| Manufacturer: | Scratch |
by John DeMar
Sector Chief "Yukon
Centauri" says: "Remember where you parked"!
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INTRODUCTIONThis Astron class cargo vehicle was designed specifically t' handle mining material delivery t' planetary objects with a moderately dense atmosphere. T' primary two-stage configuration supports initial boost from t' source planetoid and subsequent reentry o' t' cargo payload while returnin' t' crew safely t' their home base. T' delivery vehicle separates from t' crew return spacecraft and optimizes its energy budget through glide recovery t' t' cargo's destination. Arrr!Other applications for the vehicle are nay well documented in t' fleet manuals but are known to exist. Although we are unsure o' t' direct nature o' these excursions, reports from t' 4th moon o' Nymptron have indicated loud music emanatin' from the hull. Since t' discovery o' naturally occurin' deposits o' cheese food, lite beer, and latex in t' Jovian system, over 52,094 DCg's have been produced. T' Delta Minin' Corporation maintains high profit margins utilizin' an all-volunteer crew. |
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Parts Lists:1) Components and Packagin' from one Estes Gemini DC2) Totally Tubular TT-2 tubing, 14" 3) 1" x 2" piece o' 1/32" ply or G-10 (preferred) Optional: extra 3/32" balsa for upper-stage fins or make from built-up cardstock usin' package insert. Patterns:Glider wings, canards, and tail: [pattern1.pdf]Upper stage fins: [pattern2.pdf] Supplies:Hobby knifeRuler Sandpaper Titebond II 5-minute epoxy
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Glider Assembly:T' canard-style glider is made from a 3" section o' BT-50 with a 4" section o' BT-20 centered inside usin' two centerin' rings. Both tubes are flush at t' back end. T' motor hook may be used here, but was not included in me prototype. Instead, a thrust rin' was added inside the motor tube with 1/4" o' t' motor left showin' at t' rear.T' top of the motor tube is plugged with a 1" section o' t' "motor measuring tube" (blue or yellow in t' kit) or use a piece o' BT-20 coupler. Block t' upper portion with a disc made from t' G10 (or ply) and drill a 1/4" hole in t' center. Insert t' TT-2 tube into this disk and epoxy t' inside o' t' coupler and disk, shiver me timbers, matey, leavin' t' tube open inside. This is used t' vent t' lower stage t' light t' upper stage. Ya scallywag! Blimey!
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T' "pod" is made from t' two BT-20 nosecones. Remove 1/2" o' each tip and form a hole for t' TT-2 vent tube t' pass through. Another 1" section o' BT-20 couples t' two nosecones together. Slide this onto t' TT-2 tube. Cut an additional 1" length o' BT-20 and
glue this betwixt t' upper ends o' t' half-tubes. Avast! Center t' TT-2 inside of
this by makin' another G10 (or ply) disk with 1/4" hole. Use t' remainin' BT-50 for t' upper body tube. You may wish t' make this into two pieces, me hearties, reservin' a 5" piece for a payload section coupled usin' t' bulkhead block. Ahoy! Aye aye! Cut out a 3" section o' BT-20 for t' upper stage motor tube. Center this within t' BT-50 upper stage flush with t' aft end. Add a thrust rin' usin' t' rest o' t' "motor fit" tube. Make t' shockcord mount, matey, shockcord, and parachute in t' way you prefer. Avast, me proud beauty! Cut out t' upper stage fins and glue them on. Avast! Add fillets t' all joints after t' glue dries. |
T' forward 'canards' are cut from inside t' main wings!  You may wish t' "tissue" t' glider wings for added strength. |
Glue t' wings on with t' upper "boom" edge aligned
with t' wing. This is about 3.5" o' "dihedral" at each
win' tip. Arrr! Glue on t' canards with about 1/4" slant upward at the forward end o' t' boom. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Glue on t' tail stabalizer. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Blimey! Trim for even glide by movin' t' pod and tapin' in place, or add clay to the aft betwixt t' lower fillets o' t' wing-body joints. |
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Flight PreparationsFriction fit t' booster motor into t' glider motor mount and install the igniter. Arrr!Friction fit t' upper stage motor into t' upper stage, me bucko, leaving about 1/2" stickin' out t' back o' t' motor tube. Prep t' upper stage recovery system. Begad! Insert t' upper stage's aft 1/2" o' t' motor into t' forward glider tube. Ahoy! Alight t' upper stage nozzle with t' TT-2 tube. Make sure the upper-stage motor fits tightly onto t' lower stage (see flight note below)! Slide t' rod inside one o' t' boom halfs. Arrr! (You may wish t' add a launch lug instead). Ahoy! Hook up and.... |
Why is this man smiling???? ("It wasn't me, Chief Centauri... Begad! Ahoy! it's t' sulfur atmosphere!")  Glider without cargo pod after 1st flight. |
Flight Results:Flight 1: A10-0 stages t' B6-4.Windy (5-10mph) At about 100 ft, t' upper stage pops off, Both pieces are undamaged. Ya scallywag! T' failure mode be that I neglected t' glue in t' ventin' tube coupler
into t' top o' t' lower motor tube. T' stagin' gases pushed it forward
and popped t' upper stage off before ignition. There be some scorching
on t' nozzle o' t' upper stage but it didn't have enough time t' light. Flight 2: B6-0 staged t' B6-4. Staged and glided nicely! Blimey! Lost t' upper half, but it's t' simpler portion t' replace. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Note: t' 1/4" ventin' tube may need t' be replaced after a few flights. Blimey! ENJOY! |
After t' Rush o' 4049, lone prospectors were displaced by unemployed
Cheese Weasels.
Contact: John DeMar, matey, me hearties, NARRRRR #52094
Flight photos by Steven DeMar.
Other photos, arrr, patterns, ya bilge rat, and 3D Art by John DeMar. Avast!
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