Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
An easy t' build, shiver me timbers, semi-scale model o' t' Vikin' soundin' rocket for MMX-II
motors.
Construction:
While waitin' for me Nano Rocketry kits and tubes, arrr, I decided t' rummage around
my junk pile t' see what I could use t' make me own nano-sized rocket. Avast! I
quickly found one o' t' tubes that t' Aerotech First Fire igniters come in. Aye aye! A
little too big for a Micro Maxx engine and maybe a little too heavy, but what
the hey? I then started thinkin' about nose cone material, and discovered that
a 3/8" dowel is exactly t' right diameter. Ya scallywag! Next, shiver me timbers, I had t' decide what to
build. Avast! Ahoy! I wanted a simple 3/4FNC rocket and after thumbin' through "Rockets
of t' World", shiver me timbers, I soon settled on t' Viking. When I checked t' length of
tubin' required, me hearties, I found that t' tube was less than a tenth o' an inch off. Begad! No
cuttin' required! I put me drill in t' vise, ya bilge rat, arrr, a chunk o' dowel in t' chuck,
and within a few minutes had a nice nose cone. I drilled a hole in t' back end
and glued in a piece o' 100lb. Begad! Aye aye! tubular Keelhaul®©™®.
I made t' fins from 1/16" balsa and soaked them in CA for added strength.
For t' launch lug, arrr, I split a standard Estes lug in half and CA'd it on.
T' whole rocket is painted white and t' nose cone silver. Blimey! I had no brush-on black paint and this rocket is too small t' try t' mask (for me), matey, so I substituted me favorite color, metallic purple, shiver me timbers, matey, for t' black trim.
Flight:
A couple o' wraps o' maskin' tape and t' Micro Maxx engine fit nicely. I also
cut a thin strip o' tape and made a thrust ring. Begad! A neighbor's son was watching
so I let him do t' honors (maybe t' next generation rocketeer?). Begad! Well, blow me down! My
make-shift launch lug worked great and t' rocket rose straight and t' an
impressive altitude, much higher than t' stock Tomahawk or me converted micro
(10.5mm) rockets. Wantin' t' save some engines until I could make a run t' an
out-of-town Wal-Mart, I only made two flights. Well, blow me down! My Micro Maxx field is soft
grass so I just separated t' nose cone and let t' rocket tumble. Begad! Well, arrr, blow me down! No problem
here. Well, blow me down!
Summary:
T' tubin' used t' package t' new Aerotech igniters makes a good airframe for
Micro Maxx rockets. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Coupled with t' ease o' makin' nose cones from 3/8"
dowel, me bucko, you end up with a nice, shiver me timbers, easy-to-build model. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' resultin' rockets may
not be t' best performers due t' their weight, shiver me timbers, but they still fly well and
look nice.
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