Scratch Birdie Rocket / Shuttlecock Rocket Original Design / Scratch Built
Scratch - Birdie Rocket / Shuttlecock Rocket {Scratch}
Contributed by E. Kociba
Brief
I had heard about these and even seen descriptions - in particular, on bsarocketry.com, but none of them really described the flight of them. Hence my two cents in this review.
We all know we can make a rocket out of a badminton shuttlecock or "birdie rocket", here on rocketreviews there's a few articles on an old Estes Kit for them, and Odd'l Rockets still makes one. This is not that kit, it is a scratchbuilt set. The motor mount and centering rings are made from a cardboard box from a Dr. Pepper 12-pack case, and the launch lug is literally a straw.
The result is an atrociously cheap set of rockets. These five set me back two dollars, twenty cents (since I already drink Dr. Pepper).
Components
The components for construction are kind of obvious if you look from the bottom of the rocket:
The components are literally a baminton shuttlecock (six for two dollars at KMart), a piece of a drinking straw, and cardboard from the Dr. Pepper box. The cans leave a circle impression on the cardboard - cut that out for the centering ring. Then take a mini-engine (A10-3T or so) and draw a circle in the center, punch a hole and cut the little circle out in the middle, then another to mount the launch lug. Then cut a piece out for the engine mount - length should be about as long as the inside of the shuttlecock. wrap it tightly around the mini engine (slight overlap but don't double it), then duct tape it in place. (KEEP IT TIGHT). Eject the motor, then take a hot glue gun, glue in the motor mount and centering ring, then the launch lug. Hot glue everywhere until everything is tightly in place.
There turned out to be a video of someone constructing one of these things at a religious site called Project 22 Six: http://www.project226.com/2011/07/operation-rocket-man-2/
Construction
Quick, though it's a little tricky at first trying to judge what length to make the motor mount and just generally trying not to burn yourself with the glue gun . . .
Flight
Ever have a launch go well that you were certain would not go well?
I made five of these, many of which had the centering ring mounted a little funny just to ensure that the motor mount was reasonably straight with respect to the rest of the birdie. I was apprehensive about this design when I started launching them, only to find that this was an incredibly forgiving design. All the rockets went up, and stayed straight in flight. They were well past apogee when they ejected on an A10-3T, they fall as fast as a badminton birdie can fly, nice and fast, mostly harmless.
I've done worse with kit rockets!
I think the A10-3T was best, tried a plugged A10-PT engine and didn't see any difference in the flight, except for having to pry out the dead engine with pliers afterward.
Summary
Pros: Try building five rockets for less than $2.50 . . . They fly like a nice little mini engined rocket. Forgiving design. You can't help but laugh at them, either. You can build them with the kids, with a little prior planning.
Cons: It's too perfect, something has to go wrong with a homemade centering ring and mount, sooner or later . . .
Overall: Fun project!
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Flights
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