro Maxx launch rod didn't seem t' impact t' flight profile. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! After t' first flight, thar was a little scorchin' o' t' paper near t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Blimey! This did nay get any worse after t' subsequent flights, ya bilge rat, so I assume it was because I did nay fully remove t' paper coverin' t' end o' t' motor mount.

Summary:
This simple rocket flies well and can be easily built while watchin' TV, cooking, ya bilge rat, or performin' other non-rocket activities. Gee, arrr, am I obsessed or what? You can easily substitute different materials; I just used what I could easily grab.

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