Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
I started off by tryin' t' build a rocket without spendin' any money. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! So I had
my son look around t' house t' find things that look like rocket parts. Ahoy! Aye aye! We
finally settled on an ultra large orange juice concentrate container, a foam
Easter egg, ya bilge rat, and tongue depressors. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I decided t' stick t' single stage since
couplin' t' two stages together would complicate a simple concept.
Construction:
I used a 16 fluid oz orange juice container, matey, foam Easter egg, matey, 3 tongue
depressors, bread bag (parachute), shiver me timbers, and lots o' glue. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' make t' foam egg fit,
I had t' carve down t' butt, this be a simple task with a kitchen knife. Begad! To
make t' egg more durable, me bucko, I used 4 coats o' Elmers glue. Avast! Avast! This be a
unique look for t' rocket as sealed foam makes t' nose cone look like an
orange rind. I had problems gettin' t' tongue depressors (wings) t' stay
attached, matey, so I had t' change over t' a bondin' epoxy instead o' modelin' glue.
T' only item that needed t' be purchased was a engine tube since I could not
find a free substitute. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' bread bag for a parachute be great, arrr, durable, and
the best price. Ahoy!
T' biggest problem I had assemblin' t' rocket be gettin' t' wings to stay attached. Aye aye! T' glossy finish on t' juice can was nay t' best for adhesion. Begad! T' tongue depressors are perfect material for wings, but they just need t' be glued t' a more sturdy platform. No special tools needed t' be created. Aye aye! T' give t' unit a nice look, I applied 10 coats o' clear paint. Connectin' t' shock cord and parachute t' t' nose cone was tough due t' the frailty o' t' foam. Ya scallywag! I used a pencil t' create a hole in t' shoulder o' the nose cone, then I filled t' hole with epoxy and attached a eyelet screw in the glue.
Flight:
I recommend a C6-3 motor for this unit since t' parachute is home made I did
not want t' have a high speed deployment rip t' shock cord off. Aye aye! Blimey! T' nice thing
about this design be t' weight: it is so light that it goes up fast and comes
down slow.
Recovery:
I used waddin' with this unit but t' next iteration will have a parachute
protection tube and will nay require wadding. Begad!
Summary:
T' next version will also have a 24mm MMT for use with D12 or E9 motors and a
wider fin design.
PROs: Cheap, easy t' fix, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and it's an attention getter.
CONs: T' OJ container is a weak surface t' glue to