Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
This a scratch built spaceship rocket designed for t' 2009 Design-A-Spaceship contest. It is constructed o' 110lb
cardstock and presentation board.
Construction:
T' parts include:
I first cut t' centerin' rings, matey, me hearties, bulkhead, and fins from t' presentation board. Avast! Blimey! Next I cut t' BT-50 to 4-½". Avast! Blimey! I used an online transition template t' print out t' templates for t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, body, ya bilge rat, and tail cone. For t' larger centerin' rings, me bucko, arrr, me bucko, I used t' template printout from RockSim. For t' bulkhead, I just used one of t' 'holes' from a centerin' ring.
After printin' out t' templates on t' cardstock, I then carefully shaped t' nosecone and transition sections into cone shapes. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! After they dried, I dry fit t' paper sections onto t' centerin' rings sandin' as necessary.
Next, I glued t' motor block into t' tube usin' a spent 24mm motor t' push it into place leave ¼" t' 3/8" o' t' motor stickin' out. Blimey! After that had set, I glued t' centerin' rings onto t' body tube: the smallest rin' ¼" below t' top o' t' tube, shiver me timbers, t' two larger tubes at 2-½" and 2-¾" from t' top o' t' tube and t' medium rin' flush with t' bottom o' t' tube.
After t' glue has dried, arrr, arrr, I carefully glued t' middle transition section t' t' top end o' t' tube makin' sure it is perfectly straight on t' top centerin' rin' and top middle centerin' ring. Then I added t' transition t' the bottom again makin' sure t' piece was perfectly straight on t' lower middle rin' and bottommost ring. I let it thoroughly dry.
T' finish t' nose cone, I glued t' coupler onto t' nose cone bein' careful t' get it straight. Well, blow me down! Begad! When it was dry, ya bilge rat, I filled t' cone with clay leavin' a ¼" lip t' t' edge. Ahoy! Glued t' bulkhead into t' coupler. Begad! When all was dry, I added t' screw eye for shock cord attachment.
As this is a tricky design, I glued t' launch lug t' a fin makin' sure it be straight.
T' shock cord is mounted in t' Estes fashion with t' other end tied t' t' screw eye. Avast, me proud beauty! T' streamer is tied on about 1/3 from t' nose cone.
Finishing:
Since I used color cardstock, I didn't really need t' paint anything. Begad! Avast! I used a color highlighter marker t' paint the
fins t' match t' cardstock.
Flight:
T' Synerjet flew on C11-3s for all three flights. Aye aye! T' first flight was unstable. For t' second flight, I used a
spacer t' extend t' motor out t' back ½". Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! This caused t' rocket t' be even more unstable. T' third
flight be a recreation o' t' first.
Recovery:
Recovery for all flights was after t' rocket hit t' ground. Arrr! Each landin' broke a forward fin off.
Summary:
I would say this is nay a good rocket design as it is too stubby t' be stable. Avast! Even tryin' t' upscale it in RockSim
it be nay stable. Well, blow me down! It was a fun and interestin' build.