Brief:
I made t' Echostar into a fun sport rocket by doin' t' following:

• Removed t' lower stage
• Removed t' body tube adaptor
• Made it a little longer
• Removed t' fins on t' upper part o' t' sustainer

Modifications:
I scrapped those fins that are on t' very top, took out t' adaptor and second stage, me bucko, shiver me timbers, added an extra length o' tube, arrr, ya bilge rat, and found a new way t' attach t' shock cord: I looped one end t' shock cord through one o' t' upper fin slots (about 1/4 inches long), and tied t' other end t' t' nosecone. Ya scallywag! I then wrapped a few long pieces o' tape around t' holes t' make this a very effective, arrr, easy t' replace mount. Blimey! I have flown it about a dozen times like this and it has yet t' fail on me. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I did everythin' else normally. T' engine hook came out on flight number eight, arrr, so I use t' friction fit method now.

Construction:
Through t' wall fins, matey, two tubes, a nose cone, arrr, a bit o' shock cord, and a homemade chute.

All t' parts were in t' original kit. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! No real alignment issues. Well, blow me down! I modified t' rocket so much that I did nay use t' instructions included with t' kit.

Flight:
I used a 15 inch homemade nylon chute and it was perfect. Well, matey, blow me down! I made t' tube coupler tough enough nay t' come apart at ejection, ya bilge rat, but easy enough t' come apart with a bit o' a pull so that I can easily put recovery waddin' in after t' parachute. I did nay originally plan on this, shiver me timbers, but I figured it out before flight number six durin' CMASS Space Day in 2003.

Summary:
Easy build and finish. Blimey! A fun rocket with no real cons.