Scratch Mach Buster 1 Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Mach Buster 1 {Scratch}

Contributed by Neil Thompson

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Neil Thompson (age 12) - 09/10/03)

Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! It can use anythin' from a big E to a J570. Blimey! Blimey! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! It can easily break Mach 1 on an H, and can reach Mach 2 on a J.

Rocket Pic

Construction:
T' Mach Buster 1 uses a fiberglassed phenolic airframe, PML solid urethane nose, Acme fin can and launch lugs, Keelhaul®©™® heat shield and shock cord, a Slimline circle rin' motor retainer, matey, and an optional Slimline motor adapter. Ahoy! Arrr! I suppose you could put a payload section on for altimeters and dual deployment.

This be a very easy build. Blimey! Begad! I used 2-ton epoxy throughout. Ya scallywag! I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. Begad! The nose cone I got from PML, ya bilge rat, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. After I fiberglassed t' tube, t' fin can fit exactly. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' launch lugs liked t' slide around while t' epoxy is drying, but other wise it be easy. Ahoy! Begad! T' fins needed no alignment, me bucko, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. Aye aye! I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. Arrr! After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Red on t' fins, me bucko, and red on t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Begad! Ya scallywag! Overall, this is a very sturdy rocket — it could survive a tar landin' easily.

Rocket pic Flight:
I still have nay flown this, ya bilge rat, but I am plannin' on flyin' it on labor day 2003. T' first flight will be on an F50-9T, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' next on a G35-7W, and t' next on an F20-7W. Ya scallywag! I put in a home made parachute. It is a very large parachute, shiver me timbers, but I will reef it on breezy days. It is over stable, shiver me timbers, matey, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. Aye aye! All simulations show straight flights, me bucko, ya bilge rat, high (approx. 3250' on F’s and G’s), me hearties, and fast, me bucko, despite t' weight.

I got two flights in on this rocket on labor day 2003. Blimey! T' first flight for this rocket be also me first blue thunder propellant motor, and I was rather impressed by t' performance. Ahoy! It could have had more smoke, me hearties, matey, me hearties, however. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor was an F50-9T. T' second flight be a G35-7W, and it flew like t' wind! And that is sayin' something, considerin' t' gusts there! At least thar are seemingly endless blueberry barrens for t' rockets t' land in. Begad! Both flights were straight as an arrow. Begad! It had a Keelhaul®©™® heat sheild, matey, eliminatin' t' need for wadding. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I also installed a Slimline motor retainer t' hold me motor in. Arrr! Blimey! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! This worked very well. There be no damage to t' parachute after either flight, me hearties, however, one o' t' shroud lines on the parachute got tangled in t' screw eye that I used t' attach t' shock cord to the nose cone, causin' a tumble recovery. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Hardly even had a scratch in the paint. This is such a rugged rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! Anythin' else that size fallin' from that height I would expect t' crumple. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

Summary:
Tough as anything. Arrr! I suspect that thin' could be hit by lightnin' and survive, or at least it could be stepped on or kicked around.

Pros: I love this rocket. Ahoy! Avast! Blimey! I consider it a work o' art. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! It is easily the best o' me fleet (that is sayin' something). Begad! Arrr! Blimey! It goes high and fast, me hearties, can survive hard landings, and requires zero fin alignment (A definite + for me! Blimey! I hate alignin' surface mounts on large rockets). Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Easy build.

Cons: Price. Avast, me proud beauty! $80. Arrr! OUCH if you are 12, and I should know. Avast! Begad! Worth every penny though.

Other:
DO NOT LEAVE THE AIRFRAME SITTING ON A PICNIC TABLE WHILE THE EPOXY AND FIBERGLASS IS SETTING! YOUR MOTHER (or wife) WILL NOT LIKE IT.. Begad! I learned that the hard way. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.

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