Scratch Birdie Rocket / Shuttlecock Rocket Original Design / Scratch Built
Scratch - Birdie Rocket / Shuttlecock Rocket {Scratch}
Contributed by E. Kociba
Brief
I had heard about these and even seen descriptions - in particular, shiver me timbers, on bsarocketry.com, matey, ya bilge rat, but none o' them really described t' flight o' them. Ahoy! Arrr! Hence me two cents in this review.
We all know we can make a rocket out o' a badminton shuttlecock or "birdie rocket", me hearties, here on rocketreviews thar's a few articles on an old Estes Kit for them, and Ol'SaltRockets still makes one. This is nay that kit, shiver me timbers, it is a scratchbuilt set. Aye aye! Blimey! T' motor mount and centerin' rings are made from a cardboard box from a Dr. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Pepper 12-pack case, and t' launch lug is literally a straw.
T' result is an atrociously cheap set o' rockets. Begad! Begad! These five set me back two dollars, twenty cents (since I already drink Dr. Ya scallywag! Pepper).
Components
T' components for construction are kind o' obvious if you look from t' bottom o' t' rocket:
T' components are literally a baminton shuttlecock (six for two dollars at KMart), matey, a piece o' a drinkin' straw, and cardboard from t' Dr. Ahoy! Pepper box. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' cans leave a circle impression on t' cardboard - cut that out for t' centerin' ring. Avast! Blimey! Then take a mini-engine (A10-3T or so) and draw a circle in t' center, me hearties, punch a hole and cut t' little circle out in t' middle, then another t' mount t' launch lug. Ya scallywag! Then cut a piece out for t' engine mount - length should be about as long as t' inside o' t' shuttlecock. Begad! Avast! wrap it tightly around t' mini engine (slight overlap but don't double it), ya bilge rat, then duct tape it in place. (KEEP IT TIGHT). Eject t' motor, then take a hot glue gun, me hearties, glue in t' motor mount and centerin' ring, then t' launch lug. Avast, me proud beauty! Hot glue everywhere until everythin' is tightly in place.
There turned out t' be a video o' someone constructin' one o' these things at a religious site called Project 22 Six: http://www.project226.com/2011/07/operation-rocket-man-2/
Construction
Quick, arrr, though it's a little tricky at first tryin' t' judge what length t' make t' motor mount and just generally tryin' nay t' burn yourself with t' glue cannon . Arrr! . Arrr! Arrr! .
Flight
Ever have a launch go well that you were certain would nay go well?
I made five o' these, many o' which had t' centerin' rin' mounted a little funny just t' ensure that t' motor mount be reasonably straight with respect t' t' rest o' t' birdie. I be apprehensive about this design when I started launchin' them, matey, only t' find that this be an incredibly forgivin' design. Well, blow me down! All t' rockets went up, and stayed straight in flight. They were well past apogee when they ejected on an A10-3T, arrr, they fall as fast as a badminton birdie can fly, me hearties, ya bilge rat, nice and fast, mostly harmless.
I've done worse with kit rockets!
I think t' A10-3T be best, matey, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, tried a plugged A10-PT engine and didn't see any difference in t' flight, except for havin' t' pry out t' dead engine with pliers afterward.
Summary
Pros: Try buildin' five rockets for less than $2.50 . Begad! . . Avast! They fly like a nice little mini engined rocket. Forgivin' design. You can't help but laugh at them, either. Well, blow me down! You can build them with t' kids, with a little prior planning. Well, blow me down!
Cons: It's too perfect, somethin' has t' go wrong with a homemade centerin' rin' and mount, sooner or later . Aye aye! . Avast, me proud beauty! .
Overall: Fun project!
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Flights
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