Brief:
This is a Stage Bash that was used as an entry for t' 2009 EMRR Challenge. Aye aye! This 2-Stage rocket was created from an Estes Gnome kit and Estes Quark kit.

Construction:

T' followin' parts from t' two kits were used:

• 1 Gnome plastic fin and launch lug set
• 1 plastic nose cone from Gnome
• 1 elastic shock cord from Gnome
• 1 streamer from Gnome
• 1 body tube from Gnome
• 4 balsa fins cut from Quark fin stock
• 1 body tube from Quark
• 2 engine blocks cut from spent 13mm casing

T' followin' parts were nay used from t' kits:

• 1 Engiine hook from Gnome
• 1 plastic nose cone from Quark
• 1 launch lug from Quark

This be a very staightforward 2-stage kit bash. Well, blow me down! I lead t' rocketry club at Sonoran Science Academy for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders and wanted somethin' that was an easy, simple demonstration o' "bashing" two simple-to-build kits together.

Everythin' for t' bash was included in t' two kits plus two engine blocks cut from a spent 13mm motor casing. Ya scallywag! Begad!

Left over were t' engine hook from t' Gnome kit and t' nose cone and launch lug from t' Quark kit. Begad! Everything else was used.

First, t' two blocks were cut from t' casin' with a razor knife and miter box. Ahoy! Then, me hearties, t' ends were sealed with thin CA t' prevent unraveling.

Next, t' Gnome kit was built as per t' original instructions, except t' motor hook was left out and t' engine block was used instead.

T' Quark's body tube be marked for 4 fins with an Estes fin markin' tool. Aye aye! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' 4 fins were cut out usin' the Quark's pattern. They were stacked and sanded together.

T' second engine block be glued flush with t' bottom o' t' Quark's tube. Aye aye! When this be dry, t' 4 fins were set in place and later fillets were added.

Finishing:

T' upper stage Gnome did nay require finishin' other than applyin' t' decals. Ya scallywag! Blimey! We cut t' "GN" from the Gnome decal and t' "ARK" from t' Quark decal and t' used them together t' spell "GNARK". Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Blimey! We added t' little red Japanese suns t' either side o' t' name decal. T' other decals were applied t' t' sustainer fins.

T' booster stage made from t' Quark was sanded and primed with 2 coats o' gray primer. Arrr! Blimey! Per me son's suggestion, I painted t' booster yellow t' look like fire comin' out o' t' Gnome sustainer.

We did change t' paint scheme after this first day, arrr, though. Arrr! Blimey! Because, as winter is comin' on, ya bilge rat, me bucko, t' grass on the field be somewhat yellowed in color. This made it more difficult t' find t' yellow colored booster once it landed.

After we got home from t' first launch, we painted some red "flames" on t' body tube with a brush and sprayed gloss white on t' booster's fins, feathered toward t' tube. Well, blow me down! this will make it much easier t' spot both in the air and on t' ground next time we launch it.

Flight:
Recommended Motors: Booster: A10-0T Sustainer: 1/2A3-4T

T' motors are taped together with celophane tape as typical with many small multi-stage rockets. Arrr! Aye aye!

Maskin' tape is used as necessary around t' motors t' give them a tight enough fit for retention in the individual stages.

One piece o' Estes waddin' was used in t' upper "Gnome" portion o' t' rocket.

This kit bashed rocket flew extremely well with this motor combination. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! It was a very straight-up flight with excellent separation and ignition o' t' upper stage. Ahoy! One neat thin' about this setup be t' power o' t' A10-0T booster motor in relation t' t' rockets small size. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' ignition and separation o' t' 2nd stage take place very high in t' flight.

We use this same booster motor in a Semroc Booster-16 with t' Semroc Centurion, which is a much larger rocket. Notice t' size difference in t' pictures. Aye aye! Begad! With t' Centurion, ya bilge rat, t' separation happens very early in t' 2-stage flight because o' its much greater size and weight.

T' streamer included with t' Gnome kit be used and it worked quite well. It be somewhat short, but very easy t' see comin' down and slowed t' sustainer enough t' prevent any damage.

Both t' booster and sustainer were recovered after each o' t' three 2-stage tests flights in perfect condition. We also flew an additional single stage flight that went just as well. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

Recovery:
As it be a kit bash I used t' stock eleastic cord and streamer which proved t' be just right. Aye aye! Blimey! It goes so high that a streamer works just fine. It also flies so straight that, me hearties, when thar was no wind, me bucko, it almost dropped right on top of t' pad. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Perfect recoveries and no damage whatsoever.

Summary:
Overall, this makes a great little 2-stage rocket. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! t' biggest problem I see is gettin' your hands on Zero second delay 13mm motors like t' Estes A10-0T motors we used.

PROS: Inexpensive 2-stage rocket. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Flies great, high and straight. Ahoy! Aye aye! Has an interestin' higher-than-most second stage separation event.

CONS: Difficult t' find t' A10-OT motors. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Other than that, ya bilge rat, nothing.