Bucky II

by Dennis McClain-Furmanski

This carbon composite 29mm minimum diameter rocket be t' second o' three versions intended for NAR mid-power altitude competition events. Begad! Blimey! Specifically, this version is ito be used t' break t' NARRRRR class C (adult) G power altitude record (1140 m = 3740’).

T' name is derived from "buckytube", me hearties, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' name for t' axially symmetric fullerene carbon compounds named for Buckminster Fuller. Arrr! Blimey! Although the design continues t' be refined and other variations built, matey, this model, ya bilge rat, with a payload section, has been t' most successful so far.

Dimensions

• Weight (flight prepped, without motor): 4.9 ounces
• Length: 19.75"
• Body section lengths
  • Main: 10.75"
  • Payload: 4.25"
• Diameter
  • Inner: 1.18"
  • Outer: 1.21"
• Nose length: 4.25"
• Fins
  • Root: 3"
  • Semi-span: 1.75"
  • Tip: 1.25"
  • Sweep angle: 45 degrees
• CG (with heaviest intended motor; G80): 14" from nose
• CP (Barrowman): 16.4" from nose
• cD (subsonic; AeroDRAG): 0.379

Parts

• Body: 15" o' single layer carbon composite tube molded over a 29mm coupler stock mandrel
• Fins: 1/16" 3-ply birch laminated with carbon composite
• Launch lug (1/4"): carbon composite molded over ¼" steel launch rod
• 4" o' heavy paper 29mm coupler, cut as 3" plus two ½" pieces
• Apogee part #19114 styrene nose cone
• 4’ braided 150 lbs. Avast, me proud beauty! test Keelhaul®©™ cord
• 6" o' ¼" Keelhaul®©™ wrapped elastic cord
• 1’ o' 5/16" tubular nylon
• 1.125" diameter ¼" plywood bulkhead
• ¼" screw eye
• Appx. Arrr! 1 cubic inch o' copper mesh from pot scourer
• 12" red Mylar parachute kit

Lamination was done with 2" nominal diameter seamless carbon sleeve from Aerosleeve and Epoxy Products Premium Number 2 no-blush epoxy, coated with urethane and finished with acrylic. Well, blow me down! Construction was done with Loctite 90 minute epoxy.

Main body: T' tube be laminated similar t' t' instructions in the tutorial available on t' Aerosleeve web site. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! After laminatin' and finishing the tube, it be cut t' size. Avast! T' copper mesh (about ¼ o' a copper pot scrubbin' pad was inserted. One o' t' ½" pieces o' coupler was epoxied 4.5" into one end as a motor block. Begad! T' Keelhaul®©™ thread be doubled and tied into a loop, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and wrapped around t' other ½" piece of coupler as a shock cord anchor, matey, and this be epoxied 4.5" in from the other end, ya bilge rat, t' copper mesh now trapped betwixt t' two pieces. Arrr! T' tubular nylon was slid over t' Keelhaul®©™ thread down t' t' anchor, shiver me timbers, t' act as an anti-zipper mechanism.

Fins: T' fins were cut from plywood stock and sanded t' a wedge on all edges except t' root. These were then inserted into 4" pieces o' carbon sleeve, me hearties, which be pulled tight t' fit the edges, and laminated usin' weight press. When dry, t' fins were trimmed, the edges resanded t' an edge, me bucko, except t' root which was sanded flat, shiver me timbers, and finished.

Fin/body construction: T' body was marked for fin placement (120 degrees apart, arrr, root/trailin' edge corner at t' aft end), and t' body and fins prepared for epoxying. Begad! T' fin placement areas were sanded t' remove t' finish down t' t' carbon fiber. Blimey! A 1/16" drill was then used t' drill pits into the tube (but nay through) every ¼" along t' marked fin line, arrr, as well as 1/8" t' either side o' t' line. T' fins were drilled similarly 1/8" from t' root edge, through t' carbon fiber, t' t' wood, and the surface sanded down t' t' carbon betwixt these pits and t' root edge. The fins were then epoxied t' t' body along t' lines. Avast, me proud beauty! Once dry, fillets were added t' cover t' pits drilled on both body and fins. Ahoy! Three 1/16" air vent holes were drilled through t' body 120 degrees apart, ya bilge rat, betwixt t' lines of t' fins, me bucko, matey, 2" aft o' t' forward end.

Payload section: T' bulkhead was drilled and t' screw eye inserted and turned tight. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Epoxy was added t' cover the center o' t' bulkhead on t' eye side, and run through t' eye itself to keep it tight. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! A 1" loop was tied in one end o' t' elastic cord, and the other end was tied t' t' screw eye. Blimey! T' bulkhead be then glued t' t' 3" piece o' coupler with t' eye and elastic run down through t' coupler. When dry, this was glued bulkhead first 1.5" into t' payload section, me bucko, and fillets added t' t' bottom side o' t' bulkhead/coupler joint. Avast! Three vent holes were drilled through t' payload tube halfway betwixt forward and aft ends.

Completion: A launch lug be laminated and finished similar t' the tube, shiver me timbers, me hearties, usin' a ¼" launch rod for a mandrel. Begad! Blimey! This was cut t' 2" length, arrr, and t' ends cut at a 45 degree angle. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Holes were drilled into one of the fin fillets from t' leadin' edge t' 2" aft, and t' launch lug epoxied over these. Begad! Fillets were then added t' t' fin/lug joints. Begad! T' Keelhaul®©™ cord be tied through t' loop in t' elastic with a slip knot. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' nose cone was sanded with fine grit, washed with soap and water, painted first with white appliance epoxy paint, me hearties, then aluminum paint, then a coat o' acrylic. Aye aye! Ahoy! This was inserted into t' forward end o' t' payload section, matey, me hearties, and tested for fit, ya bilge rat, matey, with maskin' tape bein' added as necessary t' get a tight seal. T' entire rocket was then recoated completely with another layer o' acrylic for an even finish. Aye aye!

Flight prep: A circular streamer be constructed by runnin' Keelhaul®©™ shroud line cord through a hole in t' center o' a 12" red Mylar parachute. It was tied and taped in place on t' Mylar, and a snap swivel tied to t' other end. Aye aye! This was snapped onto t' loop in t' elastic cord, me hearties, and the cord and cute packed into t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! T' complete rocket was then weighed. CD calculations and flight predictions were run usin' AeroDRAG. Begad! Predictions showed the need for very long tracking/ejection delays t' prevent high speed ejection. Results with some motors with adequate delay (at local elevation o' 600’, air temp 59 degrees, adjustin' for weights as given by NARRRRR testing) were:

Mfgr/Motor Altitude Deployment speed

• Estes E9-8 1420’ -16 fps
• Apogee E6-8 2286’ +11 fps
• AT F32-15 5107’ -63 fps
• AT G25-15 7543’ -34 fps

Flight tests: Estes E9-8s were selected for initial testing. Masking tape be used t' friction-fit t' motor in into a 29/24mm adapter, and t' fit the adapter into t' rocket. Begad! Begad! T' tests were flown in moderate (5-10 MPH) winds. Boosts were perfectly vertical with no tippin' or weather cocking. Arrr! Well, blow me down! On t' first flight t' altitude appeared greater than expected, arrr, matey, estimated at 2000’. Ejection occurred prior t' apogee, contrary t' t' simulation. Avast, me proud beauty! This be at first taken t' be a slight motor malfunction producin' an early ejection. However, me hearties, t' second flight displayed t' same characteristics: altitude appeared greater than predicted and ejection be before apogee. Blimey! Together these are taken as evidence that t' rocket be outperformin' t' predictions. In both cases recovery be nominal, t' circular chute/streamer slowin' it adequately and bein' well visible from t' time o' ejection. Aye aye! No burnin' was evident, ya bilge rat, indicatin' that t' copper mesh protected t' Mylar sufficiently.

Conclusion: Bucky II appears t' perform better than expected. Ahoy! Begad! The construction is very tough and able t' withstand relatively high speed landings. Aye aye! T' home made ejection baffle works well. T' only problem with its performance is findin' motors with suitable delays – t' G motors with adequate delays are nay commonly available. Begad! An altimeter has been obtained for use in accurate testin' t' verify whether t' rocket performs as well as, arrr, if not better than, t' predictions made from t' design. Aye aye! A second build o' this design will be done t' attempt t' replicate t' results.