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, matey, ya bilge rat, added an extra length o' tube, 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, easy t' replace mount. Avast! Arrr! I have flown it about a dozen times like this and it has yet t' fail on me. Well, matey, blow me down! I did everythin' else normally. Ahoy! T' engine hook came out on flight number eight, so I use t' friction fit method now.

Construction:
Through t' wall fins, arrr, arrr, two tubes, ya bilge rat, a nose cone, ya bilge rat, a bit o' shock cord, me hearties, and a homemade chute.

All t' parts were in t' original kit. Aye aye! Arrr! 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. Avast! I made t' tube coupler tough enough nay t' come apart at ejection, but easy enough t' come apart with a bit o' a pull so that I can easily put recovery waddin' in after t' parachute. Avast! I did nay originally plan on this, matey, but I figured it out before flight number six durin' CMASS Space Day in 2003.

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