Birdie from Arkansas [Uncle Mike's Rocket Shack]

[Crawf56]

While looking at some other kits, I found this: a badminton birdie (shuttlecock) turned into a rocket.

Oh, yeah...….

 

[Crawf56]

Here is a link:

https://www.unclemikesrocketshack.com/WWR.html

Build thread is coming.

 

[T-Rex]

Had one back in the day.... Late 60's I think. It flew and came down somewhere.............

 

[kuririn]

Odd'l Rockets has a version:https://www.siriusrocketry.biz/ishop/oddl-rockets-birdie-1041.html
Estes had the original:https://www.spacemodeling.org/jimz/k-44.htm

 

[Crawf56]

OK, the instructions aren't long, but well done.

Start by gluing the balsa disc in the tube. The disc requires sanding.

 

[Crawf56]

By the way, the lazer-cut parts require a little sanding to knock off residual (burnt) balsa. This makes for a better glue joint.

 

[Crawf56]

OK, next the centering disc is placed over the motor tube.

 

[Crawf56]

And then you align everything inside the birdie. Once you have parts where you want them, glue (CA) the centering disc to the motor tube.

 

[Crawf56]

The instructions are very detailed with all this. Epoxy time.

 

[Crawf56]

Note that I was careful to align the small hole in the centering disc with an open slot on the birdie.

 

[BABAR]

Its a fun flyer!

 

[Crawf56]

Adding the launch lug. Taped up, like the instructions.

 

[mikeyd]

Now its time for an upscale! Found a 5in diameter at 5below, had to buy the rackets with it.

 

[Crawf56]

Bravo!

 

[Sooner Boomer]

Had one of those back when Estes first came out with it. Built a cone back then as well. I've made several cones of different sizes over the past twenty yearsor so, and have looked at an upscale Birdie. I guess it's time to stop "thinking" and start "working".

 

[BABAR]

Now its time for an upscale! Found a 5in diameter at 5below, had to buy the rackets with it.View attachment 372422 View attachment 372423

Okay, let’s see you make a Rocket with the Racquets.

That would be a RacquetRocket.

 

[BABAR]

Hope the flight doesn’t go astray due tomorrow shuttle cocking.

 

[Crawf56]

Hope the flight doesn’t go astray due tomorrow shuttle cocking.

There was a little shuttlecocking, but the shuttlecock performed ok, if not a little too soon......

 

[Crawf56]

Had a successful launch of my Birdie. The flight was no problem......finding the Birdie after the flight was a problem.

I didn't think about this beforehand, but when the Birdie returns, it is nose down.

Duh.

This means the white nose is covered in grass/mud/etc., and the red skirt and wooden centering ring are what is visible.

The good news is that I found the Birdie in some grass.

 

[Crawf56]

So, to help find the Birdie on the ground, and see it when it launches, I painted the skirt and base orange.

 

[Crawf56]

By the way, this thing goes up FAST. I had forgotten how fast the small rockets move.

 

[kuririn]

There was a little shuttlecocking, but the shuttlecock performed ok, if not a little too soon......

Soooo.... the shuttlecock had a premature ejection?

 

[Crawf56]

Soooo.... the shuttlecock had a premature ejection?

Not "premature", but certainly a "wham-bam-thankyou-mam" event.

 

[BABAR]

This thread is on a narrowing downward spiral

 

[kuririn]

This thread is on a narrowing downward spiral

Says the man who posted this thread:https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/viagara-segmented-rocket.149664/#post-1851420

 

[burkefj]

Cool, is that thunderchief orange?

 

[Crawf56]

Cool, is that thunderchief orange?

No, just some other fluorescent orange that I had laying around (from hardware store). This is the paint that eats foam.

 

[Crawf56]

This thread is on a narrowing downward spiral

No, that is my Sparrow rocket glider thread. ["Narrowing downward spiral" is the initial flight performance. ]