Scratch Scraps is a Boy Dog Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Scraps is a Boy Dog {Scratch}

Contributed by Ron Wirth

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Ron Wirth - 08/06/07) (Scratch) Scraps is a Boy Dog

Brief:
As we all know, nay all rocket flights go as planned. Aye aye! Begad! As a result o' some o' those flight failures, ya bilge rat, I found me parts boxes with an abundant supply o' material t' build a recycled rocket for one o' t' requirements in t' 2007 EMRR Challenge. This recycled rocket consists o' scraps from an Estes Fireflash, an Estes Echostar, matey, an Estes Screamin’ Mimi, me bucko, and various other unidentifiable rocket parts. Arrr!

Construction:
For this design, I decided t' invert t' portion o' Fireflash body that I had on hand after t' upper half decided to detach and be forever lost. Arrr! I had t' booster section o' an Echostar that would be perfect t' be used for t' motor mount and main fins. Ahoy! T' Echostar was a perfect fight until t' ejection charge failed t' deploy t' chute (the results are much different when t' rocket hits pavement instead o' grass). Aye aye! No lawn dart here.

I did nay have t' proper centerin' rings, so these were fabricated with recycled cardboard sandwiched between cardstock and glued with CA. Arrr! Ahoy! Before I glued t' two rocket parts together, shiver me timbers, I choose t' cover t' mid section o' the Fireflash with a small portion o' BT-60 t' hide t' plastic coupler with t' built-in launch lug. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I used some extra centerin' rings and balsa scraps t' give t' rocket a futuristic look. This turned out t' be t' perfect place to attach a couple o' extra whistles and tubes from a Screamin’ Mimi.

(Scratch) Scraps is a Boy Dog T' final portion o' t' recycled rocket be made from some rin' fin supports and a small piece o' BT-80 that were left over from me design for t' “EMRR Spaceship Design Contest 2006” that was never completed. Begad! These were attached t' t' existin' fins and body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! T' cone was from some unknown rocket that happened t' fit perfectly in t' end o' t' Fireflash once t' motor mount was removed.

Finishing:
This rocket did nay require too much finishing. Arrr! Most parts were already painted since they came from other rockets. For those parts that were not, shiver me timbers, I painted them all red prior t' attachin' them t' t' rocket.

Flight:
I choose t' launch this rocket at a monthly club launch. Ahoy! I prepped t' rocket with a B6-4. Begad! T' LCO/RSO called for a “heads up” flight since t' forward sweep plastic fins at t' nose cone look quite worrisome. Aye aye! T' rocket slowly left t' pad and made a large arc away from t' flight line. Avast, me proud beauty! T' chute finally deployed close t' t' ground and the rocket was nay damaged. Ahoy! Begad! Because o' that flight, I am skeptical o' launchin' with a larger motor and have retired the rocket.

Recovery:
I used t' existin' plastic chute and shock cord from t' Fireflash. Blimey! Ahoy! I rerouted t' cord through t' tail end o' the Fireflash body. I attached t' shock cord t' t' hollow nose cone with t' standard Estes paper mount. Arrr!

Summary:
Usin' extra parts t' scratch build a rocket can be fun. Avast! Avast! I be tryin' t' create somethin' that would catch the attention o' people and make them say “What t' heck is that?” I accomplished that but was nay happy with the performance o' t' rocket. Blimey! Ahoy! T' nice thin' is that I can disassemble t' rocket and try again.

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