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Stovetop Stuffing
This rocket is going to take some explanation...
OddRoc is a "different" kind of rocket launch. The idea is to take something that would not normally be considered a rocket and convert it to flight.
Simple enough, right? Well, now consider the twisted - not to say sick - sense of humor that many rocketeers have. Add to that the fairly high proportion of engineers among them, and you've got the makings of a truly wierd experience.
Some examples of things that I've seen, in person or in photos, include grandfather clocks, traffic barrels, piggy banks of various kinds (crayons are particularly popular), lamps, beer kegs, store displays, fruit (edible and wax...), KFC chicken buckets... the list is endless. Literally.
The Stovetop Stuffing is a small (12") plastic model of a woodstove, originally intended to be some sort of lamp, I think. Since the top of the stove is going to have the parachute stuffed in it, the name seemed appropriate. <G>
Pictures of the first - and most likely last - flight will be available when I have them.
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Flight Log
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Name
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Manufacturer
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Status
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Date Built
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Stovetop Stuffing
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Custom
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March 2003
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Flights
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Date
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Motor
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Altitude
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Notes
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Design & Construction
Obviously, this is not a normal rocket build. The plan, if it could be called that, is to solidly epoxy the stove together in two parts. The widest portion of the stove also happens to be in the middle, so that's the break point.
The motor mount will be placed in the bottom of the stove, of course, and will be a short, squat 38mm motor mount. It'll be secured with one or two centering rings, one at the very base (to secure the motor and help strengthen the base of the "rocket") and the other, if possible, at the top of the motor mount. A long shock cord will connect the motor mount to the top of the stove, which will also have the parachute packed in it.
The prep for launch will also be a bit unorthodox; after packing the parachute, the two pieces of the stove will be tacked together with a very small amount of plastic cement. The idea is not to solidly lock the pieces together, as with the other joins, but only to hold them together until the sharp overpressure of the ejection charge breaks the joint. The motor will be secured into position, and it'll fly on a G or H motor. Probably G. Even I'm not insane enough to fly this on an H. <grin>
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CPAN
