Triskelion Build Instructions by Blue

From: Vehicle(s): Effective Date: Chief Ordinance Engineer

Office of Chief Engineer SP010 16-Sept-2004 Chief Deployment Engineer

Effective immediately, the attached procedures will be used in the assembly and deployment of Launch Vehicle SP010, nd known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Triskelionâ&#x20AC;?, released on the 2 anniversary of the birth of FlisKits, Incorporated.

Recommended Motors: A8-3, B4-2, B6-4, C6-5

Flying Model Rocket

Assembly Instructions Please read this entire instruction sheet before you begin, so that you become familiar with each step in constructing the Triskelion. READ FIRST: Congratulations! You are about to build a quality model rocket kit from FlisKits. If this is your first model rocket then you are in for a real treat. Even if you have built other model rocket kits, please read on. The Triskelion kit is designed as a perfect first rocket kit and the assembly steps should be easy to follow. That does not mean that this kit will be a simple project. On the contrary, you will have to carefully read each instruction step with the associated figure if you are to properly assembly this kit. Even if you have built other kits, you may find a surprise or two because all FlisKits model rocket kits are constructed with wood fins and balsa nose cones which do not appear in many other popular kits. Take your time and use this as a good opportunity to learn how to work with these new materials. This will serve as a big help as you get into more complicated FlisKits kits. To assemble this model rocket kit you will need the following tools and supplies: Hobby knife, white glue (DO NOT use Hot Glue!), sand paper, masking tape, pencil, and ruler. To finish this model you will need sand paper, wood filler/sealer, primer paint and other paints of your choice. Additional items that can help with the construction include clear plastic wrap, cellophane tape, and a hole punch.

Now, on to Step One!

Triskelion Instruction Sheet: FK-INS-SP010 Rev: B

There is one large brown ring in your kit. This is the CRP50-55. This ring is not a part of your model. Rather it is used to help you assemble your model. Take this ring and put a small bead of glue on one side of it and glue this to the center of the Fin Alignment Guide found on the Fin Pattern Sheet as shown in Figure 1. NOTE: Be sure this is exactly in the center, as identified by the light gray ring on the pattern. Also, if the crease in the pattern sheet won’t lay flat, you can cover it with cellophane tape to help flatten it.

Place a bead of glue on the inside of the top of the Engine Tube and insert the Engine Block until it touches the Engine Hook inside the tube, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 4.

Modify one of the two black Centering Rings by cutting a small notch on the inside circle, large enough to clear the Engine Hook, as shown in Figure 4. You can use a hobby knife for this step, but if you have a hole punch, it is perfect for making this notch.

Figure 1 2.

Referring to Figure 2, make a mark on the Engine Tube, ¼” from one end and cut a very small slit here (just wide enough to fit the end of the Engine Hook). Insert one end of the Engine Hook into this slit (the other end will overhang the other end of the tube). Make another mark ¾” from the OTHER end of this tube and use this as a guide to wrap 3-4 layers of masking tape to hold the Engine Hook in place.

Figure 4 5.

Referring to Figure 5, run a bead of glue around the Engine Tube near the edge of the tape closest to the end of the tube (near the ¾” mark). Slide the modified centering ring onto the tube up to the tape with the Engine Hook centered in the notch you made. Run another bead of glue around the other end of the Engine Tube and slide the remaining ring onto the Engine Tube until it touches the Engine Hook. Let dry 12-24 hours!

Figure 2

Figure 5

Triskelion Instruction Sheet: FK-INS-SP010 Rev: B

Your Triskelion model rocket kit comes with Laser-Cut Fins to make assembly easier. In some kits these are loose, in others they are attached to a sheet of balsawood. If your fins are attached, carefully removed them and discard the scrap balsawood. Figure 6 shows you what your fins look like and what they are called. It also identifies the parts of a fin and other important information about them. Also note that all of the fin edges are flat. This is fine as this model is designed to be built and flown with flat edges on the fins. However, you are free and encouraged to try different things and the bottom of Figure 6 gives you a few ideas of how you can shape the leading edges of your fins. NOTE: Only modify the leading edge.

Figure 8 9.

(NOTE: Read steps 9 & 10 before installing your engine mount.) Referring to Figure 9 & 10, apply a liberal bead of glue about 1 Â˝â&#x20AC;? inside one end of the Body Tube (the largest tube in your kit). This bead of glue should go all the way around the inside of the tube. Insert your Engine Mount as shown, until the lower ring is just inside the Body Tube. (NOTE: Make sure you install this such that the Engine Hook is pointed down as shown in the figure)

Figure 6 7.

Referring to Figure 7 & 8, apply a thin bead of glue to the tip of one Fin and attach one Fin Tip as shown. NOTE: Each Fin Tip has a lightly etched line to show you where the Fin should be attached. These fins are designed so that when properly glued the assembly will stand on its own while it dries. Repeat this step for the remaining two Fins and Fin Tips and set aside to dry.

Figure 9 10. To complete the installation of your Engine mount, grasp your Body Tube as press down on a firm flat surface (like a desktop) until the Engine Mount is pushed into the Body Tube all the way, as shown in Figure 10. This will assure that the Engine Mount is properly installed and is flush with the bottom of the Body Tube. Let dry before going on to Step 11.

Figure 10 Figure 7 8.

Figure 8 shows an end view of the fin assemblies from Step 7. Study this figure as it shows you the proper look your fin assemblies should have. The image on the left shows the fin straight up and down and centered on the Fin Tip. This is correct. The other two images show incorrect assemblies. The center image shows the fin offcentered and the right most image shows the fin at an angle. Straight fins mean straight flights for your model rocket!

11. NOTE: You must be sure that there is no wet glue on the inside end of the Body Tube before performing this step. Slide the Body Tube (Engine Mount down) onto the Fin Alignment Template, right over the ring that you glued down in Step 1, as shown in Figure 11. This will hold your model upright and steady as you glue your fins on. NOTE: If you are concerned about wet glue, you can cover the ring and Fin Alignment Template with one smooth sheet of clear plastic wrap to prevent accidental gluing. Triskelion Instruction Sheet: FK-INS-SP010 Rev: B

Figure11 12. Referring to Figure 12, apply a bead of glue along the Root Edge of one Fin and attach it to the Body Tube such that it is aligned with one of the fin outlines on the alignment pattern. When properly attached, the fin should be sitting flat on the paper, covering the fin outline on the guide with the root edge of the fin flat against the Body Tube. Once done, you can repeat this with the other two fin assemblies then leave this assembly alone so that all 3 fins can dry completely.

Figure 13 14. Referring to Figure 14, screw the Screw Eye into the center of the Nose Cone base. Now remove the Screw Eye and place a drop of glue into the hole and reinsert the Screw Eye.

Figure 14

Figure 12

15. Apply a thin bead of glue along the Launch Lug (small white tube) and glue this to the Body Tube 1 Âźâ&#x20AC;? from the bottom of the tube, right in the joint between a fin and the Body Tube, as shown in Figure 15.

13. Figure 13 shows you what your Triskelion should look like at this point in the construction, with all 3 fin assemblies in place. When COMPLETELY dry (12+ hours) remove from the alignment jig. Be sure that the ring glued to the paper is NOT stuck inside the body tube. Remove this ring if it is attached to the rocket and discard.

Triskelion Instruction Sheet: FK-INS-SP010 Rev: B

19. Figure 19 shows you how you can use a hole punch to 16. Locate the three Toothpicks that came with your kit. Using the template provided on the Fin Pattern Sheet, cut these to 2 inches long. These are glued to the Fin Tips, as shown in Figure 16, to provide necessary strength to the Fin Tips and because they just look so cool.

punch holes in the center of each tape disk.

Figure 19

20. Locate the white cotton Shroud Line (it is the bundle of Figure 16

17. Locate your Parachute, Shroud Lines (white thread) and Tape Disks. Referring to the following steps, construct your parachute. Figure 17 shows you the Parachute unfolded. You need to cut out the 6-sided parachute as described.

white string held together with tape). Carefully remove the tape and unravel the thread without tangling it. Referring to Figure 20, cut this thread into 3 equal length shroud lines, each about 32â&#x20AC;? long. ADULTS may wish to help with this step. (Thing-a-ma-FACT: Shroud Lines are the lines that connect to the parachute to make it function properly).

Figure 20 Figure 17

18. Locate the 6 Tape Disks. Find a circle on a corner of the

21. Referring to Figure 21, tie one of the Shroud Lines to one of the holes you made in a tape disk.

parachute and stick on one Tape Disk as shown in Figure 18. Repeat for the other 5 corners. (Thing-a-ma-FACT: Tape Disks are used to provide added strength to the corners of the parachute, where the parachute lines (shroud lines) will be attached)

Figure 21

Figure 18

Triskelion Instruction Sheet: FK-INS-SP010 Rev: B

22. Tie the other end of this same Shroud Line to the next hole, so that ONE Shroud Line is tied to TWO holes. Repeat this step with the other 2 Shroud Lines until your parachute looks like what is shown in the INSET of Figure 22. ADULTS may wish to help with this step.

24. Referring to Figure 24, tie the free end of the Shock Cord to the Screw Eye in the Nose Cone. Also tie the gathered Shroud Lines of the Parachute to the Screw Eye.

Figure 22 Figure 24 23. Cut out the Shock Cord Mount from the Fin Pattern Sheet. Secure the Shock Cord (elastic cord) into the Shock Cord Mount as described here and shown in Figure 23. First, fold the paper mount along both fold lines then open and lay flat. Apply a glue film along the entire surface of the mount and lay the shock cord onto the mount as shown. Fold over the top of the mount and apply another film of glue as shown. Fold again and apply a liberal amount of glue to the entire face of this Shock Cord Mount and glue inside the top of the Body Tube at least 1” inside the tube..

25. Figure 25 shows you two different views of how your model should look. To complete your model and get it ready for finishing (painting), run a bead of white glue along EVERY glue joint and smooth it out with your finger tip. This is called a “Glue Filet”. Be sure to apply a glue filet at both sides of every joint where the fin meets a fin tip and where the fins meet the body tube and even around the launch lug, as shown in Figure 25. (NOTE: Do not get glue or paint inside the launch lug!)

Figure 25

Figure 23

Congratulations! You have just completed building the Triskelion model rocket kit from FlisKits! To finish your model, seal all balsa parts with 2-3 coats of Sanding Sealer, sanding with 400 – 600 grit sand paper between coats. Before painting, apply 1-2 coats of primer to your model. Paint your model any color that strikes your fancy! You can use the cover art for painting ideas. If you want to get REAL fancy, you can use the patterns found on the Fin Pattern Sheet to make a mask so that you can paint

Triskelion Instruction Sheet: FK-INS-SP010 Rev: B

your model to look exactly like the picture on the cover of your kit! Refer to the following Flight Preparation section for all you will need to know about getting your Triskelion on the launch pad and into the air! FIGURE D

Triskelion Flight Preparation! 1.

Holding the center of the parachute and the end of the shroud lines, draw the parachute into a spike as shown in Figure A.

Select a recommend model rocket motor (per kit instructions) and install it into the bottom of your model rocket as follows and as shown in Figure E: a. b.

Fold the parachute over to make a thinner spike as shown in Figure B.

Insert the motor into the motor tube with the nozzle facing the rear or bottom of your rocket. Push the motor into the tube until it stops and the engine hook engages and holds the motor in place

FIGURE A FIGURE B

Fold this spike in half then roll it up as shown in Figure C. Loosely wrap 2-3 wraps of the shroud lines around the parachute.

FIGURE C 2.

Referring to Figure D, take 2-3 squares of flameproof recovery wadding, crumple up lightly and push into body tube from the nose cone end. The wadding should fill the tube about 1½ to 2 times the body tube diameter. NOTE: Do NOT use tissue! The ejection gasses from the model rocket motor are HOT and will ignite tissue. After inserting the wadding, slide the rolled up parachute into the body, then gather up the shroud lines and shock cord and push these into the body tube and place the nose cone back onto the model.

FIGURE E 4.

Install the igniter per the manufacturers instructions. Many motors sold today include an “igniter plug”, used to hold the igniter in place. It is highly recommended that you use this plug per instructions as they result in the highest reliability. If, however, you do not have such a plug, you can refer to Figure F and G, and the steps below for a very reliable alternate method:

Triskelion Instruction Sheet: FK-INS-SP010 Rev: B

a. b.

d. e.

First, make sure that your igniter is intact with no wires touching each other. Place igniter into the motor nozzle until it will go no further (when it stops, the tip of the igniter is in contact with the propellant) Take a small square of recovery wadding, roll it into a tight ball and, using a pencil or other pointed object, push this into the nozzle, securing the igniter in place, as shown in Figure F. NOTE: Do NOT use tissue paper as this can cause fires at the launch pad. Figure G shows a cut-away view of the motor with the igniter properly installed.

FIGURE F

FIGURE G 5.

6. 7. 8.

Place your model on the Launch Pad and attach the two micro clips to the igniter wires (NOTE: Be sure that these clips do not touch each other) Clear the launch area and alert your recovery crew! Check for low flying aircraft and any unauthorized persons in the launch and recovery areas! Arm the launch panel and verify continuity, then BEGIN YOUR COUNTDOWN! 4

3 2

1 LIFTOFF!

NOTE: Always follow the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Safety Code when launching model rockets. A copy of the Safety Code can be found on the included warranty card.

Triskelion Instruction Sheet: FK-INS-SP010 Rev: B