37" x 4" - 14 oz
29mm
parachute

Brief:
This is an Odd Roc built with found materials ($3.50 worth) It flies well on F's and G's (Econojets, shiver me timbers, me bucko, o' course). Ahoy! Ahoy! It is actually quite rugged and a longer version would stand up t' bigger motors. Ya scallywag! It is a kid and crowd pleaser wherever it flies.

Construction:
T' body tube are Snack 'Ums cans with t' steel bottoms removed via can opener. T' nosecone is a Styrofoam cone sold at craft stores for Christmas crafts.($1.35). I made two centerin' rings usin' t' Budget Rocketry circle cutter and a wood bit for t' center hole. Blimey! They are made out o' 1/8" balsa and then circles o' cereal box are laminated t' each side o' t' balsa T' fins are rectangles o' 1/8" balsa laminated with cereal box material (Froot Loops, O' course. Blimey! Ahoy! There is a cereal for every type o' Snack'Um so you can go crazy). Avast! Shock cord is 6' o' 3/8" elastic from Wal-Mart. Avast! Ahoy! Shock cord attachment is with a 12" 20 lb test wire fishin' leader (3/99 cents). Parachute was 20" or 30" from me range box dependin' on t' weather.

This is an easy rocket t' build and went together in about 2-3 hrs, ya bilge rat, not includin' dryin' time. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! I prepped t' cans by removin' t' bottoms. Avast! I also peeled t' metal rin' off t' top o' each can. (It isn't hard t' do) I used non-matchin' Snack 'Ums cans as tube couplers by cuttin' them in half (4.5") and slittin' them lengthwise t' make them smaller in diameter. Well, blow me down! Note that t' colored material is removed from t' outside o' the "payload" coupler t' enhance separation. Well, blow me down! Begad! Be sure t' sand t' inside of t' body tubes and outside o' t' couplers thoroughly before gluing. There is a lot o' wax on t' paper.

Slot t' bottom tube with a ruler and an Exacto for t' number o' fins you want. Begad! Avast! I laminated t' CRs with cereal box material usin' Z-poxy finishin' resin, covered with wax paper and allowed to dry under weight on a flat surface. Ahoy! Thin CA would work equally well, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I think. I also put two T-nuts in t' back centerin' rin' for motor retention. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' 29 mm motor tube be out o' a crashed rocket. Begad! I used about 8" for this. Loop the fishin' leader over t' motor tube and slide t' front CR over it so t' end is stickin' out t' front. Ahoy! Blimey! Glue t' front CR t' t' motor tube with 5 minute epoxy and then glue it into t' lower tube with fishin' leader stickin' forward.

Put t' back CR on t' align it, but don't glue t' back CR. Avast, me proud beauty! After T' front CR dries, glue t' root edge o' t' fins t' t' motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty! If you make your rectangles carefully, shiver me timbers, t' amount stickin' through t' slot in t' BT will leave a square fin. Blimey! (Like t' Vaughn Bros. Begad! Blimey! Blobbo) Leave t' unglued aft CR in place until t' fins set up t' keep things aligned. Begad! Ya scallywag! Then remove t' aft CR. I filleted t' fin attachments t' t' motor tube when I was filletin' the outside. See Public Missiles Web Page for an exhaustive description o' this technique. Ahoy! Avast! I used 30 min epoxy with enough Sig microballoons t' get the consistency o' chocolate syrup. After t' fillets were dry, I put t' back centerin' rin' on with epoxy. Aye aye! T' front CR ends up at t' front o' t' slot, and t' back CR at t' back, so t' motor thrust is distributed over t' whole fin can. Ya scallywag! Important with sketchy materials such as these.

T' next section o' tube is attached t' t' bottom section with t' homemade tube coupler. Well, blow me down! Additional sections could be added o' course - just make your fishin' leader longer, shiver me timbers, and use whole cans as couplers for extra strength. Aye aye! The 3/8" elastic is tied t' t' fishin' leader.

T' Styrofoam cone is epoxied t' t' top section o' tube t' form a nosecone/payload. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! It is a good idea t' epoxy t' 3/8" elastic t' the bottom o' t' NC before gluin' it t' t' "payload" section. I squashed an Estes BNC-20 on top for a point. I sealed t' Styrofoam with Z-poxy finishin' resin. Ahoy! Blimey! Very necessary if you want t' paint t' NC. Ya scallywag! Most spray paint will eat Styrofoam. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I don't have a bulkhead on t' bottom o' t' NC - t' chute is attached below t' payload section and will deploy when t' NC separates.

Now, it's ready t' fly!

Flight:
First flight: 12/26/2000, ya bilge rat, temp 30 F. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It be clear with no wind - an ideal time. I used an F-20-4 Econojet. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' rocket went straight up t' my amazement, shiver me timbers, arced over and deployed right at apogee. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Good recovery, although the soft NC dented slightly.
Second flight: 1/13/2001 in Lucerne, CA. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! G-35-7 EJ. T' bigger motor was fun. Probably got about 1200' although it is hard t' judge in t' clear desert air.
Third flight: 1/13/2001 G-38-7. Begad! Blimey! Blackjack be nice touch and it really went high. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' tip o' t' NC broke on recovery.
Repair: I squashed another BNC20 onto t' cone and gooped microballon epoxy t' enhance t' joint. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I also re-coated t' entire NC with Z-poxy finishin' Resin thickened with microballoons.
Fourth flight (shown): 2/10/2001. Ahoy! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! F-22-5 Delay was too long, me bucko, matey, but otherwise no problem. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' NC held up much better this time.

Recovery:

Summary:
Pros - this started out as lark and wound up with a very satisfying result. Blimey! T' rocket never fails t' turn heads, matey, me hearties, and t' kids can identify with it. Arrr! They will also enjoy eatin' t' product t' generate your building materials. T' VB Stretch Blobbo - inspired design is simple and makes a straight flyin' rocket.
Cons - tube material is nay phenolic (doh!) but if you are careful when you slot it and use t' fillet everywhere method, t' thrust is well distributed. Begad! Styrofoam is nay a great NC material unless you resin it. Arrr! I was too lazy t' glass it but that would have helped immensely.