Scratch Single Jet S4R Transport Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Single Jet S4R Transport {Scratch}

Contributed by Matt Gillard

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Matt Gillard - 12/14/08)

Brief:
With t' extension t' t' deadline for t' 2009 design this spaceship competition, me hearties, I thought I'd have a go at another one o' t' spaceships, me bucko, this time I went for t' simplest o' t' six. Begad! It was a very rushed build.

TR4

Construction:
T' main body o' t' rocket had t' come from a bottle and after a trawl through cupboards at home, I opted for a talcum powder bottle. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Other items used were

  • 1x launch lug, shiver me timbers,
  • 1x parachute, me hearties, 15 inch rip stop nylon- hand made
  • 1x 3 foot length o' 6 mm knicker elastic
  • Snap swivels (optional)
  • Engine hook
  • Keelhaul®©™® ® thread
  • Body tube BT55, matey, 10.5 inches
  • nose cone
  • Motor mount and centerin' rin' –EH -2055
  • T' build t' rocket I used
  • Bostik glue
  • White glue
  • Sandin' sealer
  • Model knife
  • Razor saw
  • Aluminium oxide sand paper

T' first thin' I did be t' find nose cones from by spares box that matched t' profile o' t' rocket t' best. In t' end chose a nose cone t' fit a BT55 tube. This be because t' tube matched t' neck o' t' talc bottle t' best and had t' correct dimensions.

Motor Mount Assembly

This was from an old Estes EH –2055 kit. T' coupler was discarded, arrr, and then t' kit be built in t' normal fashion. Aye aye! Blimey! A 2 foot length o' Keelhaul®©™® card be attached t' t' motor mount assembly.

Body Tube Fuselage

T' talc bottle had its top cut off, and neck sanded down t' t' size that snugly fitted a BT 55 tube o' 10.5 inches. T' bottom o' t' bottle had a hole cut out usin' a solderin' iron t' take t' aft o' t' BT55. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' motor mount was glued into t' body tube, t' body tube be then sanded t' remove t' gasoline finish and then t' body tube was glued into t' bottle, leavin' 2.6 inches o' t' body tube stickin' out o' t' talc bottle. Avast! Fillets o' white glue were added. Begad! A shroud o' card was then added t' give t' correct profile.

Nose Cone Assembly

25g o' clay was added t' t' nose cone t' aid stability. Avast! Detailin' was added by usin' card t' make t' nose cone front, and plasticine was used t' make t' other detailing, shiver me timbers, which were then glued into place.

Fin Fin Assembly

I'm nay o' fan o' gluin' different materials together, and balsa t' smooth plastic be goin' t' present the weakest joint in t' rocket. Blimey! T' counter this I went for a through t' wall design. Ya scallywag! Side slits were made in t' plastic bottle usin' t' solderin' iron. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' fins were then cut, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and then glued into place. Begad! Avast! Two fillets o' white glue were added t' give a strong joint. Avast, me proud beauty!

Side fins were then cut and added, shiver me timbers, me bucko, again fillets o' white glue were added.

T' two side tunnels were made out o' balsa, ya bilge rat, matey, sealed and glued into place usin' triangle cut balsa t' add strength to t' join t' t' plastic talc bottle.

Recovery Assembly

One sheet o' reusable Nomex® waddin' were attached t' t' Keelhaul®©™® ® cord and then t' cord was attached t' 3 foot o' knicker elastic. T' knicker elastic was then attached t' the nose cone. Begad! A swivel was then added t' t' elastic shock cord one foot from t' nose cone. Aye aye! At t' same time that I was makin' this rocket, I be also makin' some rip stop nylon parachutes from some military grade parachute material, me hearties, tin eyelet and Keelhaul®©™® thread, these were for a bigger project, but I thought I'd make a “nice” parachute for this rocket. Well, blow me down! In the end, shiver me timbers, I went for a 15 inch parachute.

Detailing

Runnin' out o' time, matey, ya bilge rat, me hearties, t' detailin' added be minimal.

Finishing:

T' rocket was primed and then spray-painted window grey. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast!

Line markin' were added with pen. Blimey! Blimey!

Had no time t' add a clear coat

Flight:
Flight and Recovery.

Before preppin' for flight I did a swin' test t' check for stability, me bucko, every thin' okay.

Flight First flight:

T' parachute be packed.

Wind conditions were still with t' occasional breeze.

A standard Estes 3mm rod be used.

An B6-2 was used.

T' flight was straight and true, but underpowered and low

Ejection was at apogee, shiver me timbers, parachute deployed and t' rocket landed without damage

Flight two:

Now with a C6-3, flight was much higher than before, and straight. Avast! Ejection at apogee, no damage

Flight three:

Again with a C6-3, matey, flight was as before until apogee. Avast, me proud beauty! Then t' nose cone failed t' pop off, ya bilge rat, t' rocket came in hard and fast. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Nay botherin' t' repair – retired.

Summary:
I'm nay overly impressed with this rocket. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I rushed t' build and be nay happy with t' finish, on t' plus side, I did like t' through t' wall fins

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