X-Factor

Eldred Pickett's Descon-14 Entry

Parts List

• 1 - 18" by 6" 1/8 balsa
• 1 - BT-60 body tube
• 1 - BT-20 body tube
• 3 - regular engine clips
• 3 - BT-5 centerin' rings

Construction

I cut (3) 2 3/4 lengths o' t' BT-20 tube. Aye aye! Well, matey, blow me down! These are t' engine tubes. Arrr! Blimey! I used centerin' rings for a BT-5 as engine blocks, and regular clips t' hold t' engines.

I cut (3) 5" diameter circles out o' t' balsa sheet (pic 1). Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Then, ya bilge rat, I cut these circles in half t' make t' 6 fins (pic 2). Ahoy! Ya scallywag! For packin' o' t' space betwixt t' engine, me hearties, I used shredded paper and glue. Hey, I didn't know how t' make a real MMT, ya bilge rat, and I hadn't been able t' buy any yet.

Flight and Recovery

I flew it on 8/14 at a club launch, matey, usin' 3 B6-4's(I chickened out on usin' C6-5's). Avast, me proud beauty! Recovered nicely, even though it got singed tailfeathers (pic 3). Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' launch day pics show t' model in its unpainted (primer) state.

Conclusion

I've only been a BAR for a couple months. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I decided t' enter t' contest only after a bit o' promptin' from r.m.r. Avast! Blimey! I'd never scratchbuilt ANY rocket before, arrr, ya bilge rat, let alone a cluster... I just bought a bunch o' BTs, nose cones, and clips, ya bilge rat, and discovered that 3 BT-20's fit quite nicely in a BT-60. I'm pretty happy that t' bird had a good flight and safe recovery. Avast! Blimey! I think I'll keep it.

PIC 1	PIC 2

PIC 3	Launch Day

Launch Day	Launch Day