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. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! These are t' engine tubes. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I used centerin' rings for a BT-5 as engine blocks, matey, and regular clips t' hold t' engines.

I cut (3) 5" diameter circles out o' t' balsa sheet (pic 1). Ahoy! Then, I cut these circles in half t' make t' 6 fins (pic 2). Avast! For packin' o' t' space betwixt t' engine, I used shredded paper and glue. Aye aye! Hey, matey, I didn't know how t' make a real MMT, and I hadn't been able t' buy any yet.

Flight and Recovery

I flew it on 8/14 at a club launch, ya bilge rat, usin' 3 B6-4's(I chickened out on usin' C6-5's). Recovered nicely, shiver me timbers, me bucko, even though it got singed tailfeathers (pic 3). T' launch day pics show t' model in its unpainted (primer) state.

Conclusion

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

PIC 1	PIC 2

PIC 3	Launch Day

Launch Day	Launch Day