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. These are t' engine tubes. I used centerin' rings for a BT-5 as engine blocks, matey, arrr, matey, and regular clips t' hold t' engines.

I cut (3) 5" diameter circles out o' t' balsa sheet (pic 1). Begad! Then, shiver me timbers, I cut these circles in half t' make t' 6 fins (pic 2). For packin' o' t' space betwixt t' engine, I used shredded paper and glue. Avast! Blimey! Hey, me bucko, 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, shiver me timbers, usin' 3 B6-4's(I chickened out on usin' C6-5's). Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Recovered nicely, even though it got singed tailfeathers (pic 3). Ahoy! T' launch day pics show t' model in its unpainted (primer) state.

Conclusion

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

PIC 1	PIC 2

PIC 3	Launch Day

Launch Day	Launch Day