Scratch Scraps is a Boy Dog Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Scraps is a Boy Dog {Scratch}

Contributed by Ron Wirth

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Ron Wirth - 08/06/07) (Scratch) Scraps is a Boy Dog

Brief:
As we all know, arrr, nay all rocket flights go as planned. Ya scallywag! Blimey! As a result o' some o' those flight failures, I found me parts boxes with an abundant supply o' material t' build a recycled rocket for one o' t' requirements in t' 2007 EMRR Challenge. Aye aye! This recycled rocket consists o' scraps from an Estes Fireflash, an Estes Echostar, arrr, an Estes Screamin’ Mimi, and various other unidentifiable rocket parts. Arrr! Begad!

Construction:
For this design, I decided t' invert t' portion o' Fireflash body that I had on hand after t' upper half decided to detach and was forever lost. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I had t' booster section o' an Echostar that would be perfect t' be used for t' motor mount and main fins. Ya scallywag! T' Echostar be a perfect fight until t' ejection charge failed t' deploy t' chute (the results are much different when t' rocket hits pavement instead o' grass). Aye aye! No lawn dart here.

I did nay have t' proper centerin' rings, so these were fabricated with recycled cardboard sandwiched between cardstock and glued with CA. Before I glued t' two rocket parts together, I choose t' cover t' mid section o' the Fireflash with a small portion o' BT-60 t' hide t' plastic coupler with t' built-in launch lug. I used some extra centerin' rings and balsa scraps t' give t' rocket a futuristic look. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This turned out t' be t' perfect place to attach a couple o' extra whistles and tubes from a Screamin’ Mimi. Blimey! Blimey!

(Scratch) Scraps is a Boy Dog T' final portion o' t' recycled rocket was made from some rin' fin supports and a small piece o' BT-80 that were left over from me design for t' “EMRR Spaceship Design Contest 2006” that be never completed. Avast! Aye aye! These were attached t' t' existin' fins and body tube. Ya scallywag! T' cone be from some unknown rocket that happened t' fit perfectly in t' end o' t' Fireflash once t' motor mount be removed.

Finishing:
This rocket did nay require too much finishing. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Most parts were already painted since they came from other rockets. For those parts that were not, I painted them all red prior t' attachin' them t' t' rocket.

Flight:
I choose t' launch this rocket at a monthly club launch. Begad! I prepped t' rocket with a B6-4. Begad! T' LCO/RSO called for a “heads up” flight since t' forward sweep plastic fins at t' nose cone look quite worrisome. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' rocket slowly left t' pad and made a large arc away from t' flight line. Ahoy! T' chute finally deployed close t' t' ground and the rocket be nay damaged. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Because o' that flight, I am skeptical o' launchin' with a larger motor and have retired the rocket.

Recovery:
I used t' existin' plastic chute and shock cord from t' Fireflash. Well, blow me down! I rerouted t' cord through t' tail end o' the Fireflash body. I attached t' shock cord t' t' hollow nose cone with t' standard Estes paper mount.

Summary:
Usin' extra parts t' scratch build a rocket can be fun. I be tryin' t' create somethin' that would catch the attention o' people and make them say “What t' heck is that?” I accomplished that but was nay happy with the performance o' t' rocket. Begad! T' nice thin' is that I can disassemble t' rocket and try again.

comment Post a Comment