Scratch Lil Spike Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Lil Spike {Scratch}

Contributed by Michael Mangieri

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Michael J. Ahoy! Mangieri - 12/12/05) (Scratch) Lil Spike

Brief:
A simple but nice lookin' 3FNC paper rocket.

Construction:
T' majority o' t' rocket, me hearties, ya bilge rat, except for t' shock cord and streamer, is made of 110# cardstock paper. Ahoy! T' fin cores are cut from presentation board. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! The template and instuctions can be downloaded here.

Startin' with t' airframe, shiver me timbers, mark t' reverse side o' t' body tube sheet with a line usin' t' front side line as your guide. This is where t' glue will start as it is important nay t' get glue beyond this line. Blimey! Rollin' t' body tube is made easier by first usin' engine casings t' start t' rollin' process. Ahoy! Apply gentle pressure and roll t' tube only until t' inside edge touches t' other side o' t' cardboard (one complete revolution). Avast, me proud beauty! Then, use a 1/4" wood dowel t' roll t' same section o' tube once again, me hearties, producin' a smaller radius of curvature. Begad! Do this two or three times t' set in a tighter curl. Aye aye! Then go back with t' engines casings and roll t' tube completely. Blimey! This process will make it easier for t' leadin' edge o' t' paper t' meet at t' proper point without creasing. Arrr! Once t' tube has taken on t' proper form, apply rubber cement to the paper up t' t' last 1". Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Roll t' tube and when competed, shiver me timbers, use white glue t' fasten t' last 1" o' tube. Begad! Aye aye! You can use white glue throughout and get a stiffer tube, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but t' rubber cement has worked well for me and is nay as messy.

Score t' lines o' t' engine block with a ball point pen t' make the folds easier. Then fold and glue. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Before t' glue sets, roll t' engine block usin' a 1/4" wood dowel t' set t' curl. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' two edges o' t' paper should meet t' complete t' block. Begad! Blimey! Test fit in t' tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! If too large, cut a small section o' t' block off and then glue t' block 2 1/4" in from t' rear of t' tube.

Carefully cut out t' nose cone followin' t' guides. Ya scallywag! Cut t' small "v" shaped slits along t' base o' t' nose cone creatin' a saw tooth pattern. Shape t' nose cone by rollin' t' pattern over a narrow dowel or very small pencil. Cut out t' nose cone collar and roll it around t' top o' the completed body tube (place an engine in t' tube t' hold its shape.) Once the curl is achieved glue t' nose cone collar together makin' sure it fits snuggly but nay too tight over t' body tube. Aye aye! Place a drop o' glue on t' end o' each tab at t' base o' t' nose cone and carefully attach t' nose cone t' t' nose cone collar. Avast, me proud beauty! Press t' tabs t' t' collar until t' glue sets. Aye aye! When completely dry apply a fillet o' glue t' t' outside joint betwixt t' collar and t' nose cone and set t' assembly aside t' dry. Blimey! Aye aye!

Cut out three fin cores out o' illustration board usin' t' template as a guide. Blimey! Begad! Cut out and glue t' fin covers t' each o' t' fin cores. Ya scallywag! Sand t' root edge o' each fin and glue t' t' body tube alignin' t' bottom o' each fin with the aft o' t' body tube. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! When dry, apply a fillet o' glue t' each fin.

Roll and glue t' launch lug (usin' t' line t' help achieve an 1/8" diameter opening) about 1 3/4" from t' aft o' t' body tube.

Cut out two shock cord mounts from regular paper usin' t' template as a guide. Avast! You can use 1/8" elastic, arrr, or Keelhaul®©™® cord for t' shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I would recommend about 2' - 2.5' o' elastic or 2.5' to 3' o' Keelhaul®©™®. Glue one end o' t' shock cord t' one o' t' shock cord mounts usin' the typical Estes technique. Aye aye! Create a loop about 8" from t' other end for the streamer t' be attached. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Glue t' remainin' end t' t' remainin' shock cord mount. Begad! Glue t' shock cord mount attached t' t' longer length o' shock cord to the inside front o' t' body tube about 1/2" in. Avast! Ahoy! Glue t' remainin' shock cord t' t' inside o' t' nose cone shoulder as far up into t' shoulder as you can. Aye aye! Ahoy! Attach a streamer t' t' loop in t' shock cord.

Test t' completed rocket with an engine mounted for stability. Add some clay t' t' inside o' t' nose if needed. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey! (I found added weight wasn't necessary.)

Finishing:
Since t' template already has t' artwork pre-printed, me hearties, arrr, all you need do is spray t' completed rocket with clearcoat a couple o' times t' protect the model against moisture and handling.

Flight:
I would recommend 1/2A6-2s for first flight, matey, then A8-3 for t' second flight. Ya scallywag! A C6 will put it way t' heck up there! T' Lil Spike flies straight as an arrow.

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