Descon Dizzy Lizzy

Scratch - Dizzy Lizzy {Scratch}

Contributed by Chip Jenkins

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Chip Jenkins)
Pic
Dizzy Lizzy
- By Chip Jenkins 
Specifications:     Height: 20"    Weight: 4 t' 5 oz. Begad! Begad! ?
Parts List
  • 1 body tube BT-55 x 13 1/2" long
  • 1 body tube BT-55 x 1 1/8" long
  • 1 engine pod BT-20 x 5 5/8" long
  • 2 thick centerin' rings BT-55 t' BT-20
  • 1 cardboard centerin' rin' BT-55 t' BT-20 (with cutout for engine hook)
  • 1 Engine Block (18 mm)
  • 1 Engine Hook
  • 1 Launch Lug
  • 1 1/8"tk basswood fin stock
  • 1 NC-55 plastic nosecone
  • 1 Hardwood stock (a Popsicle stick will work)
  • 1 Decal Material
  • 1 Pattern Sheet
  • 1 Hinge Material (contact paper or a strip o' paper with thin double sided tape)
  • 1 Elastic String
  • 1 "CAUTION" plastic streamer material x 6' long
  • 1 shock cord x 16" long

  • Download Fin Pattern Sheet and BT Markin' Guide
  • Download Text Instructions
  • Download Decal .gif 
Assembly

1. Mark BT-20 engine pod 2 1/2" from one end. Make all measurements in this step from t' same end. Blimey! Slot 1/8" wide and insert engine hook. Avast! Glue t' engine block in place behind the engine hook. Ya scallywag! Tape engine hook t' engine pod with 1" maskin' tape approx. Avast! 1" from mark. Avast! This is now t' aft o' t' engine pod. Slot 1 thick centerin' rin' t' allow t' pass over engine hook. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Glue slotted centerin' ring 1" from end o' body tube (over engine hook). Well, blow me down! Glue other centerin' ring about 1/8" down from t' top o' t' engine pod. Begad! Slide small (1 1/8" long) BT55 tube over lower centerin' rin' t' about 1/3 o' its width. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Glue the cardboard centerin' rin' into t' end o' t' BT-55 and BT-20 tubes just past the aft o' t' two tubes. Avast, me proud beauty! T' aft o' t' two tubes should be flush. Begad! Tie the shock cord t' t' front o' t' engine pod just behind t' front centerin' ring and attach t' plastic caution tape t' t' other end o' t' sock cord. Begad! The engine pod is now complete. Well, blow me down! Arrr!

click for larger image
2. Blimey! Cut t' rudder, fin, and flap patterns from the pattern sheet. Lay out fin a flap patterns first and then t' rudder patterns. Begad! Trace around each and cut 3 fins, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, 3 flaps, matey, and 6 rudders from t' 1/8" basswood sheet and sand as shown at left. 

Pattern Sheet will open in new window.

3. Cut out t' tube marking guide for t' fins and mark t' 13 1/2" long BT-55 body tube. Ya scallywag! Extend the lines at least 4" long from one end o' t' body tube. Well, blow me down! This is now the rear o' t' body tube.  Tube markin' guide will open in new window.

4. Tape t' fins and flaps together as shown at right. Well, blow me down! Cut out a hinge from contact paper that is 1/2" x 3 1/2" long. Aye aye! Begad! Apply t' hinge piece as shown. Blimey! Cut away t' excess. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Repeat for t' other 2 fin-flap assemblies. Aye aye! Remove the maskin' tape and bend t' flap back against t' fin t' crease t' hinge. T' flap will stay bent slightly. Blimey! Begad! T' facilitate handling, me bucko, replace t' piece of maskin' tape t' hold t' assembly flat.

click for larger image

click for larger image
5. Ahoy! Glue fin assemblies in place. Aye aye! Blimey! See picture t' left for proper location on t' main body tube. Avast! T' flaps must be positioned correctly with respect t' t' engine pod. Repeat for t' two other fin assemblies.
6. Begad! Glue rudders (one each side) t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Measure 1.5 inches from root edge of fin and align t' back edge o' t' rudder t' t' back edge o' t' fin. Ya scallywag! Avast! When finished, t' bottom view o' t' rocket should look like t' picture to right.

click for larger image
click for larger image

 7. Ahoy! Begad! Glue t' hardwood tabs t' t' flaps t' hold the flaps straight with t' engine pod inserted.
8. Begad! Thread t' elastic thread through t' eye o' t' needle, and double knot the other end o' t' thread. Arrr! Blimey! Hold one flap against its rudder and push the needle through t' flap from t' back. Arrr! Begad! T' needle point should come out through the hinge al least 1/16" from its aft edge. Blimey! Ahoy! Draw t' elastic thread through until t' knot is seated against t' flap. Begad! Arrr! Apply a touch o' glue t' the knot side forcin' just enough glue through t' hole t' appear on t' hinge side. Begad! Ya scallywag! Allow this glue t' set. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Locate a point 1/2" up from t' root edge and 1/8" back from t' leadin' edge o' t' rudder. Push t' needle through and draw t' thread tight enough t' pull t' flap from a straight position t' a full flap position. Begad! Apply glue as you did on t' flap and hold t' elastic thread in this position until t' glue appears firmly set. Repeat this for the other two fins.
click for larger image

9. Begad! Avast! Glue t' plastic nosecone t' t' front o' t' body tube. Arrr!

10. Ya scallywag! T' image at the beginnin' o' this sheet (Dizzy Lizzy) be t' main decal for t' rocket. Arrr! Ya scallywag! If you donít have a printer that will enable you t' print white decals, me bucko, you can paint a small section o' t' rocket white, measure t' decal and tape off the area before paintin' black. Four o' t' six fins are t' be painted silver. 
T' remainin' two fins (face t' face) and t' nose cone is t' be painted gold. Ahoy!

11. Blimey! Wrap t' streamer around t' engine pod, ya bilge rat, hold t' three flaps straight and slide t' engine pod in. You're ready t' fly!
 


Pod Deployed - Aft View

Pod Installed

Flight Report

Here is t' flight report section from t' Dizzy Lizzy t' first time it was launched.  I have launched it several more times with t' same results.  Spins fast, pod and rocket land very near t' each other. Avast!

10-15 mph wind has very little effect on t' flight and recovery at all.  I sent it up again today (right before t' Saturn V)

3/5/2000
Dizzy Lizzy (Scratch)  C6-3
Good boost 325+/- feet,
Ejection just past apogee. Ahoy! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Worked as designed (spins like a top!)
Hit grass moderately hard, matey, no damage.  Engine pod returns with 6' streamer nearby. Blimey!

It's a keeper. Begad! Blimey!

On a side note, me bucko, I got some model aircraft hinges from a friend o' mine. I am thinkin' about makin' a larger version o' t' Dizzy Lizzy with some sort of sprin' loaded nose/airframe connection t' minimize t' impact.  I thought I saw somethin' like that on one o' your designs.

Either that or I'll add a streamer that is secured t' t' end o' the airframe that deploys when t' pod kicks out.  It will still spin like a son o' a cannon and I would think that t' streamer would slow t' descent considerably.

 

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