Scratch Mach Buster 1 Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Mach Buster 1 {Scratch}

Contributed by Neil Thompson

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Neil Thompson (age 12) - 09/10/03)

Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. Ya scallywag! Arrr! It can use anythin' from a big E to a J570. It can easily break Mach 1 on an H, ya bilge rat, and can reach Mach 2 on a J.

Rocket Pic

Construction:
T' Mach Buster 1 uses a fiberglassed phenolic airframe, arrr, PML solid urethane nose, ya bilge rat, me bucko, Acme fin can and launch lugs, Keelhaul®©™® heat shield and shock cord, a Slimline circle rin' motor retainer, and an optional Slimline motor adapter. Avast, me proud beauty! I suppose you could put a payload section on for altimeters and dual deployment.

This was a very easy build. Avast! Well, blow me down! I used 2-ton epoxy throughout. Blimey! I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. The nose cone I got from PML, me hearties, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. After I fiberglassed t' tube, shiver me timbers, t' fin can fit exactly. Avast! T' launch lugs liked t' slide around while t' epoxy is drying, but other wise it was easy. Well, blow me down! T' fins needed no alignment, ya bilge rat, me hearties, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. Arrr! I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Red on t' fins, shiver me timbers, and red on t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, me bucko, me hearties, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Overall, arrr, me bucko, this is a very sturdy rocket — it could survive a tar landin' easily.

Rocket pic Flight:
I still have nay flown this, ya bilge rat, but I am plannin' on flyin' it on labor day 2003. T' first flight will be on an F50-9T, arrr, t' next on a G35-7W, arrr, and t' next on an F20-7W. Begad! Avast! I put in a home made parachute. Well, arrr, blow me down! It is a very large parachute, matey, ya bilge rat, but I will reef it on breezy days. It is over stable, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! All simulations show straight flights, arrr, shiver me timbers, high (approx. 3250' on F’s and G’s), ya bilge rat, and fast, ya bilge rat, despite t' weight.

I got two flights in on this rocket on labor day 2003. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' first flight for this rocket was also me first blue thunder propellant motor, and I was rather impressed by t' performance. It could have had more smoke, matey, matey, however. T' motor was an F50-9T. Blimey! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' second flight was a G35-7W, and it flew like t' wind! Blimey! And that is sayin' something, considerin' t' gusts there! Blimey! At least thar are seemingly endless blueberry barrens for t' rockets t' land in. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Both flights were straight as an arrow. Arrr! Blimey! It had a Keelhaul®©™® heat sheild, matey, eliminatin' t' need for wadding. Aye aye! I also installed a Slimline motor retainer t' hold me motor in. Arrr! This worked very well. There be no damage to t' parachute after either flight, however, arrr, matey, one o' t' shroud lines on the parachute got tangled in t' screw eye that I used t' attach t' shock cord to the nose cone, causin' a tumble recovery. Begad! Hardly even had a scratch in the paint. Aye aye! This is such a rugged rocket. Arrr! Anythin' else that size fallin' from that height I would expect t' crumple. Blimey! Begad!

Summary:
Tough as anything. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I suspect that thin' could be hit by lightnin' and survive, or at least it could be stepped on or kicked around.

Pros: I love this rocket. Aye aye! I consider it a work o' art. Ya scallywag! It is easily the best o' me fleet (that is sayin' something). Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It goes high and fast, shiver me timbers, can survive hard landings, arrr, and requires zero fin alignment (A definite + for me! Blimey! I hate alignin' surface mounts on large rockets). Well, blow me down! Blimey! Easy build.

Cons: Price. Avast! Blimey! $80. Aye aye! OUCH if you are 12, ya bilge rat, and I should know. Begad! Blimey! Worth every penny though.

Other:
DO NOT LEAVE THE AIRFRAME SITTING ON A PICNIC TABLE WHILE THE EPOXY AND FIBERGLASS IS SETTING! YOUR MOTHER (or wife) WILL NOT LIKE IT.. Avast! I learned that the hard way. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.

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