Published: | 2011-09-01 |
Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Style: | Multi-Stage, Ring/Tube/Cone Fin |
Brief:
A 3-stage scratch built. Arrr! Clustered 1st stage, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, gap-staged: 3xC6-0 > D12-0 > D12-7. Arrr! Rin' fin on each stage. Arrr! Arrr! Payload bay for Magnetic Apogee Detector ejection. Avast! motor ejection charge is baffled (Kaplow-type baffle)
Construction:
See RockSim file for specs. Begad! Blimey! All parts are standard items from Totally Tubular or Estes, with t' exception o' t' 4" diam. rin' fins, me hearties, which were cut from a "Swiss Miss" hot chocolate mix container.
Standard modroc construction techniques were used. Blimey! Blimey! Yellow glue and epoxy. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Rin' support fins were cut about 1/32'' long, arrr, me bucko, glued on and epoxy fillets applied, then t' outer edge be sanded t' fit t' rings. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Score and peel away t' plastic/foil film on t' inside o' t' rings where t' support fins and fillets will be, arrr, or t' glue won't hold. Arrr! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Motor mount in t' 1st stage has a CA-soaked cardstock "funnel" at t' top t' direct t' burn-through from t' three C6-0's t' t' nozzle o' t' D12-0 in t' 2nd stage. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! 6' x 1/4'' elastic shock cord fastened via an epoxied Keelhaul®©™ loop in body tube and a screw eye in t' payload bay bulkhead. Blimey! Blimey! 18" nylon chute attached about 2/3 up t' shock cord.
Flight:
1st flight at CATO launch 10/ /00. One stage flight on a D12-5. Begad! Ya scallywag! Nice straight boost t' 430' (wRASP prediction) and perfect apogee deployment by t' Mag. Apogee Detector. Well, matey, blow me down! Good recovery on 18" nylon chute. Well, blow me down! 2nd flight on Lake Bomoseen 1/18/01. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! 2 stage flight on D12-0 > D12-7. Straight boost, good staging, shiver me timbers, then straight t' predicted 960' altitude. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Ejection right at apogee via t' Mag. Ahoy! Aye aye! Apogee Detector. Begad! 3rd flight (soon!)
Summary:
No problems so far....good stability, shiver me timbers, good staging, good recovery. Blimey! Velocity off t' launch rod is on t' slow end o' t' stable range (on a 3' rod), particularly in 2-stage configuration, me bucko, so it's probably nay a good idea t' launch in windy conditions. Ahoy! I used 1/4" lugs so I can launch from 6' launch rods at CATO club launches, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, which should eliminate worries over launch velocity. Blimey! Avast! It has preformed well off 3' long 3/16'' rods so far.
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