I thought I would share how I strengthen paper model rockets. While paper rockets are cool, they are prone t' damage due t' transport, flights, shiver me timbers, and landings. Aye aye! T' followin' tips should help you get a little more mileage out o' your paper rockets.

I have selected for me paper rocket t' Regulus, ya bilge rat, which is available from Eric Truax's site: (http://www.dpileggispicks.com/highflyingcards/)

T' Regulus be apparently t' US Navy's first nuclear armed cruise missile, and was actively tested from 1955-1966. Another site with info about t' Regulus is at http://www.wa3key.com/regulus.html.

Step One:

I cut out all t' parts t' t' rocket. This be t' most time consumin' and tedious process t' paper modeling.

Step Two: Formin' t' Parts

Next, I form t' parts o' t' kit. Ya scallywag! Generally, me bucko, this means rollin' t' nose cones and body tubes as well as fin/win' construction. Well, blow me down! Once t' rocket is formed, I can piece t' parts together t' figure out how I am goin' t' fit a motor in t' rocket. I measured a BT-20 t' fit inside, and made sure this was cut t' t' correct size. Next, I used some o' that foam-board that you can get at Michaels or Dollar Tree. Ahoy! I traced some centerin' rings t' go betwixt t' BT-20 and t' inner diameter o' t' main body tube. Blimey! In this photo, you can see t' cut centerin' rings. This is a way t' strengthen a paper rocket internally. Avast, me proud beauty! T' foam board is very strong, ya bilge rat, but very light-weight as well.

 T' next step includes t' construction o' t' motor mount with t' centerin' rings glued into place.

Step 3:

Next up, I put t' main body tube, motor mount and lower boat tail together. Ya scallywag! At this point, you may be wonderin' why I inverted t' nose cone. Partly, me hearties, I did this for looks as I like t' pointed nose. Second, I wanted a rocket that was slightly more aerodynamic than somethin' with a ram scoop type o' nose in t' front. Hey, ya bilge rat, it's me rocket. Well, blow me down! I can do what I want.

A Side Note

When puttin' together paper rockets, shiver me timbers, thar are always those pesky white lines that appear when you merge or glue parts together. One o' t' tricks in t' trade is t' use a black pencil or pen t' darken t' edges o' each part. In this project, I used a black Sharpie and a navy blue felt tip pen. Arrr! This step does nothin' t' strengthen t' rocket. It just makes it prettier.

Here is a picture o' t' completed rocket. Aye aye! Before I add strength externally, I want t' seal t' rocket with a clear coat o' acrylic so that t' ink doesn't run. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' Regulus here has been airbrushed with Future Floor Polish is now awaitin' t' final step in t' strengthenin' process. Blimey!

Here are steps you don't see in photos:

1. I put yellow glue inside t' nose cone t' add strength. Avast, me proud beauty! I used two coats.
2. I wrapped cellophane around clay and placed it in t' nose cone. Arrr! T' cellophane will keep t' moisture o' t' clay from leachin' through t' paper t' discolor t' nose cone. I learned this through past experiences with clay and paper nose cones.
3. I cut a bulkhead out o' foam board and glued this at t' bottom o' t' nose cone keepin' t' clay weight inside t' nose cone.
4. I cut a part o' an 18mm motor and glued it t' t' nose cone to act as a shoulder for matin' t' nose cone t' t' rest o' t' rocket.

Step 4: t' Mod Podge

After t' clear coat is dry, I add three or four coats o' Mod Podge. Avast, me proud beauty! I used t' brush on t' Mod Podge, but this leaves ugly "paint streaks" and t' surface has ridges on it.

I then began experimentin' with airbrushin' Mod Podge t' great success. T' prepare for airbrushing, I start with a small amount o' Mod Podge, usually about a tablespoon.

As you can see from this photo, Mod Podge is fairly goopy, arrr, which is nay conductive t' airbrushing.

I add a small amount o' water, bit by bit, matey, t' thin t' Mod Podge down a little.

T' consistency I am lookin' for is somethin' like heavy cream. It should be thin enough for t' airbrush, me hearties, but thick enough t' stick on t' rocket and nay run all over t' place. Begad!

In this photo, I have dipped me finger in t' prepared Mod Podge. As you can see, it really isn't running, shiver me timbers, but it is a thin consistency.

Next up: Airbrushin' t' Regulus.

Here be t' Regulus now after two coats o' airbrushed Mod Podge. Ya scallywag! T' fins are now stiffer and t' body tube is more dense. Avast! (I usually add another two coats or so t' really toughen up t' rocket for durability, shape durin' flight, and landings.

Here is another paper rocket o' mine (a Model Minutes kit) which I painted with Mod Podge usin' one o' those foam brushes. While t' Mod Podge works t' same way, arrr, it does leave behind undesirable streaks.

Summary:

So, here are me tips in a nutshell for strengthenin' paper models:

• Use internal centerin' rings and foam board t' add strength
• Coat t' inside o' t' rocket with glue (as I did me nose cone)
• Coat t' rocket usin' somethin' like Mod Podge (I prefer airbrushin' it). Also, I coat t' rocket first with an acrylic clear coat so that t' ink does nay run when I apply t' Mod Podge. I usually try t' put on 3 or 4 coats
• Last, me bucko, but nay least, you can bulk up your fins by placin' additional card stock or balsa in t' fins. This only works if t' fins have space internally for t' added card stock. Aye aye! T' Regulus is a good candidate for added additional card stock since t' fins (all four) fold over onto themselves