THUNDERCHILD

Dennis "Doctor DynaSoar" McClain-Furmanski's Descon-14 Entry

L: Full length (12" ruler for scale)
C: Cockpit detail
R top: Profile o' motor tubes
R bottom: Aft view

Who would have believed, that in t' early years o' t' 21st century, minds immeasurably superior t' ours still wouldn't have learned their lesson, and we'd have t' kick their Martian butts all over again? No germs, this time. Ahoy! This time it's personal. Avast! Ahoy! This time we're takin' t' fight t' them -- on Mars. Aye aye!

This is Thunderchild, arrr, arrr, named for t' Royal Navy Man-O-War that died protecting Londoners escapin' via steam boat from t' Martian tripods in War O' T' Worlds (at least in t' musical version). Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Designed for flight direct from Earth surface t' Martian atmospheric tactical use and return, t' sleek aerodynamic shape hides a rock hard heart. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Martian cylinder launchers are targeted by triple kinetic kill rocket launchers midships. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty!

This is me DESCON 14 entry. It's essentially 12" o' BT70, shiver me timbers, me bucko, with nose and tail both Apogee PNC56 cones. Ahoy! Blimey! T' tail is cut t' allow projection o' t' 3 x 18mm cluster motor tubes**. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' motor mount is from a 3x18mm in BT70 cluster mount from Thrustline, modified by usin' 12" long motor tubes and 2.75" engine hooks, me hearties, with t' regular ply centerin' rin' fore and a BT60 coupler epoxied against t' aft inside end o' t' tail. T' nose cone cut for the boat tail be cut off even around t' shoulder, arrr, ya bilge rat, and t' ply centerin' ring epoxied t' that after t' fins had been glued in place. Begad! Well, blow me down! Blimey! A rin' o' BT60 couple around t' external part o' t' motor tubes anchors t' engine hooks. Avast! Blimey!

T' cockpit (second panel) is a 13mm ogive nose, arrr, cut lengthwise, t' bottom half cut off o' one, matey, and t' remainin' top half inserted backwards under the longer half. Begad! Ahoy! This is surface mounted t' t' nose with epoxy. T' "rocket launchers" around t' middle are 1/4" styrene tubes, with an internal diameter o' 7/32", makin' them 3/16" capable launch lugs. Begad! Highlights on cockpit, ya bilge rat, me hearties, launcher/lugs and around t' motor tubes is Pactra stripin' tape. Arrr! Avast! A band o' very thin styrene was wrapped around t' very top o' t' body, for both cosmetics and for anti-zipper. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag!

T' fins are 1/8" basswood with tabs that fit through slots in t' tail cone (though nay all t' way t' t' motor tubes) for gluin' inside t' tail. Fin design is fairly directly from t' Concorde's S shaped leadin' edge and straight trailing. T' fillets are far thicker than strength calls for; they are two layers o' epoxy, shiver me timbers, for a nice smooth curve for cosmetic reasons. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey!

T' finish is Rustoleum chrome/stainless steel*, over a healthy layer of white satin finish* for spiral fillin' on t' body, arrr, arrr, and over flat white primer on tube and cones. Recovery is 150 pound kevlar cord anchor, matey, looped double, me bucko, and run betwixt t' ply centerin' rin' and t' body and glued in place with a loop left open. Aye aye! Ahoy! Blimey! A doubled loop o' ¼" elastic shock cord (3 feet exposed cord) runs from t' anchor loop t' t' nose cone. Begad! An 18" Rocketheads chrome mylar parachute brings it home. No nose weight was needed or added, except t' cockpit added a bit. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Loaded for flight, me bucko, it comes in at 14 oz. Avast! (CG right at t' foremost point of fin/body joint), matey, ya bilge rat, a bit heavy for C6's, so t' faster boost C5s (3 sec. Ya scallywag! Well, me bucko, blow me down! delay) were used, me hearties, as was a 4 foot rod due t' lugs bein' a foot up t' rod already. After a brief display o' three flames on t' pad, t' rocket lifted smartly and straight. Aye aye! Blimey! Ejection was about 1 second past apogee and deployment be immediate and without incident. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Landin' on soft soil, one o' t' fin cut an inch or so into t' dirt, ya bilge rat, me bucko, but no breakage or scuffin' occurred.

* Rustoleum's metal finish paints, matey, arrr, especially t' chrome, are very slow drying. Avast! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Days later, shiver me timbers, touchin' them can leave fingerprints. Nay smudges - real ridged prints. Aye aye! Begad! Same with t' satin finish. It makes a great spiral filler and provides a great base for t' chrome (which can be painted over t' satin in an hour) but expect it t' take betwixt one and two weeks t' dry completely. Arrr! Begad! As the chrome (and other new Rustoleum metallics) says, me bucko, do nay use clear over coat. Blimey! It won't help. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! It will hurt. T' chrome will turn into semi-gloss grey. Once dry, the chrome paint has a durable surface. If you want a clear coat anyway that won't mess up t' finish, shiver me timbers, use Future floor wax (I did). Ahoy!

** Acknowledgment and thanks t' Sandman for cuttin' t' complex curve of three cylinders projected axially through an ogive. Aye aye!