Scratch Mach Buster 1 Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - Mach Buster 1 {Scratch}

Contributed by Neil Thompson

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Neil Thompson (age 12) - 09/10/03)

Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. Ya scallywag! It can use anythin' from a big E to a J570. Begad! It can easily break Mach 1 on an H, shiver me timbers, and can reach Mach 2 on a J.

Rocket Pic

Construction:
T' Mach Buster 1 uses a fiberglassed phenolic airframe, PML solid urethane nose, Acme fin can and launch lugs, matey, shiver me timbers, Keelhaul®©™® heat shield and shock cord, ya bilge rat, a Slimline circle rin' motor retainer, and an optional Slimline motor adapter. Avast, me proud beauty! I suppose you could put a payload section on for altimeters and dual deployment.

This be a very easy build. Begad! I used 2-ton epoxy throughout. Begad! I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! The nose cone I got from PML, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. After I fiberglassed t' tube, t' fin can fit exactly. T' launch lugs liked t' slide around while t' epoxy is drying, but other wise it was easy. Avast! T' fins needed no alignment, arrr, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. Avast! After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Ya scallywag! Red on t' fins, me bucko, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and red on t' nose cone, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Begad! Overall, ya bilge rat, arrr, matey, this is a very sturdy rocket — it could survive a tar landin' easily.

Rocket pic Flight:
I still have nay flown this, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but I am plannin' on flyin' it on labor day 2003. T' first flight will be on an F50-9T, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, t' next on a G35-7W, and t' next on an F20-7W. Begad! Blimey! I put in a home made parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! It is a very large parachute, me bucko, but I will reef it on breezy days. Aye aye! It is over stable, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. Ya scallywag! Begad! All simulations show straight flights, arrr, ya bilge rat, high (approx. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! 3250' on F’s and G’s), ya bilge rat, and fast, me hearties, despite t' weight.

I got two flights in on this rocket on labor day 2003. Arrr! Blimey! T' first flight for this rocket be also me first blue thunder propellant motor, arrr, and I was rather impressed by t' performance. Begad! Blimey! It could have had more smoke, matey, however. Blimey! Blimey! T' motor was an F50-9T. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' second flight was a G35-7W, and it flew like t' wind! Blimey! And that is sayin' something, considerin' t' gusts there! Blimey! At least thar are seemingly endless blueberry barrens for t' rockets t' land in. Both flights were straight as an arrow. It had a Keelhaul®©™® heat sheild, me bucko, me bucko, eliminatin' t' need for wadding. Begad! Blimey! I also installed a Slimline motor retainer t' hold me motor in. Begad! This worked very well. Ahoy! There be no damage to t' parachute after either flight, however, shiver me timbers, one o' t' shroud lines on the parachute got tangled in t' screw eye that I used t' attach t' shock cord to the nose cone, arrr, causin' a tumble recovery. Avast! Hardly even had a scratch in the paint. Aye aye! This is such a rugged rocket. Ahoy! Blimey! Anythin' else that size fallin' from that height I would expect t' crumple. Begad! Blimey!

Summary:
Tough as anything. Avast! I suspect that thin' could be hit by lightnin' and survive, or at least it could be stepped on or kicked around.

Pros: I love this rocket. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I consider it a work o' art. Begad! Blimey! It is easily the best o' me fleet (that is sayin' something). Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! It goes high and fast, me bucko, can survive hard landings, and requires zero fin alignment (A definite + for me! Blimey! I hate alignin' surface mounts on large rockets). Easy build.

Cons: Price. Ya scallywag! $80. OUCH if you are 12, and I should know. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Worth every penny though.

Other:
DO NOT LEAVE THE AIRFRAME SITTING ON A PICNIC TABLE WHILE THE EPOXY AND FIBERGLASS IS SETTING! Blimey! YOUR MOTHER (or wife) WILL NOT LIKE IT.. Blimey! Blimey! I learned that the hard way. It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.

comment Post a Comment