Scratch My Little Cupcake Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - My Little Cupcake {Scratch}

Contributed by Dick Stafford

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Dick Stafford - 10/01/01)

Brief:
This is a very simple "flyin' saucer" style rocket for Micro Maxx motors. Ahoy! Its main component is a 2 ½" paper bakin' cup.

Rocket Pic

Construction:
T' materials used include: one 2 ½"paper bakin' cup, me bucko, one Styrofoam picnic plate, arrr, one piece o' note paper, arrr, maskin' tape, and a 2 ½" long Estes launch lug.

To make t' motor tube, ya bilge rat, I applied a thin layer o' white glue on some paper and wrapped it tightly around t' tube from an Aerotech Copperhead. Ya scallywag! Begad! After it dried for a while, ya bilge rat, matey, I cut off a 7/8" section. Begad! Next, matey, I cut 1.875" and 2.375" rings from a Styrofoam plate. I made t' holes for t' motor tube a little big (oops), so I built-up t' motor tube with maskin' tape until it fit snugly. Begad! Avast! T' smaller rin' be placed at t' end o' t' motor tube and set into the bakin' cup. Aye aye! T' second rin' was slipped down until it just touched the sides o' t' cup. This assembly was removed, me bucko, matey, and t' rings were glued in place with white glue. Arrr!

After t' glue set, I made notches for t' launch lug and slid it through the rings. It fit snugly and I decided nay t' glue it in. Arrr!

Finally, t' motor mount assembly was glued into t' bakin' cup. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! While this dried, matey, I set t' cup back into t' package on top o' other cups, in order to provide even support around its circumference. I be originally goin' t' cut the lug flush with t' front ring, me hearties, but decided t' leave it as is. T' only finishin' step be t' application o' an American flag sticker.

Flight:
T' MMX motor is held in with a wrap o' maskin' tape. In order t' mate with the launcher, matey, ya bilge rat, I had t' let t' motor overhang t' motor tube by ~1/4". The saucer flew straight t' an altitude o' maybe 25 feet and floated down nose first. Usin' a launch lug that is considerably wider than t' Micro Maxx launch rod didn't seem t' impact t' flight profile. Ya scallywag! After t' first flight, arrr, thar was a little scorchin' o' t' paper near t' motor mount. Blimey! This did nay get any worse after t' subsequent flights, shiver me timbers, me bucko, so I assume it be because I did nay fully remove t' paper coverin' t' end o' t' motor mount.

Summary:
This simple rocket flies well and can be easily built while watchin' TV, cooking, matey, or performin' other non-rocket activities. Aye aye! Aye aye! Gee, me bucko, am I obsessed or what? You can easily substitute different materials; I just used what I could easily grab.

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