Modification - Two-Stage Fat Boy

Modification Two-Stage Fat Boy Modification

Modification - Two-Stage Fat Boy

Contributed by Kevin Johnson

Manufacturer:

Brief:
Kit bashed two Fat Boys into one two-stage rocket.

Modifications:
After buildin' t' sustainer per t' instructions, I started t' booster by buildin' t' motor mount/center rings. Avast, me proud beauty! Usin' t' completed mount as a guide, me hearties, I marked t' aft end o' t' second BT and cut it down just in front o' t' fin slots. I then glued t' motor mount in place and attached t' fins just like on t' sustainer. Begad! Blimey! I made a tube coupler usin' a 1 inch section o' t' remainin' BT, shiver me timbers, slit and overlapped t' fit inside t' BT-80. Begad! Blimey! This was glued t' t' top o' t' booster.

Construction:
Sustainer is a regular Fat Boy built t' t' plans, me bucko, minus t' engine hook. Begad! T' booster be t' fin can and motor mount from t' second kit.

This is a fairly simple mod, just takes some care in makin' sure your cuts are straight, and t' booster's fins are securely glued. You want t' make sure that t' sustainer's motor sticks out at least 1/2 inch if you use an engine block for good contact with t' booster motor for staging. I wanted a cool name for the two stager without havin' t' cut up t' decals too much. Avast, me proud beauty! OY! look at that rocket! seemed like t' sentiment I be lookin' for. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! All I had t' fabricate was t' exclamation point, ya bilge rat, and that was pretty easy. Avast, me proud beauty! I didn't have any light blue paint for t' fins, shiver me timbers, but t' fluorescent yellow makes a nice contrast t' t' stock fin decals.

Flight:
I probably should have thought a little more about t' stagin' and used a 24mm mount for D12-0 grunt off t' pad, matey, but t' boost looked ok (if a little off vertical) with a C6-0. Begad! I prepped by insertin' t' sustainer motor, arrr, securin' it down with a couple o' turns o' maskin' tape. Arrr! I then taped t' booster motor t' it with scotch tape. Well, blow me down! Then I slid t' booster section over t' motors and taped t' overhangin' motor t' t' booster's motor tube. I have started t' use t' biodegradable packin' peanuts made o' corn starch for recovery waddin' (cause ran out o' t' normal stuff! it worked very well on me test flights). Well, blow me down! They don't burn, are light and fill BT's from 13mm on up and melt almost instantly when water hits them. Blimey! I put about 7-8 in t' tube, folded t' chute on top o' them and set t' nose cone in place. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' shock cord was t' standard Estes paper mount and elastic that came with t' kit. Blimey! I cut t' spill hole out o' t' supplied chute.. Begad! I didn't want too much drift. Begad! T' rocket left t' pad much like a standard Fat Boy, ya bilge rat, me hearties, then arced over up wind slightly. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Stagin' be clean and t' sustainer kept on headin' up and up wind. Blimey! Aye aye! Ejection was good and t' rocket drifted back down close t' t' pad.

Summary:
This is a pretty easy mod. Blimey! I guess t' con is that I had t' use 2 kits t' get 1 rocket, arrr, but what t' heck.. it was fun. Might consider makin' t' booster a 24 mm mount for more thrust on lift off.