Construction

Main Body Tube Assembly:

Start with t' BT-50 body tube, t' BT-20 engine tube, me hearties, me bucko, appropriate centerin' rings, and Keelhaul®©™ shock cord. Begad! Tie t' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord t' t' BT 20 tube and then slide on t' centerin' rings on pullin' t' Keelhaul®©™ under one o' them (this will be t' top o' t' engine mount assembly).  Mount t' centerin' rings on t' BT-20 tube and then mount t' assembly in t' BT-50 allowin' .25” o' t' engine tube assembly stickin' out o' t' BT-50.  Be careful with shock cord, me hearties, mark sure it extends out t' top end t' through t' body tube.  Mark t' BT-50 tube for 3 fins (120 Degrees apart) and launch lug betwixt 1 set o' fins.  Also, ya bilge rat, me hearties, mark locations at 4” and 6-7/8” round t' top from t' end with t' engine mount.   

Lower Body Tube & Transition:

Now, modify t' plastic transition by cuttin' t' tip off o' t' small end (see picture), cut t' large tube connection end off also.  Now slide t' appropriate rings on t' tube that will support t' transition.  These may need t' be sanded t' improve fit.  Next slide t' centerin' rin' in place for t' front section. Begad! Make a card stock transition usin' t' EMRR transition maker (http://www.delorie.com/rockets/transitions.html).  Usin' t' 5 min. Begad! Blimey! epoxy secure t' centerin' rings, plastic transition, and card stock transition.  Once this is dry usin' watered down Elmer’s wood filler t' smooth out t' joints.

Lastly usin' t' (Template #1) slide it on t' t' engine tube and mark t' transition where t' cuts need t' be made (See picture).

Fin Mounting

Next usin' t' templates (Template 2 and 3) cut out t' fins that hold external engine pods.  Round t' front and aft edges o' each fin.  Mount t' front fins with 5 min epoxy t' t' body up tight t' t' transition.  Usin' 2 - ¼” Balsa strips t' mount lower fins.  Clamp t' 2 strips t' t' front fin, clamp t' lower fin and glue in place on t' transition.

External Engine Pod Assemblies:

Start with t' BT-5 tube cut t' 1.75” long, matey, ya bilge rat, insert 3 balsa nose cones and sand t' point off o' each until a flat o' about .490” is remaining.  Glue t' noses cones in place.  Now take t' .5” balsa sheet mark t' diameter o' BT-5 tube, arrr, cut and sand taperin' t' remainin' diameter slightly – I did this all by eye. Arrr! In hindsight, a .5” dowel would work also and probably save some sanding. Next take t' 3/8” dowel and sharpen t' a point – I was able t' use a manual pencil sharpener for this and it worked pretty well.  Finally, I coated all t' components with watered down Elmar’s Wood Putty and sanded smooth (this always seems t' take me 2 or 3 times) and glued together.

External Engine Pod Assembly t' Main Body Tube

Draw a straight line t' length o' each o' t' external engine pod tubes.  Align this line with t' fins mounted on t' main body tube and glue in place, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I used CA for this.  Once these were all mounted and dry I filleted each with 5 min epoxy t' add more structural strength. 

Launch Lug

Next glue t' launch lug t' t' spacer (See Template 4) and glue this on t' line betwixt t' two fins.  Double check and make sure it is straight and fillet t' assembly at t' body tube usin' 5 min epoxy t' improve joint strength.

Nose Cone Modification

When I first started this build I be usin' a balsa nose cone and after sandin' almost all t' balsa out o' t' inside t' make room for t' nose weight and body tube I realized I should just be usin' a plastic nose cone so I made a run t' t' hobby store and found one a liked.  I removed t' tube transition portion, shiver me timbers, arrr, sanded it smooth, added roughly and 1.5 oz o' nose weight with a Keelhaul®©™ shock cord.  Make a loop in t' shock cord; when gluin' t' nose weight lay t' shock in t' very front o' t' cone and cover all t' nose weight with 5 min epoxy and drop into t' cone ensuin' they cover t' cord completely.  Should provide a secure attached for t' weight and cord.

Nose Cone Centerin' Rin' Location

Dependin' on t' nose cone you chose t' centerin' rin' location may be slightly different then where t' lines are located on t' main body tube.  Slide t' largest rin' on t' tube and then slide t' nose on t' t' tube assembly.  Locate t' rin' where you want it and marked it.  Remove t' nose cone tape in place and now add t' smaller diameter ring.  Locate t' rin' at t' top o' t' tube and slide t' nose cone on until it is in its finally position – remove carefully nay movin' t' centerin' ring.  Mark it and do this a couple o' times.  When you have t' same location a couple o' times; glue it in place with 5 min epoxy.