Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
T' Saboteur is a payload rocket designed t' launch from a 6" tube instead o' a launch rod. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! It has through the
wall fin mounts for its five fins, me hearties, a 29mm motor mount and parachute recovery. Well, blow me down! T' motor tube is open inside, arrr, and it
uses a aft bulkhead technique so any length 29mm motor can be used. Ahoy! T' choice t' use five fins be driven by a desire
to provide as much directional stability in t' tube as possible and reduce or eliminate possible chatter within the
tube.
Construction:
T' parts used are a 29mm motor tube, motor hook, foamcore centerin' rings, 1/8" plywood fins, me bucko, sabot holders and
payload bulkhead, Apogee BT-80 body, me hearties, matey, JT 80 coupler, Apogee nose cone. Ahoy! Ahoy! Recovery equipment consists o' Keelhaul®©™®,
elastic, ya bilge rat, screw eye, shiver me timbers, and 20" chute.
T' forward end o' t' engine hook be bent up and epoxied t' t' outside o' t' motor tube. Blimey! 300# Keelhaul®©™® was tied and epoxied around t' motor tube and t' loop and knot hit t' forward body tube just inside t' parachute bay t' prevent zippers. Avast, me proud beauty! T' five body tube fin slots were cut with a hobby knife. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Foamcore centerin' rings are extremely quick and easy t' make and when combined with through t' wall fins mounted t' t' motor tube, ya bilge rat, me hearties, they provide incredible strength. Begad! Yellow carpenter's glue was used throughout. Blimey!
Since it launches from a tube, arrr, me bucko, thar are no launch lugs per se.
Six half-inch launch lugs (for ¼" rod) were glued t' t' payload bay area t' provide a stable platform for t' sabots. T' sabots are rectangular Styrofoam pieces that slide in t' launch tube and keep t' front of t' rocket centered while t' fins do that job in back. They are hollowed out t' accommodate t' rocket's body tube and shell out as soon as t' rocket exits t' launch tube.
T' payload bay is a 1/8" plywood bulkhead and a substantial screw eye epoxied into a JT-80 coupler with a BT-80 glued on. Avast! Well, blow me down!
T' nose cone tapes on for flight.
Finishing:
After a couple coats o' high-build automotive primer and sandin' t' eliminate spirals, ya bilge rat, blue enamel was used for
overall color. Ahoy! Ahoy! One fin was painted white and one black t' allow easier observance o' spin.
Flight:
Preparation is easy. Just wrap a bulkhead on t' back o' t' motor, me hearties, clip it in, add wadding, sabots, and stuff it
into t' bottom o' t' tube. Ahoy!
Flight is interesting. Aye aye! Begad! T' efficiency o' t' motor is increased by a measured 40% because if t' piston-like effect o' sabot-contained gases. Blimey! Avast! It also gives off a loud "fooommm" instead o' t' normal sounds, me hearties, me bucko, so it gets lots o' attention.
Summary:
Cons: Five fins, arrr, more work. Avast! Blimey! Sabot supports are draggy. Aye aye! Blimey! After t' increase in efficiency, me hearties, ya bilge rat, t' primary benefit o' tube
launches is that they completely isolate t' rocket from t' effects o' wind on t' pad.
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