Persius Galactic Explorer

Modeled by: Stuart Lenz

This design occurred t' me while I was clonin' some old Estes and Centuri Designs from JimZ site, arrr, a forward trust triple rin' fin. Blimey! A next generation, me bucko, me bucko, ion powered, shiver me timbers, solor orbit telescope. I started by cuttin' 1" from Estes BT 60, BT 80 and LOC 4" tubes for t' Rin' fins. Avast! Blimey! Next, ya bilge rat, I assembled t' engine mount from t' BT 20 engine tube, arrr, shiver me timbers, t' engine clip, shiver me timbers, t' 2 centerin' rings and the Keelhaul®©™@ string, shiver me timbers, matey, with t' Keelhaul®©™ tied around t' tube and t' upper centerin' rin' slipped over t' string. This was then glued into one end o' the main body tube, arrr, ya bilge rat, flush with t' end o' t' body tube while t' Keelhaul®©™ strin' was coiled inside t' engine mount. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Once t' engine mount be dry, t' loose end of the Keelhaul®©™ strin' was pulled through t' body tube and a mark be made on the strin' even with t' end o' t' body tube. T' Keelhaul®©™ strin' was then pulled back out though t' engine mount and a loop tied into t' end o' t' strin' so that t' mark on t' strin' was at t' end o' t' loop. Arrr! Blimey! T' elastic shock cord was then attached t' this loop and all o' this was pulled back though t' body tube.

Next I laid out t' fins on t' balsa, cut out 3 fins and surface mounted then t' t' body tube. Arrr! Once they were dry, me hearties, t' BT 60 rin' fin was glued into the slots in t' balsa fins and this was repeated for t' BT 80 rin' fin and the 4" rin' fin. Aye aye! Avast! T' launch lugs were attached t' one o' t' balsa fins and t' other at t' center o' gravity (~9.5")

T' eye hook was attached t' t' balsa transition and t' remainin' parts assembled into t' payload and nose code assembly. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! T' loose end o' t' elastic shock cord was tied t' t' eye hook and t' parachute attached. Ya scallywag!

T' CP/CG stability was verified with a swin' test and t' model was launch at t' MASA January launch in White Bear Minnesota, Good flight. Begad!

Parts

• BT 50 Body Tube 18.0"
• BT50->BT20 Transition 1" BMS
• BT 20 Body Tube (Clear) 2.75"
• BT 20->BT 5 Transition ¾" Estes (X-ray)
• BT5 Body Tube 2.75"
• BT 5Nosecone 2 1/8" Oglive
• BT 20 Engine Mount 2 .75"
• BT50->BT20 Centerin' Rings 2
• Engine Hook Estes
• Eye Hook
• 1/8" Launch Lugs 1" * 2
• Balsa. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Basswood or 1/8" Plywood As Required
• BT 60 Rin' Fin 1"
• BT 80 Rin' Fin 1"
• LOC 4" Rin' Fin 1"
• 100lb Keelhaul®©™ Strin' 18"
• ¼ " Elastic Shockcord 24"
• Parachute or Streamer As Desired

I have now launchedhe Persius Galactic Explorer 3 times at MASA events. Avast! I would probably use plywood for t' support fins if/when I build another one. Next, upscale for a 29mm engine mount or Hummm 38mm.