Brief: Three fins, me hearties, Three motors, arrr, and a Nose Cone. Arrr! A very simple design

Construction:

• (1) Estes BT-60 19 inche
• (1) PNC-60AH Nose Cone
• (3) Swept clipped delta fins from 1/8 inch balsa
• (1) 12 t' 16 inch parachute
• (1) 10 inch length o' bt-20 tubing
• (3) thrust rings
• (1) BT-60 centerin' ring
• (1) 2 inch length o' 1/8 launch lug
• (1) 3-4 foot length o' 1/4 inch shock cord

Thanks t' Tim Van Milligan at Apogee Components for providin' t' BT-60 body. Aye aye! Arrr! T' body tube was cut t' a length o' 19 inches and set aside. Ahoy! T' BT-20 motor mount was cut into 3 - 3 inch pieces and then t' thrust rings glued in. They are glued together into a triangular shape. Aye aye! Fins were cut out into a slightly swept clipped delta and given a coat o' Elmer's Fill n Finish and then given airfoiled edges. Ahoy! T' motor mounts, shiver me timbers, now dry, shiver me timbers, me hearties, is glued in t' body flush with t' end o' t' tube. Avast, me proud beauty! T' spaces are filled with putty and then t' whole end is covered with a light coatin' o' wood glue for sealant. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! T' tube is marked for three fins and they are glued on. Arrr! Begad! Do glue fillets when dry. Build a shock cord mount and attach t' t' interior o' t' body tube. Ahoy! Attach t' shock cord t' t' nose and t' parachute about 6 inches down t' shock cord. Blimey! Cut the launch lug into t' 1 inch pieces and attach one near t' empty CG point, shiver me timbers, about 8 inches from t' aft o' t' body tube, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and t' other 2 i! nches from t' end of t' tube. No real "gotcha's" except just t' watch t' fins as they dry.

Finishing: T' rocket was given a 2 coats o' gray primer, shiver me timbers, a coat of flat white, shiver me timbers, then I masked off t' tip o' t' nose cone and 1 inch o' t' tips of t' fins. I then gave t' rocket a few coats o' a beautiful dark red. Arrr! Well, blow me down! The rocket is then given a gloss clear coat.

Flight: T' first flight was at a local park usin' three B6-4's. Blimey! The rocket was prepped normally with waddin' and motors installed. Aye aye! A clip-whip was used t' ensure ignition. Arrr! A 5-count was given. Avast, me proud beauty! Ignition was very slow. Well, blow me down! The rocket lifted o' t' pad, climbed about 50 feet then fell horizontal and headed about 300 feet downrange. It barely slowed down before ejection. Avast! T' chute popped and rocket be recovered. Upon inspection t' see what went wrong, shiver me timbers, me hearties, me bucko, we found that only two motors lit, matey, apparently causin' t' rocket t' head downrange like it did. Begad! Well, blow me down! No damage be apparent. Begad! I believe that t' one motor did nay light because o' nay enough power, causin' only two motors t' light before t' third could.

Second flight was at t' ICBM Freedom Launch 2002. Well, blow me down! I borrowed a 16 inch nylon parachute from me Aerotech Mustang in place o' t' 12 inch plastic one. T' rocket was prepped usin' 3 B6-4's. Clip-whips were used. Ahoy! Blimey! T' rocket had plenty o' power this time, climbin' t' about 600 feet. Liftoff be very quick, with power translatin' out t' about a D18, shiver me timbers, I think. Arrr! Ejection be just before apogee. T' rocket was recovered with no damage.

Summary: Overall, me hearties, matey, this is a great cluster rocket.