Delta+Clipper+(Estes+upscale+G+power)

2 x UPSCALE DELTA CLIPPER (Mark2) BUILT BY DAVE THOMSON
 * ROCKET CONSTRUCTION

UPSCALE DELTA CLIPPER (Mark II) This rocket was built to replace the original Mark I I built a few years ago. I was building this one as a more detailed replica of the original Estes model but would only beflying single stage on a Aerotech single use G40W motor. This would give a good flight to around 2000 feet.

BODY TUBE This is made from 2inch diameter lightweight drainpipe. It is easy and cheap to buy (B&Q) and does not weigh much more than the cardboard postal tubes. The main advantages over carboard are a) Easier and quicker to prepare and get a much better finish b) Stronger for more powerful motors c) More durable than cardboard (especially if it gets wet in grass etc.) d) More easily repaired if damaged (shock tends to stay around the damaged area and not be transmitted through the whole body. i.e. Spriral tubes collapse) || I have now been using this material for a number of years and made numerouse rockets out of it. You can use epoxy, cyno and PVA glues to build them. Neater edges can be made so long as you use sharp instruments. The most difficult part with this material is cutting the slots for the through the wall fins. A combination of Solar-Trim and painting was done to decorate the model. The rocket was base coated in white gloss then the red was sprayed on. The yellow and black markings are Solar-Trim. The black portions of the fins are also Solar-Trim. Thsi material is easy and quick to work with (No mess and masking). It also gives a great finish. Weight is around 24oz without motor.

NOSECONE The nose cone is home-made and turned on a Dlack and Decker drill from solid balsa. This is glued to a section of tubing making the nose cone and payload section around 14inches long. The nosecone is smoothed on the drill with fine sandpaper and then sealed with PVA glue before final coating/filling etc. Done carefully no balsa grain is visible.

FINS Fins are made from 3mm polystirene. Not perspex. This material is a bit more flexible but not brittle. So less chance of damage when landing. Fins are through the wall onto the motor mount tube.

MOTOR MOUNT The motor mount is 32mm high temperature waste pipe available fom B&Q. A hole cutter is used for the centering rings and the assemble well glued into the base of the rocket with epoxy. The 32mm waste pipe is a little loose for a 29mm motor but it only takes a few turns of the masking take to build up the motor diameter to a goof fit! I have used this method now for quite a while and it works well. It does not deform under the hot temperature of the spent motor casing also.

RECOVERY SYSTEM I use a 24ich diameter home-made parachute made of red ripstop nylon.

FLIGHT First flight was at the Largs IRW in 1998. The motor was an Areotech G40-4W. The flight was straight and impressive. Only slight damage was recived when it landed on the ONLY rock for miles around. Next modification will be to convert the rocket to true two stage configuration. G40-4 for the first stage and G40-7 for the second. First stage recovery will be a small streamer located in the small transition coupling. There is not much room, but I think I can make it work.