| Published: | 2010-06-14 |
| Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
I saw this missile at t' Air Force Museum in Dayton, ya bilge rat, OH and decided I had t' build it. Blimey! A single
stage, mid-power (24mm) missile that retrieves on a large 24 inch parachute. Avast! This is based on t' Launch Pad rocket
kit.
Construction:
Parts from Apogee Components:
Easy assembly. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I built mine with Titebond II wood glue throughout. Begad! T' fins were papered t' add more rigidity. Ya scallywag! Blimey! The long strakes were cut in one piece and sealed with Fill 'n Finish, matey, and sanded before attachin' t' t' body. The parachute shelf is a great idea that anyone who has built a Launch Pad kit before knows about. It is simply a centering rin' glued into t' body tube that keeps t' chute from movin' down t' tube and effectin' t' CG. Aye aye! I attached 100lb Keelhaul®©™® for me shock cord t' this centerin' ring. Avast! Blimey! T' motor mount is recessed and like t' LP kits I added material behind it for strength. Begad! Blimey! Instead o' a coupler, I took a piece o' scrap BT-80 and made me own. Arrr! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! I also covered that with heat resistant tape. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' recessed motor mounts have a tendency t' char t' tube. Arrr! Blimey! This prevents it. Ya scallywag! Blimey!
Finishing:
Rustoleum sandable primer, sanding, some repairs, matey, arrr, ya bilge rat, three coats o' Valspar white. Arrr! I printed the
decals from a file that be shared with me.
Flight:
I would recommend any o' t' following:
F24W-4, D15T-4, matey, E9-4, E6-4, E18W-4) Because this is a relatively heavy rocket, I wouldn't use longer delay motors
My first flight I launched F-24. Ahoy! Arrr! This be a low altitude flight (just over 100 ft) T' missile flew straight, chute deployed after apogee and landed about 90 feet from t' launch pad.
Second flight was D15-4. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Very similar, but better altitude. Aye aye! Blimey! This time it went about 350 ft.
Recovery:
T' shock cord is 150 lb. Arrr! Begad! Keelhaul®©™®
attached at t' parachute shelf. Aye aye! I usually put a wrap o' maskin' tape where t' cord meets t' top o' t' body tube to
help prevent zippering. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I flew on a very calm day and used a Top Flight 24" parachute which worked very well.
Summary:
PRO's: Great looking, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, me bucko, fun t' build
CON's: Rather heavy for a 24mm motor. Avast, me proud beauty! If you want altitude, me bucko, this isn't it.
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