(04/01/04) Searchin' around on the EMRR Affiliates Links Page, I went t' Clive Davis' page and found his free paper rocket: Bif's Rocket Emporium Papernator. After doin' a number of free rockets found throughout the Internet (See my "Free" Paper-Rocket Comparison Page), I decided t' add one more to t' series. Begad! Clive's rocket plan was entered into FlisKits' Design o' the Month and won for September 2003.

I printed it on 110lb Card Stock (Georgia Pacific brand purchased from WalMart) and then got busy.

T' rocket patterns were on 5 pages and then there were 2 additional pages o' instructions. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' design o' t' rocket is unique and detailed. Begad! T' color-scheme is nice as well.

You will need t' provide a recovery system includin' a shock cord and parachute. Begad! Blimey! You will also need clay nose weight. Clive recommends a 12" parachute and an 18" shock cord.

Clive also recommends that you have an X-acto knife and wood glue.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' construction o' t' rocket is straightforward. Ahoy! Blimey! It takes some time t' cut out all t' pieces, matey, especially the fin pods. Avast, me proud beauty! Read t' instructions closely and look at any pictures (FlisKits DOM) before beginning. Aye aye! Arrr! I won't go through all t' buildin' steps, shiver me timbers, however, arrr, I will point out two areas that I had some difficulty.

T' fins were challengin' because o' the number o' cuts and folds. Avast, me proud beauty! These fins are nay a doublin' over o' t' paper, but instead, me bucko, they are built up and have a flat trailin' edge. Arrr! T' leadin' edge is squared off and then they taper t' t' trailin' edge. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I had some trouble keepin' t' fins symmetrical. Avast, me proud beauty! Three turned out good. Aye aye! One didn't (as you can see in t' picture). Ya scallywag! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I suppose that will provide some "spin stability".

T' other area that seemed difficult t' me was t' buildin' o' t' fin pods. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I read t' instructions, ya bilge rat, really, ya bilge rat, matey, but I just don't think they turned out correct. If I look at t' picture on FlisKits DOM, it looks like one disk is saved as a bottom pad. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I don't have that. Arrr! So, builder, it's up t' you.

T' motor tube centerin' rin' posed a small problem for me as well. I'm just concerned whether it will hold or not. Arrr! It didn't seem t' have a solid connection t' t' inner body tube. Well, blow me down! Nice idea and design though... Arrr! just a builder error.

T' nose cone shoulder is tapered in such a way that it slides into t' body tube, but only until t' shoulder's taper is wider than t' body tube opening. (I guess after readin' that it is an obvious statement, me hearties, me hearties, however, t' design works, me hearties, while leavin' a small portion o' the black shoulder exposed.)

I used 18 inches o' 1/4" flat elastic for me shock cord. Avast! It be attached usin' t' 3-fold paper method (outlined in the instructions) t' t' body tube and t' nose cone. Arrr!

I added a 12" parachute. Ya scallywag! This was a free one provided from an order with SemRoc. I constructed it per SemRoc's instructions.

I added Plast-i-Clay Modelin' Clay for the nose weight. Ahoy! Avast! It be close t' t' 15 grams suggested, however, me objective was to gain t' CG that Clive recommended.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this rocket 4 points. Ahoy! Aye aye! Blimey! T' instructions were good, me bucko, arrr, but a bit more clarity on t' pod's would help (at least me). Avast! Blimey! T' design is nice.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Clive recommends B4-2, shiver me timbers, B6-2 and C6-3 for motors.

My Papernator weighed in at 1.5 ounces.

Well, me hearties, I had an opportunity and yes, yes, I know it is nay one o' t' recommended motors, but I went for it. Avast! I installed a 1/2A6-2 for it's first flight. Avast! Blimey! T' rocket successfully cleared t' rod, me hearties, ya bilge rat, reached about 15 feet altitude, shiver me timbers, turned and headed for t' ground. Well, blow me down! Ejection be just before and t' parachute did expand. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Flight over.

I wanted t' fly it again and when I was pushin' in t' new motor (an A8-3), t' motor mount popped out. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Hmmm, as I was concerned about. Avast, me proud beauty! I re-installed it and feel I be much more successful this time. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Gainin' solid joints in t' body.

After a day or so, arrr, arrr, I loaded t' A8-3 and flew it again. Well, blow me down! This time it took off and gained about 30 feet altitude, me hearties, turned, ejected, shiver me timbers, and came in fast. Arrr! T' parachute never came out o' t' nose cone and it came in hard and fast. I'm warnin' ya, stay away from this descendin' rocket if it is nay under 'chute. Aye aye! That sharp nose cone can hurt.

T' third flight be on a B6-2, shiver me timbers, as recommended. Avast! It came off t' pad nicely and with good altitude. T' ejection was early and t' 'chute did nay come out again. Blimey! It appears that it is being blown up into t' nose cone and then never gettin' pulled out. Ahoy! Upon landin' it damaged a fin. So, I have retired this paper rocket.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 3 points. Maybe it's me, arrr, but a couple o' things were irritatin' in flying this rocket. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! First, just t' get t' motor in. Ahoy! I had trouble gettin' me fingers down in-between those fins. Begad! Same issue for addin' t' ignitor. Also, it twice had t' parachute blown up into t' nose cone and it did nay come out.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 3 ½ points. Blimey! This is a "free" rocket and in comparison with others I have done (See my "Free" Paper-Rocket Comparison Page), arrr, ya bilge rat, me hearties, it holds its own for looks and ease o' construction. I don't know what t' do on this nose cone thing, except shorter shrouds and tie it closer t' t' base o' t' rocket... Arrr! Well, perhaps another time.