| Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
A 6 "C" engine cluster altitude rocket from t' May/June Issue of
Sport Rocketry Magazine. Well, blow me down! Found on page 26, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, titled "6-C Cluster Altitude
(Competition Rocketry)" By Dan Wolf.
Construction:
This is a very easy rocket t' build from scratch. Begad! T' alignment o' t' side
tubes is best accomplished usin' a line drawn on body tube for a guide. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! The
fins just need t' be centered on t' five side tubes and straight as any rocket
fin should be. Aye aye! T' body tube, because o' it's small diameter and length is
prone t' bendin' durin' a hard landing. Avast, me proud beauty! No special tools needed. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I Used scrap
1/8 balsa for fins, and some Estes BT 20 tube I already had layin' around. Blimey! I
had t' purchase some PNC 20 nose cones (short ones) as five are required for
the side tubes; I already had a regular PNC 20 for t' nose.
Flight:
T' recommended motors are 6 o' t' C6-7's. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I used this combination on me first
flight. Normal preparations are used, me bucko, i.e. Ahoy! waddin' in body tube, me hearties, me hearties, matey, careful
foldin' o' parachute, etc. Ya scallywag! T' motor tubes have no retention other than a tight
fit. Well, blow me down! Tape around motors as needed t' insure a tight fit.
T' flight was straight as an arrow, with no spinnin' or wobble. T' large smoke trail was beautiful as be t' flames from t' 6 engines.
A "Clip Whip" or a special set of
soldered igniters is needed t' ignite all engines at once. Begad! Ya scallywag! I made a special set
of igniters soldered together. Aye aye! (worked perfectly)
I used a 1/8" elastic shock cord approx. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! 3 times t' body length for the recovery. Arrr! T' 7 sec. Avast, me proud beauty! delay is nay long enough t' get t' most out o' this rocket. Arrr! It is still goin' up when t' ejection occurs. T' article discusses this, me bucko, and an alternate method is t' use a composite C10-10 for t' center (body tube) engine for a longer delay before ejection. Ya scallywag! This also has draw-backs mentioned in t' article.
Summary:
This is a specialty rocket for sure. Ahoy! Avast! It is a blast t' launch and is very
impressive. Aye aye! It is an attention-getter by looks and flight performance. T' 6
"C" motors give you approx. Ahoy! a F36 power range launch. Aye aye! Begad! This is a bunch
for such a light rocket and t' performance shows it. It is a bit o' a chore to
prep, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and really doesn't lend itself t' multiple launches durin' t' day,
unless a good reliable "Clip Whip" is employed. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' body tube is
prone t' damage if recovery isn't exactly smooth.
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