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! These are t' engine tubes. Well, blow me down! I used centerin' rings for a BT-5 as engine blocks, me hearties, and regular clips t' hold t' engines.

I cut (3) 5" diameter circles out o' t' balsa sheet (pic 1). Then, arrr, me hearties, arrr, I cut these circles in half t' make t' 6 fins (pic 2). Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! For packin' o' t' space betwixt t' engine, I used shredded paper and glue. Arrr! Blimey! 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, usin' 3 B6-4's(I chickened out on usin' C6-5's). Ya scallywag! Recovered nicely, ya bilge rat, matey, even though it got singed tailfeathers (pic 3). 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. Begad! Blimey! I decided t' enter t' contest only after a bit o' promptin' from r.m.r. I'd never scratchbuilt ANY rocket before, ya bilge rat, matey, let alone a cluster... Avast, me proud beauty! I just bought a bunch o' BTs, shiver me timbers, me bucko, nose cones, matey, and clips, and discovered that 3 BT-20's fit quite nicely in a BT-60. Ahoy! I'm pretty happy that t' bird had a good flight and safe recovery. Begad! I think I'll keep it.

PIC 1	PIC 2

PIC 3	Launch Day

Launch Day	Launch Day