Scratch e-Cluster Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - e-Cluster {Scratch}

Contributed by Zak Orion

Manufacturer: Scratch
Style: Cluster, Contest

e-Cluster

I designed this rocket with 2 purposes in mind. One be t' build a mid power cluster that be capable o' E and F engines without havin' it go out o' sight(smaller launch fields). Aye aye! And number 2 be t' build it as strong as I could usin' easy t' find materials(namely cardboard tube and wood fins). Here be t' design I came up with:

I decided on a LOC 54MM motor mount tube(thick walls) and nosecone. T' fins are 1/8th inch Aircraft Plywood and use TTW construction. T' MMT's are Estes BT-50 with 1/8th inch aircraft ply centerin' rings(extra from fins). Avast! I used 5 minute Epoxy throughout t' rocket. At first I was goin' t' set it up for testin' timers and possibly dual deployment but I wanted t' test it before I cut t' tube and made a payload bay. Ahoy! But after t' first day o' flyin' it I couldn't brin' myself t' modifyin' it. Begad! Here is a pic o' t' finished product:

RockSim Pic

Rocket Pic

LaunchT' first flight, I tried puttin' a 12 inch chute on t' rocket so it would drop quickly, unfortunately it dropped too quick and took a hard hit on t' ground. Begad! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! When I retrieved t' rocket I didn't find any damage so I loaded it up again(this time usin' a 18 inch chute) and flew it again. Blimey! On its first launch it had a curious roll which I found out that only 2 o' t' 3 engines lit. Avast! Aye aye! But on t' 2nd flight all 3 E9's lit and it went straight up, me bucko, ya bilge rat, me hearties, barely any side t' side movement and very little spin. Ya scallywag! Here is a launch pic:

I have launched this rocket 9 times now in various weather conditions(everywhere inbetween 3 mph winds and 20 mph winds) and it always flys t' same, me bucko, ya bilge rat, very straight and very little spin, ya bilge rat, and be t' best flyer I have. As for its toughness, ya bilge rat, me bucko, it fell fast on its first flight, me hearties, fell with no plastic slug as a chute on its 6th flight and got one o' its fins run over by me car and t' only damage it sustained was losin' a launch lug. So far all o' its launches has been on E9's but as soon as I can get some ignitors other then copperheads I will be flyin' this rocket on some F's that I have in me engine box. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I also put a rocksim file o' this rocket on EMRR. Ahoy! It is a simple design but a very nice flyer that I have been reliably droppin' in a 20 acre field. Avast!

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