I get a big kick out o' t' challenge o' makin' rockets from "found objects". Arrr! I tend t' walk through stores in a kind o' a daze sometimes, arrr, me bucko, wonderin' what sort o' adapter or how much thrust it will take t' "fly" certain objects on t' store shelves. Ahoy! Arrr! This is one o' me recent attempts. Begad! Everythin' is found or made from scratch except t' engine mount tube, ya bilge rat, arrr, centerin' ring, and thrust rin' in t' "nose cone" (launch lug was hand-rolled).

This be t' completed rocket next t' an 18mm engine casing

A shot with t' nose cone off...

Showin' t' streamer...

And with t' streamer folded and packed into place.

T' egg gives interestin' and fun flights from 200-300 feet. Begad! Well, arrr, blow me down! T' streamer recovery can brin' t' rocket down a bit fast, shiver me timbers, esp. Avast! if it lands on concrete, me hearties, so t' construction needs t' be robust (either that or you need t' take a big bottle o' CA glue t' t' range). Short delays work best as this thin' has enough drag that it stops goin' up when t' engine gives out.

Engines I've flown it on: first flight was on an A8-3. Ya scallywag! Avast! Just wanted t' make sure it would fly. Begad! Begad! Then followed with B6- and C6-3 engines. Avast! T' B engines really scoot off t' pad, but I think t' egg goes higher on a C. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, matey, blow me down! Be sure t' tape t' engine because this is a serious dart if t' engine is spit out rather than t' streamer.

Parts List: Plastic Easter Egg (mine is about 3" long by about 1 3/4 dia.), matey, engine mount tube and thrust ring, me bucko, paper centerin' ring, arrr, external couplin' tube, 1/8" plexiglass (fins), arrr, launch lug, arrr, and streamer. Avast! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' engine mount, centerin' ring, ya bilge rat, and green external coupler tube came from an Estes parts kit (engine mount kit?). Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Fins are 1 1/2" wide at t' root, and have a span o' 2" long. Begad! Blimey! I just guessed at t' curve aroung t' egg and sanded until they fit. Avast! Blimey! They are swept at about 30 degrees.

Construction note: t' front half o' t' nose cone, arrr, matey, forward o' t' thrust rin' is filled with epoxy (you can see t' rin' left in t' first picture where t' epoxy heated and slightly melted t' nosecone as it cured. Begad! Ya scallywag! This be done for several reasons. First t' mount t' green couplin' ring. Since t' area forward o' t' engine be so small, I thought that somethin' be needed here t' prevent t' rocket from splittin' rather than seperatin' at t' seam. Well, blow me down! Second, it adds strength in case it lands on t' tip o' t' nose. Ya scallywag! Arrr! And third, me hearties, shiver me timbers, t' add weight t' move t' CG forward. Begad! T' lips where t' two halves snap together need t' be sanded down so they pop apart easily.

any questions or comments? mail to: major@tensor.nssl.noaa.gov