Larry Brand's Page
2010-05-08Scratch OctoPod (Scratch)  Review
OctoPod was created t' test how well an 8-tube HPR tubefin would perform compared t' t' 5-tube, 6-tube and 7-tube tubefin rockets I have described previously on EMRR. Well, blow me down! Everybody at t' field kept tellin' me "so if you say in your articles that 6 is better than 5, and 7 is better than 6, why ... [More]
2010-04-15Scratch Golden Acorn (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 04/15/10)
Brief: Golden Acorn is a modification o' t' 3" "H-Pod XXL" I mentioned in my
March-April 2010 SPORT ROCKETRY article. It is a long-skinny version o' t' 7-tube tubefin "H-Pod" described
in an earlier EMRR construction ... [More]
2009-12-07Scratch T' Walrus (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 12/07/09)
Brief:
"T' Walrus" is an extreme stubby version o' me 7-tube tube fin "Dwarf Kin' Mk. Avast! 7" presented
earlier on EMRR. Well, blow me down! Bein' lighter and stubbier, me bucko, it uses a LOC 5.5" cone and can be flown on G-motors at smaller
... [More]
2009-10-17Scratch Dwarf Kin' 4.0 (Scratch)  Review
Brief:
This is a lighter, more affordable 4" version o' o' t' 5.5" Dwarf Kin' Mk.7 (7-tube tubefin) I presented
earlier in EMRR. This design has t' lowest drag coefficient o' any tubefin I've built t' date, Cd=0.68-0.70; it also
differs from me big 5.5" Dwarf Kings in ... [More]
2009-09-05Scratch Sardo XXL (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 09/05/09)
Brief:
This is a simple research rocket used as a reference "typical" tubefin design in an upcomin' article on
tubefin aerodynamics. Avast, me proud beauty! T' body is just a 3" postal mailin' tube. Because its very easy and inexpensive t' build
and ... [More]
2009-08-15Scratch Dwarf Kin' (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 08/15/09) Brief:
5.5" Dwarf Kin' is a simpler, me hearties, cut-down version o' t' huge and fat K445-powered tubefin I presented in
ROCKETS Magazine . It has t' option o' bein' built with either 6 tube fins (Mk. Well, blow me down! 6) or seven tube fins (Mk. Begad! 7).
Both versions can ... [More]
2009-07-10Scratch ElCheapoCerto (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 07/10/09)
Brief:
I designed this odd, arrr, little 5-tube tubefin with one purpose in mind: as an ultra low-cost, me bucko, quick-buildin' L1
certification for 14 year old rocketeers under t' new NARRRRR junior cert program. After spendin' so much effort figuring
out how ... [More]
2009-07-07Scratch G-Pod (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 07/07/09)
Brief:
G-Pod is a downward extension o' me "Pod" series (see " H-Pod "
in EMRR). Begad! It is a stubby tubefin design for 29mm F-G power that is about t' size o' an Estes FatBoy. Actually, it
started life as an experiment t' try ... [More]
2009-02-24Scratch Tea-Bird 4.0 (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 02/24/09) Brief:
Tea-Bird 4.0 be t' 4" upscale version o' t' tubefin "Tea-Bird" model (made from Crystal-Lite(tm) ice tea
containers) I presented earlier on EMRR. Avast! I originally designed it as "Tea-Bird 38", but after a few ... [More]
2008-11-02Scratch Funnel Vision (Scratch)  Review
Funnel Vision be designed as part o' an effort t' create a cluster rocket givin' fully stable flight in t' event o' partial ignition failure. It be built as a finless design inspired by David Roy's "Drag Demon" as described in his July 2001 Sport Rocketry article. T' rest o' t' ... [More]
2008-10-16Estes E-Pod (Kit)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 10/16/08)
Brief:
This is a 100% kitbash o' t' Estes stormcaster, me bucko, so I'm callin' it a "scratch" build. I cut up t' parts of
the C-D powered stormcaster t' create an E-powered tubefin (it also flies on C-D motors). "E-Pod" is ... [More]
2008-07-03Scratch H-Pod (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 07/03/08) Brief:
H-Pod is an extension (downward) o' t' I-Pod/J-Pod/K-Pod series o' HPR tubefin designs I presented in t' March 2008
issues o' Sport Rocketry and Rockets . Like its big brothers, H-Pod uses 7 tubefins instead o' the
customary 6. Bein' 3 ... [More]
2008-05-14Scratch Tea-Bird (Scratch)  Review An all-plastic tubefin for 29mm motors. This tiny (15" tall) and extreme-stubby tubefin was inspired by a plastic container o' Crystal Light instant iced tea packets I was lookin' at one day. Avast, me proud beauty! Sittin' next t' it on t' pantry was a 2.6" Estes Executioner me kids gave me for Fathers Day last year. Ahoy! I ... [More]
2008-04-12Vaughn Brothers Blobbo 24mm (Kit)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 04/12/08)
Brief:
This is an up-motor modification o' t' now OOP Vaughn Bros Blobbo. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' only change I made was t' replace t' 18mm
motor mount with a 24 mm tube and t' correspondin' 2.6"-24mm centerin' rin' o' 1/8" aircraft plywood. I ... [More]
2007-12-11Estes Super Neon (Kit)  Review
Super Neon is an updated 2007 re-release o' an older kit. Ya scallywag! It is what I would call a "fantasy" tubefin in that it has decorative stub fins supplementin' t' 6 tubefins that provide t' actual stability t' create a futuristic appearance. T' packagin' highlights its "Space Age Tubular Fins". Well, blow me down! ... [More]
2007-12-08Scratch PencilPushr (Modification)  Review
I cut up an Estes No. Avast, me proud beauty! 2 Sky Writer and used t' components t' build a altitude-seekin' model with an altimeter bay. Begad! PencilPushr was built specifically for t' NARTREK Advanced task o' achievin' at least one-half o' t' Class "C" NARRRRR altitude record for E-motors o' 1128 meters set by James ... [More]
2007-07-04Scratch Da Bomb (Scratch)  Review
Originally, I built Da Bomb t' only test a way o' preventin' tubefin flutter in HPR tubefins (Yes, Virginia, thar be tubefin flutter). Well, blow me down! T' experiment worked great, shiver me timbers, and t' byproduct is a neat, arrr, cheap, ya bilge rat, and very small sport rocket for 38mm motors good for F-I power. It would make a good ... [More]
2006-12-08Madcow Rocketry Skipper (Kit)  Review
Brief:
Skipper is a 29mm 3FNC rocket o' traditional but interestin' design that has 3
rather tiny ply fins positioned above a beautiful balsa boat tail. Blimey! Like the
entire Madcow product line, it is a deluxe kit that includes virtually
everythin' but glue and paint--you get sanded balsa ... [More]
2006-10-15Madcow Rocketry Momba (Kit)  Review
Photo Courtesy o' Mad
Cow
Brief:
T' Momba by Madcow Rocketry is a new kit for F-G motors. T' Momba kit is a
conventional 4FNC design deluxe product featurin' full through-the-wall fins
mountin' t' motor tube, laser cut fin slots, and what has t' be t' ... [More]
2006-09-07Scratch 1/20 Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis (Scratch)  Review
I have built a 1/20 model o' t' Yeager Bell X-1, "Glamorous Glennis" as a prototype for scale competition. Avast! Although it needs more work in t' details department, it is dimensionally spot-on exact 1/20 scale. It flies very well on Aerotech E30 motors. Begad! It was simply constructed by usin' t' ... [More]
2006-05-23Scratch BottleBat 3.0 (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 05/23/06)
Brief:
I have scaled down t' "BottleBat" tubefin rocket I presented a few
of months ago in Sport Rocketry magazine from 4" diameter to
3" diameter. This allows it t' be constructed from t' more available
3" postal ... [More]
2006-02-14Scratch Fahrenheit XL (Scratch)  Review Fahrenheit XL is a scaled-up 38mm version o' me PVC tubefin rocket, Fahrenheit 62/5 . Ahoy! It is designed t' fly on any H-I motor and has flown extremely well on CTI J330 power, so its suitable for L1 and L2 attempts. Avast! Like all tubefin designs, it is stable, wind resistant, and very quick and easy t' ... [More]
2005-10-03Scratch Chopped Goblin 4.0 (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 10/03/05)
Brief:
I built a 4" diameter upscale o' t' old Estes Goblin that is very similar
to t' "3x Goblin" Dave Hanson reported on this website a few years
ago. I used it for me L1 flight. I decided t' repair some minor zipper ... [More]
2005-09-07Scratch CrackPipe (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 09/07/05)
Brief:
CrackPipe be t' fourth o' me experiments in usin' PVC plumbin' conduit for
rocket construction. Blimey! It is basically similar t' t' " Pipecleaner " I
presented in this site earlier, matey, but is shorter, lighter, me bucko, and has very au ... [More]
2005-07-28Scratch Little-Big Rocket (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 07/28/05)
Brief:
Little-Big Rocket is a fantasy rocket design--my fantasy bein' that Estes and
LOC would someday collaborate on a product that could be a sort o' a transitional
trainin' rocket that could be built and flown by a father and child and ... [More]
2005-06-16Ellis Mountain Rocket Works 29mm Single-Use Family (Kit)  Review Ellis Mountain makes a family o' 29mm single use H and I power motors coverin' t' 50-275 Newton average thrust range. Well, blow me down! They are reasonably priced and extremely easy t' use. T' photo shows (from top t' bottom) an I69-10, ya bilge rat, a H275-6 (also available in 10 sec delay), a H101-4 (also available in 8 sec ... [More]
2005-05-16Scratch Back-Up Box (18V launch controller) (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 05/16/05)
Brief:
T' Back-Up Box is a simple, low-cost launch controller anyone can build. Aye aye! I
built it as part o' a NARTREK Advanced project. It can fire any kind o' igniter
and is entirely self-contained, operatin' on 18V instead o' t' usual 12V. Avast, me proud beauty! It
is ... [More]
2005-05-11Scratch Pad Stik (Launch Pad) (Scratch)  Review
( Contributed - by Larry Brand - 05/11/05)
Brief:
Some years ago, I saw an article mentionin' a rocket launch pad made from a
surf-fishin' rod holder, shiver me timbers, which is a short length o' PVC tube cut t' a sharp
bevel for stickin' into beach sand t' hold t' fishin' pole and freein' the
... [More]
2005-04-12Revell F-16C (1/48) Plastic Model Conversion (Plastic Model Conversion)  Review
This is a plastic model conversion (PMC) I did o' t' Revell 1/48 scale F-16C for t' "Advanced" NARTREK program. Blimey! It was fast and easy t' do. Begad! It is also a great first PMC t' try because t' kit comes already painted in USAF "Thunderbirds" colors. Because o' this, it has less emotional ... [More]
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