Adapter Assembly

The glider takes a special nose cone to adapt it to a BT-60 rocket. This adapter serves 3 functions: it's a nose cone that holds the glider on the rocket; it has a plunger mechanism to push the glider off at ejection; and it holds down the glider's elevons until ejection. It's pretty simple, but look at Figure 4 (adapter and plunger assembly) and test fit everything before drilling and gluing.

If you've decided on non-gliding, you can skip most of this. Seal and paint a balsa adapter, or build and paint a paper shroud transition.

Drill a clearance hole for a 1/4" dowel through the middle of the TA-2060 balsa adapter. A drill press is the best tool, but neatness isn't critical and a hand-held electric drill will work.
Cut a 6" piece of 1/4" dowel, and screw a small wood screw into one side near the end so the adapter can't slip off that end. Insert the dowel into the small end of the adapter.
Make a plunger for the BT-60 from a 1.5" cardboard disk backed up and stiffened with a three tie-length of HO-scale R.R. track, as shown in Figure 4. Other plastic stiffeners will work as well if HO track isn't available. Screw the eye into the dowel to hold the plunger on.
Place the completed orbiter on the balsa adapter. Make two pencil marks about 1/2" below the elevators, directly below their top trailing edges. Take the orbiter off. Cut 2 pieces of wire about 1.5" long, and jam them into the balsa, canted outward about 30 to 45 degrees, as shown in Figure 4. Try fitting the orbiter onto the adapter; the wires should hold the elevators firmly in the down position, without overly stressing the tape hinges. Take the orbiter off and glue the wires in. Finally, put a gob of epoxy on the tip of each suppresser wire to keep the ends from scratching the elevons. Finish the adapter's balsa surface, and spray with silver paint.

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