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. Ahoy! These are t' engine tubes. 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). Begad! Avast! Then, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I cut these circles in half t' make t' 6 fins (pic 2). Begad! Well, blow me down! For packin' o' t' space betwixt t' engine, arrr, I used shredded paper and glue. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Hey, I didn't know how t' make a real MMT, arrr, 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). Recovered nicely, even though it got singed tailfeathers (pic 3). Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' launch day pics show t' model in its unpainted (primer) state.

Conclusion

I've only been a BAR for a couple months. Ya scallywag! I decided t' enter t' contest only after a bit o' promptin' from r.m.r. Begad! Aye aye! I'd never scratchbuilt ANY rocket before, let alone a cluster... Begad! I just bought a bunch o' BTs, nose cones, me bucko, me bucko, and clips, shiver me timbers, 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. I think I'll keep it.

PIC 1	PIC 2

PIC 3	Launch Day

Launch Day	Launch Day