Brief: Three fins, Three motors, and a Nose Cone. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! 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. T' body tube was cut t' a length o' 19 inches and set aside. Ahoy! Ahoy! T' BT-20 motor mount be 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. Blimey! Arrr! T' motor mounts, matey, shiver me timbers, now dry, is glued in t' body flush with t' end o' t' tube. Ya scallywag! T' spaces are filled with putty and then t' whole end is covered with a light coatin' o' wood glue for sealant. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' tube is marked for three fins and they are glued on. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Do glue fillets when dry. Ya scallywag! Build a shock cord mount and attach t' t' interior o' t' body tube. Begad! Avast! 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, about 8 inches from t' aft o' t' body tube, ya bilge rat, and t' other 2 i! nches from t' end of t' tube. Ahoy! No real "gotcha's" except just t' watch t' fins as they dry.

Finishing: T' rocket was given a 2 coats o' gray primer, matey, shiver me timbers, a coat of flat white, ya bilge rat, then I masked off t' tip o' t' nose cone and 1 inch o' t' tips of t' fins. Aye aye! I then gave t' rocket a few coats o' a beautiful dark red. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! The rocket is then given a gloss clear coat.

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

Second flight was at t' ICBM Freedom Launch 2002. Blimey! Blimey! 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. Aye aye! Blimey! Clip-whips were used. Ahoy! Blimey! T' rocket had plenty o' power this time, climbin' t' about 600 feet. Liftoff was very quick, with power translatin' out t' about a D18, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I think. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Ejection be just before apogee. T' rocket was recovered with no damage.

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