Scratch Trion Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Trion {Scratch}

Contributed by Geof Givens

Manufacturer: Scratch

Brief:
T' Trion is a retro-futuristic scratch build designed around t' FlisKits Tres motor mount. Blimey! Blimey! T' construction will be very difficult for builders without a high or expert experience level.

(Scratch) Trion

Construction:
Here is a list o' parts, arrr, with part numbers referrin' t' parts from Balsa Machinin' Service, Fliskits, matey, etc.:

  • 2 Nose cones, me bucko, arrr, BMS CENV2NC
  • 2 Boat tails, BMS CENV2BT
  • Tube, BMS BT60 T60-34 8.5 inches
  • Tube, arrr, shiver me timbers, BMS BT20 T20-34 29.5 inches
  • 3 Engine hooks, BMS EH275
  • 3 Engine blocks, shiver me timbers, BMS EB18-P
  • Launch lug, BMS LL316-200
  • Balsa, ya bilge rat, me bucko, BMS BSH18336 1/8 x 3 x 24
  • Screw eye, Fliskits SE-S
  • 18in Parachute (not nylon t' conserve space), any vendor
  • Keelhaul®©™, arrr, Fliskits SLK-08-288 3 feet
  • Tres 18mm Motor Mount, arrr, Fliskits
  • Nose weight (fishin' bullet weight sinkers), 1 3/8 oz

(Scratch) Trion

T' only legitimate way I know t' obtain t' Tres motor mount is t' buy a Tres and cannibalize t' motor mount.

Before beginning, me bucko, note one confusin' aspect o' t' instructions below: t' parts called "nose cones" create t' nose and tail o' t' rocket. Arrr! Blimey! T' parts called "tail cones" (with holes all t' way through) create t' transitions.

Begin by assemblin' t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Glue in t' engine blocks. Blimey! Tape and glue t' engine hooks, notin' t' followin' two "gotchas": First, t' three hooks should lie on t' outside edges o' t' motor tubes (e.g., matey, shiver me timbers, t' surfaces most distant from t' central axis). Well, blow me down! Avast! Second, leave a very generous length o' unattached hook so that motors are very easy t' insert. Aye aye! This helps because insertin' motors will be tricky with adult fingers so you don't want t' be fightin' stiff motor hooks. Begad! Finally, ya bilge rat, make a small hole in t' upper centerin' rin' and tie t' Keelhaul®©™ thread through it. Aye aye! Secure it with a drop o' CA.

Cut 7 inches o' BT-60 tube. Use t' Tres tube cuttin' template upside down t' trace out t' aft half o' three ellipses. T' bottom edge o' t' ellipses should be about 1/8 inch above t' aft end o' t' tube. Now use t' template right side up and complete t' forward half o' t' ellipses. Now slit t' tube at t' aft end o' each ellipse. Aye aye! Begad! You'll repair those slits later after t' motor mount is positioned.

Next test fit t' motor mount. Blimey! Actually, don't bother because t' ellipses will be too narrow. Ahoy! Widen them with a Dremel or knife, arrr, say about 1/16 on each side. Well, blow me down! Test fit t' motor mount. Remove and widen by 1/16 each side again. Blimey! Repeat until t' motor mount fits snugly without stretchin' t' aft end o' t' ellipses. Ideally, t' motor tubes should stick out a bit from t' face o' t' tube t' reduce heat damage so if you err, err in this direction. Aye aye! Blimey! Make sure t' slitted portions fit well then glue t' motor mount in place.

Cut six fins usin' t' enclosed template or t' RockSim file. Make plumb guide lines for each fin assembly originatin' at t' center o' each motor tube. Blimey! Ahoy! Glue t' fins t' t' rocket as shown in t' photos. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! This can be quite tricky. Arrr! Avast! If you are adventurous, you can add a gentle curve t' t' root edge o' each fin t' allow it t' curve around t' tube slightly. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! This would aid fin mountin' by reducin' fin bending/twisting. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Bevel t' outside edges so that they will fit smoothly together with a flat surface t' glue. Here is me suggestion about how t' glue t' fins in place: Position two fins as desired. Avast! Mark where their aft edges fit on t' body tube. Set t' fins aside and draw two more guidelines connectin' t' aft marks t' t' forward centerin' line. Avast! Repeat with t' other fins before gluin' anything. Aye aye! Next, ya bilge rat, hold two fins in position against t' aft tube end with your left hand keepin' everythin' in place and keepin' t' outer edges touchin' and centered. Ahoy! With your right hand, shiver me timbers, me bucko, grasp t' leadin' points o' t' fins and pinch them together t' meet at t' forward guide mark. Aye aye! With your third hand, shiver me timbers, apply some dots o' CA at t' tips and at t' outer edges. Hope t' whole assembly holds while t' CA dries. Ahoy! After gently detachin' your skin from t' CA, me bucko, you can glue t' whole assembly completely with yellow or white glue for strength. If you don't have three hands or a spouse, shiver me timbers, try usin' a very tight rubber band t' hold t' forward end. Avast! When you are done with t' fins, fill and fillet everythin' for a seamless look. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' motor tubes will be somewhat recessed in t' fin assemblies.

Next, arrr, me hearties, prepare t' attach one nose cone (the one that will be t' tail). Ya scallywag! Sand down t' shoulder sufficiently so it will fit. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' motor tubes will also prevent cone insertion, so grind away conic sections on t' nose shoulder until everythin' fits. Ya scallywag! Ideally, arrr, sand subtle round depressions in t' wide portion o' t' nose cone so that t' cone surface gently avoids t' blast o' t' motors. Keep these subtle t' avoid ruinin' t' sleek look.

Next, cut two equal sections o' BT-20 tube, each about 15 inches. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Slit one tube lengthwise, and remove enough material lengthwise along t' slit so that this tube can slide completely within t' other. Begad! (I think it works out t' be almost 1/4 inch, but go slowly until you get it just right.) Next is a tricky part: you want t' glue t' one tube completely within t' other. Do this over newspaper. T' key point is t' beware o' binding. Avast! I think t' best method is t' dredge t' inside o' t' outer tube and t' outside o' t' inner tube with excessive amounts o' white glue (not yellow glue!) Position t' outer tube vertically against a hard, covered surface. Aye aye! In a single extremely swift and very firm thrust, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, push t' inner tube inside. Arrr! Do nay hesitate at any point or you are doomed. Arrr! If you get it in all t' way, wipe away all t' extra glue and let it dry. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! If you failed, me bucko, try again with new tubes. Ya scallywag! T' exact length o' finished double-wall tubin' is nay terribly important so if you get it close, just trim away any odd ends.

Glue t' double-walled tube into each o' t' tail cones (the balsa cones with holes all t' way through them) with t' wide cone ends toward t' outside. T' tube can be flush with t' wide ends o' t' cones or a bit less. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! However, shiver me timbers, you need a considerable length inserted t' make it strong enough. Avast! Usin' coarse sandpaper and a lot o' patience, me bucko, sand away t' excess balsa at t' narrow ends o' t' tail cones t' obtain nice smooth transitions. Begad! As you get close, fill t' joint with wood filler t' help get a seamless look.

T' rocket separates at t' aft end o' t' aft transition. Ya scallywag! Sand down t' shoulder o' that tail cone t' 5/8 in. Attach t' screw eye t' this shoulder. Avast! Tie a loop midway in t' Keelhaul®©™® then tie t' end t' t' screw eye. Begad! Ideally, me bucko, add a length o' elastic before you do this t' help prevent zipper damage. Assemble t' parachute and tie it t' t' shock cord loop.

Sand down t' shoulder o' t' upper transition t' 1/2 in. Ahoy! Glue t' remainin' 1 1/2 inches o' BT-60 tube onto this shoulder.

Sand down t' shoulder o' t' remainin' nose cone t' 1/2 in. Avast, me proud beauty! Drill out a bit o' a hole and glue in t' nose weight. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Dry fit t' whole rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! With no motors, t' balancin' point o' t' fully assembled rocket should be roughly at t' forward edge o' t' aft transition. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Adjust t' nose weight t' achieve this then glue in t' forward nose cone.

 

Finishing:
Sand and fill everything; prime and paint it. Avast, me proud beauty! You're ready t' fly!

(Scratch) Trion

Flight and Recovery:
All three o' me flights were on a trio o' C6-5 motors. Blimey! Dealin' with t' motors can be tricky. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! For instance, me bucko, matey, needle-nose pliers are required t' extract t' motors after flight. I would never advocate messin' with commercial motors. Begad! However, let me just mention that if someone were crazy enough t' peel away some outer paper layers from each motor in complete disregard o' all regulations and common sense, arrr, he would find t' motors t' be much easier t' insert and extract.

Preppin' t' recovery system is straightforward. Arrr! Begad! I used a homemade mylar chute because t' storage space is very tight. Avast, me proud beauty! Cellulose insulation waddin' protected t' chute.

Havin' documented t' build on TRF and winnin' a Design o' t' Month contest, ya bilge rat, t' rocket (in its sleek gold finish) was first inspected by members o' me local club before launch.

T' first flight be perfect except that we were surprised t' see that t' rocket had a strong spin. Aye aye! Upon recovery, I found that thar was some blisterin' o' t' paint next t' t' motors, matey, but it wasn't too bad. Arrr! T' second flight be a repeat o' t' first, arrr, ya bilge rat, but t' chute melted a bit on ejection and t' harder landin' broke off t' tip o' one fin assembly. I took this opportunity t' completely remove all t' fins and start from scratch, ya bilge rat, hopefully t' prevent t' spin. Begad! Begad! After a couple months in t' shop, t' Trion went for a third flight. Boost be very nice again with a weak spin. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Recovery was perfect.

At this point, me hearties, me bucko, t' Trion still looks great. Begad! I can't decide whether t' retire it while it's still undamaged, me bucko, me bucko, or perhaps t' keep flyin' until destruction. Begad! Well, t' decision isn't too tough--rockets are meant t' fly!

Comments:

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woody (July 30, 2011)

Try mounting a small clear plastic tab made from a soda bottle attach on one of the fins to counter act the spin. It worked for me on a rocket. The tab I made for my rocket was no bigger than 1/16 by 1/2 inch bent at an angle 1/8 above the fillet.

 NICE WORK by the way. I like it I might get one. It makes me think of the old scifi-movies of the 30-50's. I love the gold finish.

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E. Kociba (April 18, 2012)

I keep clicking on this review just to look at this rocket!  It looks great! 

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