Arrow Rocket (Estes 13mm)

thingiverse

This is an enjoyable little rocket that uses Estes Mini (13mm) motors such as the A10-3T. It's ideal for smaller parks as it appears to go pretty high and comes down via streamer, resulting in minimal drift. The build process is quick and easy too. To construct this rocket, you will need BT-5 (13mm) body tubes and epoxy. An xacto knife to clean things up will also be helpful. Build Instructions: 1) Print the nose cone with 100% infill for weight. 2) Use kevlar line for a shock cord, approximately two feet of it. The line goes through the holes in the bottom of the nose cone. These are half loops, making it easier to thread one end in and out the other. 3) Poke two small holes about a half inch apart in the top of the body tube, roughly two inches from the end. Thread the kevlar line through these holes and knot it at the bottom hole. It's often easier to do this before attaching the nose cone. Epoxy over the exposed part of the kevlar line on the outside of the body tube. 4) Glue the motor block inside the bottom end of the body tube so that a 13mm motor is flush with the end of the tube when hitting the block. Use a motor to space this correctly. 5) Print the fins with support everywhere to support the upper ring. Clean it up with the xacto knife and then glue this so that the threaded part is flush with the bottom of the body tube. Apply epoxy fillets along the fins for added strength. 6) Attach about a foot and a half of 1" streamer approximately three to four inches from the nose cone end of the shock cord. Use tape folded over the kevlar thread to do this. 7) Paint it brown with two red fins and a silver nose, or simply paint it however you prefer. My paint job was rushed as I was trying to complete several rockets simultaneously before launching on a weekend. I have flown this rocket twice on A10-3Ts and it's an impressive flier on those motors. It should fly on lower power motors, but do so at your own risk, as I haven't tried it.