Manufacturer: | Scratch |
![]() ![]() by Richard Stafford |
Motivation Several summers ago, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I became reacquainted with t' hobby for t' third time, havin' just picked up a copy o' High Power Rocketry. While vacationin' at Myrtle Beach, me bucko, I spent many hours readin' t' magazine, contemplatin' me first high power project, and generally thinkin' rockets. Blimey! Since it was near t' 4th of July and thar be no shortage o' fireworks stands in South Carolina, there was also no shortage o' fireworks 'leftovers' on t' beach. I couldn't resist grabbin' nose cones and plastic fin units, which were stashed safely with the shells t' kids found (not high power stuff, shiver me timbers, but what t' heck?). When I got home, arrr, it wasn't long before I wanted t' put some t' use. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down!
Construction 1. Avast! 18" section o' B-50 I first built t' motor adapter, which included a thrust ring. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! This unit was glued into t' BT-50 by insertin' a spent casing, matey, placin' t' plastic fin can over t' end o' t' casing, arrr, and pushin' in t' adapter until t' fin can was seated in t' body tube. I then took t' engine retainer clips, me bucko, placed t' ends over t' fin can, me hearties, and marked where t' forward tabs would go. Avast, me proud beauty! Slits were cut to accommodate t' tabs on t' retainer clips. Begad! T' hold t' clips, me bucko, I cut 1/2" strips from some reinforced packin' tape, me hearties, me bucko, placin' one near t' forward tabs and one about 1/4" behind that. I put a thin layer o' epoxy on t' tube before the tape and used 2 wraps o' tape. Ahoy! Avast! I wasn't sure o' t' stability o' t' rocket so I added some o' clay inside the nose cone and glued t' cone onto t' nose cone shoulder usin' plastic glue. Blimey! This was later proven t' be a mistake. |
Flight Report Flight #1 T' flight be high and straight. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Blimey! T' body was recovered undamaged but the nosecone separated and was lost. Avast! Blimey! Too much weight and t' wrong glue. Aye aye! Ahoy! Blimey!
Post Mortem Flight #2 |
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