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