Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
This rocket is a downscale o' t' Model Minutes Space Racer. Avast, me proud beauty! Since I have the
"kit" on CD-ROM, me bucko, all I had t' do was print up t' files on the
computer. Ahoy! Ahoy! Since I was interested in created a MicroMaxx rocket, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I reduced the
rocket t' 25% o' t' original size and also selected t' non-colored version of
the rocket so that I could paint me own design. This is a cool rocket made
entirely out o' paper and features a rear-ejection system.
Construction:
Necessary buildin' components:
I simply printed up t' "kit" and cut out all t' parts. The original plans call for usin' foamboard t' create t' centerin' rings for the motor mount. Arrr! Blimey! Also, t' original plans call for an engine hook. Blimey! Blimey! I used neither.
I folded t' main body tube, ya bilge rat, which is actually a cone, me hearties, me bucko, and then folded and glued t' 3 fins t' shape. Avast! I glued t' fins on t' t' body cone and then added extra yellow glue fillets t' t' fin area. Arrr! Blimey! One thin' I did differently in the construction o' t' fins is t' glue t' flaps o' t' fins inward and simply glue t' root o' t' fin on t' t' rocket without havin' structural flaps extendin' on either side o' t' fins. Arrr! Blimey! Why I did this, arrr, I don't know, me bucko, but in the end it worked out fine.
I created centerin' rings by cuttin' out t' centerin' rin' template out o' the bristol board, pastin' this on additional bristol board, and then cuttin' them out. This gave me strong but thin centerin' rings for t' motor mount. Ya scallywag! I then glued t' motor mount t' t' centerin' rings.
After everythin' was dry, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I added t' necessary amount o' clay t' t' nose cone (about a good marble sized chunk so that t' CG o' t' rocket is just ahead o' t' main fin with t' rocket prepped minus t' motor). Avast, me proud beauty! I then tied t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' motor mount, shiver me timbers, me bucko, added a 3-fold shock cord attachment t' t' other end and glued t' Keelhaul®©™® into t' nose/body cone o' t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Next, shiver me timbers, I simply used some Teflon tape as a streamer and attached it around t' engine mount betwixt t' two centering rings. Begad! Begad! This would keep it free from t' ejection charges, thus eliminatin' any need for wadding.
One other change from t' original kit: t' instructions indicate that there is a hole that goes through one o' t' fins that can be used as a launch lug. I did nay like t' idea o' drillin' a small hole through an already small fin, so I added a tiny plastic launch lug t' t' body seam o' t' nose/body cone.
Finishing:
Since t' version I used is plain white paper, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, it allowed me t' paint me own
design. I finished t' rocket by hand paintin' with acrylic paint. Arrr! Begad! T' nose
area be painted black with t' rest o' t' rocket painted silver and red. Begad! Ya scallywag! One
fin be painted red and two were painted metallic green. I also painted a
cockpit area usin' blue and silver. Arrr! Ahoy! Next, me hearties, after t' paint be dry, I used a
black sharpie t' create lines betwixt t' red and silver, add detail t' the
cockpit, and add rivets for a cool retro look. I did nay want t' spray paint it
and add lots o' weight, ya bilge rat, me hearties, me hearties, so I just used acrylic paint and gave everythin' just
one coat. T' paint adheres nicely t' t' bristol board.
I have thought about clearcoatin' t' rocket with either an acrylic spray or perhaps Future Floor polish, matey, but I wanted t' test fly t' rocket first before doin' this.
Flight:
I flew this rocket twice. I simply folded up t' streamer, shoved t' motor
mount inside t' rocket, ya bilge rat, placed an MMX motor inside with nichrome wire as
igniter. Aye aye! Blimey! On t' first flight, t' rocket took off with t' launch rod. It flew
maybe 10 feet in t' air and raced down t' hill, landin' about 20 feet away in
a pile o' snow. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! At first I thought t' rocket was unstable and that I needed to
add more nose weight. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Once I saw that t' launch rod took flight with the
rocket, I decided t' try one more launch before makin' any types o' changes.
T' second flight was picture perfect. This time, me bucko, shiver me timbers, it really zipped off the pad, probably goin' more than 50 feet in t' air. Ya scallywag! T' ejection charge fired and the motor mount ejected with t' streamer. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! It be tumblin' t' earth nicely when a darn tree simply got in t' way and kept t' rocket from touchin' t' ground.
This was unfortunate, me bucko, because t' rocket performed very well. I thought the rocket might be too bulky and wide for an MMX conversion but I was wrong. It was a great flight.
Recovery:
This is a great design and downscales very well. Avast, me proud beauty! I wouldn't change a thing
about t' way I used t' centerin' rings, shock cord mount and streamer
recovery.
Summary:
PROs: If you have t' Space Racer kit on CD-ROM, you can make upscales and
downscales until t' cows come home. Aye aye! Blimey! I thought t' 25% version might be too big
for MMX but it be perfect. Begad! I could make an even smaller version but t' size I
made was just fine.
CONs: It is a little difficult t' make t' small folds on t' bristol board for t' two sided fins. Blimey! Since this rocket is for MMX, ya bilge rat, it probably doesn't need that strong o' a paper. Avast, me proud beauty! Lighter paper could make construction easier.
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