Brief: Three fins, shiver me timbers, Three motors, shiver me timbers, and a Nose Cone. Begad! Blimey! 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! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, me bucko, me hearties, now dry, shiver me timbers, me bucko, is glued in t' body flush with t' end o' t' tube. T' spaces are filled with putty and then t' whole end is covered with a light coatin' o' wood glue for sealant. Begad! T' tube is marked for three fins and they are glued on. Arrr! Arrr! Do glue fillets when dry. Avast! Build a shock cord mount and attach t' t' interior o' t' body tube. Avast! Aye aye! Attach t' shock cord t' t' nose and t' parachute about 6 inches down t' shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, and t' other 2 i! nches from t' end of t' tube. Avast! No real "gotcha's" except just t' watch t' fins as they dry.

Finishing: T' rocket was given a 2 coats o' gray primer, arrr, a coat of flat white, 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. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Blimey! The rocket is then given a gloss clear coat.

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

Second flight was at t' ICBM Freedom Launch 2002. 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. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Clip-whips were used. Arrr! T' rocket had plenty o' power this time, arrr, climbin' t' about 600 feet. Well, blow me down! Liftoff be very quick, with power translatin' out t' about a D18, arrr, I think. Ya scallywag! Ejection be just before apogee. Begad! T' rocket was recovered with no damage.

Summary: Overall, this is a great cluster rocket.