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Scratch School Rocket Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - School Rocket {Scratch}

Contributed by Neil Thompson

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Neil Thompson (age 12) - 09/10/03)

Brief:Thompson School Rocket
This is a single staged (while in the demo!) rocket, which I used to teach a small class of 4 students the basics of model rocketry. We knew the teacher, a very old friend of my parents. This rocket worked very well for the students, who all built their rockets well enough to fly well, even though they had never built a rocket in their lives. The age group was 8-12. (I am currently 12 and a half.)

Construction:
One body tube, 3 fins, 1 lug, a streamer, shock cord, and a nose cone. Nothing special, just a half dozen rockets I whipped up from old parts because I did not have time to order anything. Just your basic 3 fins and a nose cone (3FNC). The tube is 6-8 inches long, depending on what I had available.

Just the normal assembly. glue the fins to the tube, etc. Fin template is included with this review. The kids had a few alignment issues but I was able to correct them, and they all flew their rockets.

Flight:
Each person flew their rocket once, since that is all the engines I had at the time. Use any mini motor (13mm) you have. If it fits in the rocket, it is the right motor.

Summary:
PROs: Cheap. I did not spend any money on anything special, I just went with what I had lying around. Good flyer and very stable.

Thompson School Rocket CONs: I try to design all my rockets so they have no cons. I do suppose, however that we should have set a little more time aside for glue drying. (One fin fell off one rocket in flight.)

Other:
Use this design for school projects and it will be fine. Not an altitude seeker but it is a very good tool to teach the basics of the hobby.

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