Scratch SynerJet Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - SynerJet {Scratch}

Contributed by Kathy Kippen

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Kathy Miller - 06/21/09) (Scratch) Synerjet

Brief:
This a scratch built spaceship rocket designed for t' 2009 Design-A-Spaceship contest. Well, blow me down! It is constructed o' 110lb cardstock and presentation board.

Construction:
T' parts include:

  • BT-50 for t' internal tube/motor mount
  • screw eye
  • presentation board for centerin' rings, me bucko, fins, and bulkhead
  • ¼" elastic shock cord
  • 1" plastic streamer
  • 1/8" launch lug
  • 110lb cardstock
  • clay for nose weight
  • 1 BT-50 size centerin' ring
  • motor block for BT-50 tube
  • 1-½" long coupler t' fit into BT-50 tube (can make from BT-50 tube)

I first cut t' centerin' rings, shiver me timbers, bulkhead, shiver me timbers, and fins from t' presentation board. Aye aye! Next I cut t' BT-50 to 4-½". Ahoy! I used an online transition template t' print out t' templates for t' nose cone, me bucko, matey, body, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and tail cone. Blimey! For t' larger centerin' rings, I used t' template printout from RockSim. For t' bulkhead, I just used one of t' 'holes' from a centerin' ring.

After printin' out t' templates on t' cardstock, I then carefully shaped t' nosecone and transition sections into cone shapes. Begad! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! After they dried, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, I dry fit t' paper sections onto t' centerin' rings sandin' as necessary.

Next, I glued t' motor block into t' tube usin' a spent 24mm motor t' push it into place leave ¼" t' 3/8" o' t' motor stickin' out. Begad! After that had set, I glued t' centerin' rings onto t' body tube: the smallest rin' ¼" below t' top o' t' tube, t' two larger tubes at 2-½" and 2-¾" from t' top o' t' tube and t' medium rin' flush with t' bottom o' t' tube.

After t' glue has dried, I carefully glued t' middle transition section t' t' top end o' t' tube makin' sure it is perfectly straight on t' top centerin' rin' and top middle centerin' ring. Then I added t' transition t' the bottom again makin' sure t' piece be perfectly straight on t' lower middle rin' and bottommost ring. Well, blow me down! I let it thoroughly dry.

(Scratch) Synerjet(Scratch) Synerjet

T' finish t' nose cone, I glued t' coupler onto t' nose cone bein' careful t' get it straight. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! When it was dry, ya bilge rat, I filled t' cone with clay leavin' a ¼" lip t' t' edge. Avast! Glued t' bulkhead into t' coupler. Avast, me proud beauty! When all be dry, matey, shiver me timbers, I added t' screw eye for shock cord attachment.

As this is a tricky design, me hearties, I glued t' launch lug t' a fin makin' sure it was straight.

T' shock cord is mounted in t' Estes fashion with t' other end tied t' t' screw eye. Blimey! Begad! T' streamer is tied on about 1/3 from t' nose cone.

Finishing:
Since I used color cardstock, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I didn't really need t' paint anything. Avast, me proud beauty! I used a color highlighter marker t' paint the fins t' match t' cardstock.

Flight:
T' Synerjet flew on C11-3s for all three flights. Begad! T' first flight was unstable. For t' second flight, I used a spacer t' extend t' motor out t' back ½". Aye aye! This caused t' rocket t' be even more unstable. Begad! Ahoy! T' third flight be a recreation o' t' first.

Recovery:
Recovery for all flights was after t' rocket hit t' ground. Avast! Ahoy! Each landin' broke a forward fin off.

Summary:
I would say this is nay a good rocket design as it is too stubby t' be stable. Arrr! Aye aye! Even tryin' t' upscale it in RockSim it was nay stable. It was a fun and interestin' build.

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