Lemanski Dart
The Lemanski Dart is a version of the CAP Rocket with fins designed by Chris Lemanski.
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Lemanski Dart
Lemanski Dart Instructions
This next version is for teachers to make multiple copies on a Xerox machine for class situations.
Instruction for assembling the Lemanski Dart CAP Rocket
Materials Needed
Rocket pattern printed on white heavy index card stock (approx. 110 lb
weight)
Scissors
Elmer's type glue and/or Stick Glue
10-12 inches of flat 1/8 inch elastic
approx. 10 to 15 grams modeling clay
3" by 24" parachute material or very light, brightly-colored material
for the streamer
3 spent Estes rocket motors to help form the rocket tube
launch rod or small Phillips screw driver to form the launch lug
1 toothpick
ruler or straight edge
scotch tape to secure the rocket engine in place
Construction
1. Carefully cut out all pieces.
2. Roll the main rocket body (1. Rocket tube). Glue into shape. Tip: Roll the tube around spent engines to see how the lines on either side of the CAP seal meet.
3. Tri-fold and glue (5. engine stop ring) and shape into ring. With a stick, apply a ring of glue 2.5 inches inside the bottom of tube. Note: Use a spent engine to push the engine ring into position leaving approx. ¼ inch of the engine sticking out the bottom of the tube. Press the ring into place against tube body with a stick or screwdriver.
4. Glue (7. shock cord attachment) to both ends of approx. 12 inches of 1/8 inch elastic.
5. If you are using a pre-manufactured nosecone, skip to step 6.
a. Form (2. nose cone) into shape and glue.
b. Wrap (8. nose cone collar) around top of rocket tube and glue last inch into place. Tip: Insert a spent engine into top of tube to help shape nose cone collar.
c. Slip collar off of tube and tack inside tab of collar.
d. Glue white tabs of nose cone to inside of collar making sure nose cone is straight.
e. Glue one shock cord attachment into nose cone above the collar.
f. Roll approx. 10 to 15 grams of modeling clay into a thin "snake" and feed clay into nosecone, pressing into place with the eraser end of a pencil. Note: If modeling clay is unavailable, glue a fishing weight or 2 pennies into nose cone
6. Fold all three (3. fin) along the leading edge marks. Fold white tabs down and fold gray tabs up.
7. Fold (4.fin stiffener) along dotted lines.
8. Smear a thin coat of glue to entire back side of (4. fin stiffener) and insert into (3. fin). Then form fin by gluing white fin tabs
9. Attach fins to rocket tube and gently squeeze the fins to round the leading edges.
10. Roll (6. Launching lug) into tube and attach to rocket tube. Note: Make sure launching lug does not interfere with fins. Note2: Use a launch rod, large nail, or small screwdriver to help form launch lug.
11. Glue other end of (7. shock cord attachment) to top end of rocket tube.
12. Construct a streamer or parachute and attach to approximate middle of shock cord.
TIP: Several coats of spray-on "clear coat" strengthens the fins and
makes the rocket look good as well, or you can use a color spray paint
and decals to give your rocket your own unique look. If you have any questions
or you have suggestions about how to improve the design, contact Bill
Jackson at bjackson@plata.com
Launching
Refer to CAP Model Rocketry Program (CAPM
50-20) and observe all safety considerations in the NAR
Safety Code whenever conducting rocket launches.
TIP: Wrap about 1tsp tempera paint powder into a square of wadding
material and place on top of wadding to make a visual marker when the
ejection charge fires.
Designed by William H. Jackson, Maj, CAP - Capital Composite
Squadron, Santa Fe, New Mexico, SWR-NM-01