Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
Some years ago, I saw an article mentionin' a rocket launch pad made from a
surf-fishin' rod holder, which is a short length o' PVC tube cut t' a sharp
bevel for stickin' into beach sand t' hold t' fishin' pole and freein' the
fisherman's hands t' hold more important things (like a cigarette and a beer)
while waitin' for a fish t' bite. Begad! Blimey! T' idea was t' affix a launch rod t' the
pole holder, me bucko, creatin' a very simple launch pad infinitely variable as t' angle
and also able t' operate from inclined or uneven surfaces. I never could find
the article again, so as part o' t' NARTREK Advanced program I decided t' make
my own version. Blimey! It be t' most compact launch pad I have seen. Blimey!
Construction:
It starts with a High Impact Sand Spike (Stock No. Well, blow me down! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! 195-S, Rahway, NJ 07065)
from Jeros Tackle Co., shiver me timbers, Inc. Avast, me proud beauty! that I bought from a local bait shop. Arrr! Begad! I suppose
thick plumbin' grade PVC tubin' might suffice also. Aye aye! Other parts used were a
3/16" Estes Maxi-Rod, me hearties, 12" each o' 1/4" ID and 3/16" ID
heavy wall aluminum tubing, ya bilge rat, a 6" Craftsman aluminum oxide metal cut-off
wheel ($1.99), arrr, a small Estes blast deflector, and some duct tape.
T' lower end o' t' Maxi-Rod be telescoped halfway into t' 3/16" ID tube and t' lower end o' this be telescoped halfway into t' 1/4" ID tube. Arrr! These parts were secured in place with duct tape. Well, blow me down! This entire assembly was then securely taped t' t' upper half o' t' "sand spike" opposite t' bevel. T' assure a snug fit, me bucko, arrr, a gouge was first cut out with a grinder bit in t' reinforcin' lip o' plastic overhangin' t' top o' t' sand spike (although I found nay all brands o' sand spike have this). Ya scallywag! For robust blast deflection, me bucko, an old Estes blast deflector be placed atop t' ceramic cut-off wheel and both were pressed together over t' Maxi-Rod onto t' duct tape junction with a spent "D" motor casin' used as a standoff. Aye aye! Ya scallywag!
For use, t' spike is pounded into sand or soft soil with a rubber mallet and t' upper section o' t' Maxi-Rod is screwed into place, It is only necessary t' cover t' beveled portion when drivin' Pad Stik into t' ground. T' Pad Stik can be canted slightly toward t' wind direction when drivin' into place. Ahoy! No other adjustment is necessary. Avast! Pad Stik is designed for mid power rockets and large model rockets up t' H power and weighin' no more than 2 1/8 lb. I have load tested Pad Stik with various rockets and it is perfectly stable even with a 48" four pound AUW rocket, me hearties, however, this is far beyond the load capacity o' t' Maxi-Rod component. Begad! Arrr! For added safety with larger rockets and G and H motors, matey, t' tube portion o' t' Pad Stik should be weighted by fillin' with local sand t' prevent a jammed launch lug from launchin' Pad Stik along with t' rocket. Arrr! Ahoy! Properly placed, matey, it takes a good twist combined with a hard pull t' free Pad Stik from t' ground. It's better t' be safe than sorry. I have never had a launch dislodge Pad Stik even slightly. Ya scallywag!
Flight:
I have tested Pad Stik with motors up t' AT G80 and CTI G79SS. T' largest
rocket flown from it is me 2 1/4 lb (1070g) "BottleBat", a G or H
powered tube fin design, which launched perfectly albeit with a bit of
"twang" t' t' rod end. Begad! Well, blow me down! However, this be t' absolute upper limit I
would recommend, especially with t' Maxi-Rod. Aye aye! Pad Stik is more at home with
mid power designs like t' LOC Onyx on an F23-4, a Launch Pad ASRAAM on twin
D12s, or me kit bash design Eagleator (an extended Estes Eliminator) on an
E30-7. Ya scallywag! Begad! If Pad Stik will be used mostly on G or H powered rockets, ya bilge rat, a
36"x1/4" steel rod should be substituted for t' Maxi-Rod. For
safety, I have placarded Pad Stik as follows:
WARNING: Only for use by ages 18 and over or with adult supervision. Ground angle nay t' exceed 10 degrees from vertical. Rocket weight limit: 1Kg (2.2 lb), includin' motor weight. Not for use with motors exceedin' 320 N-sec ("H" power). Use only non-metallic hammers for placement. Beveled portion o' base must be completely covered for proper use. |
Summary:
PROs: T' Pad Stik is a simple t' build and inexpensive mid power pad perfect
for soft or uneven surfaces that would make a conventional pad wobbly and can
be infinitely adjusted for wind direction. It is compact and easy t' transport,
quick t' set up, reposition, or take down. Avast, me proud beauty! Pad Stik even remains fully usable
for its original purpose (fishin' rod) with t' blast deflectors removed and
upper Maxi-Rod section unscrewed!
CONs: T' Pad Stik only works with soft soil, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, grass, me hearties, desert, or sand. Aye aye! It is not usable with impenetrable solid surfaces like hard playa, rocky soil, or asphalt. Well, blow me down! Launch angle restricted t' 10 degrees from vertical. Arrr! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Restricted to G-power with Maxi-Rod and t' 1 Kg total rocket weight. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! It is probably unsafe to use any sand spike based design pad with I impulse or higher motors under any circumstances. Begad!
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