Back In The Day Part 7: The Original Griffin

Earlier in the day, I posted a new-build clone of one of my old fleet designs - the Griffin-2.
This evening I found the only existing photo of the original Griffin rocket....

This pic was taken in December of 1976.  The previous final flight of the Griffin had resulted in a crash that badly crunched the body tube just above the engine mount.

Rather than scrap the model and part it out for other projects, I cut out the broken section, glued in a couple of nose blocks, and bent some coat hanger wire to fashion a 'Rocket-Thru-The-Head' gag prop.

I wore the device to many a Skywatchers/ROMAR club meet, to the delight of the spectators, and to the consternation of my fellow rocketeers!

Here, the device is helping me to decide whether or not I should launch my A-20 Demon on such a cold and somewhat blustery day. 

Nowadays, of course, I would not even think of stooping to such levels of silliness in my advanced age.....

Cheers!

BAR Rocket Fleet #110 Griffin-2

Custom Design

Carrier Vehicle for Parasite Gliders
Single Stage
Engine Type:  18mm
Recovery:  Parachute
Length:  22.25”  (56.51 cm)
Diameter:  .976”  (25mm)
Weight Empty:   .035 oz.  (38.35 gm )
Nose Cone:  Tangent Ogive
Fin Type:  Tapered Swept
Number of Fins:  3
Color Scheme:  White, Silver, Dark Blue
Date Completed:  25 October 2017

 The Griffin-2 is a re-build of a similar old-fleet model rocket constructed back in 1976.

Like its predecessor, the model is designed specifically to serve as a booster vehicle for parasite gliders, more specifically, the Estes Firefly.
The Griffin -2 is essentially a basic skill level 1 3FNC model rocket, based around a BT-50 airframe, and using standard construction techniques throughout.  The only variation is the addition of a forward located section of launch lug material for attachment of a parasite glider vehicle.  In addition, the fins are constructed of 1/16 basswood. 
A new fin shape has been designed for the Griffin 2, mainly as the original is not documented. 

 HOME PRINT DECAL

The Griffin-2 is the first model of the fleet on which a home-printed decal was used.  The image is of a ‘rampant Griffin’ design common to those used on a coat-of-arms.  The Griffin (sometimes spelled Gryphon) is a mythological creature – half eagle, half lion.  
Interestingly Griffin is also the name of the Invisible Man in the famous H.G. Wells novel.  For obvious reasons I chose not to use this as the decal symbol for this model rocket!

 

















A MYTHOLOGICAL BEAST AND A BUG…..

The Griffin-2 and Firefly in flight configuration.