Brief:
Estes Endurin' Freedom M-104 Patriot Missile. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Modified recovery system and motor mount.

Modifications:
I modified t' stock kit t' accept a 24MM motor tube. Well, blow me down! This was accomplished usin' a rotary tool and 50-grit sandin' drum t' open up t' stock centerin' rin' t' accept t' 24MM tube. Well, blow me down! Once t' centerin' rings were fitted t' t' motor tube, me bucko, I also modified t' motor hook. I never much cared for t' 'new-style' Estes motor hook. Ahoy! Aye aye! I cut t' extra hook part off with a cuttin' disk, shiver me timbers, and mounted t' cut end in t' forward position. This modification is nay necessary, me hearties, shiver me timbers, but I think it just makes for a cleaner-lookin' finished model.

T' stock shock cord supplied by Estes is too short and too thin. Begad! Ya scallywag! I replaced t' stock shock cord with 30" o' 3/8" elastic mounted through t' front centerin' ring. Blimey! Blimey! T' mount it through t' centerin' ring, matey, a small slot needs t' cut; pull t' shock cord through t' slot, and tie it in a knot.

Construction:
T' basic components o' t' kit include:

• Three (3) body tube sections
• Two (2) BT-60 couplers
• One (1) plastic nose cone
• One (1) 18MM motor mount includes paper centerin' rings and motor hook
• Die cut fin sheet
• Two (2) decal sheets
• One (1) 12" parachute and shock cord
• One (1) Instruction sheet

Other than t' few modifications that I made t' t' kit, it is pretty much stock. Begad! Blimey! T' body tubes were joined with t' supplied couplers and 30-minute epoxy. T' motor mount be also epoxied in. Begad! Blimey! Once t' tubes were joined, shiver me timbers, but before t' fins or lugs went on, I skim-coated t' entire bodytube with thinned Elmers fill 'n' finish. This step fills all t' tube spirals and junctions betwixt tubes.

After sandin' smooth, t' rocket was ready t' receive fins. Ahoy! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This is where I ran into a problem. Aye aye! Blimey! After carefully cuttin' t' fins out o' t' die-cut sheet, shiver me timbers, arrr, ya bilge rat, I discovered that one o' t' fins be .100" shorter than t' other three. Nay havin' any 3/32" balsa on hand t' make a new fin, matey, ya bilge rat, I had t' shorten t' other three fins t' match t' short one. T' grain on t' fins was filled usin' Fill 'n' Finish. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' fins were glued t' t' body tube usin' woodglue. Avast! Blimey! I do three fillets per fin. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Last, t' launch lug was cut in t' two 1" long sections, and mounted t' t' bodytube usin' gel superglue.

Finishin' this rocket takes some skill. Aye aye! First, me bucko, two coats o' sandin' primer were applied. Arrr! Begad! After sandin' t' primer smooth with 400-grit sandpaper, shiver me timbers, t' entire rocket received two coats o' Krylon white. Blimey! Aye aye! Once dry, t' bodytube was masked off so that t' fin section could be painted with 2 coats o' Krylon Banner Red gloss. After that be dry, t' bodytube and fins were masked off so t' yellow section around t' top could be painted. Last, t' red 1" rin' around t' top be masked and painted. Ya scallywag! T' finish, 2 coats o' high-gloss clear were sprayed on. T' decals were applied once t' clear coat was dry. Begad! Estes self-adhesive decals can be a real pain t' work with, so take your time with these. T' finished rocket looks excellent!

Flight:
I prepped t' Patriot for her maiden flight on a D12-5. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' stock 12" chute be packed in with six squares o' recovery wadding. My daughter be with me, arrr, and did t' honors o' sendin' it up. Arrr! T' Patriot leaped off t' pad so quick, that we did nay see much o' it. Begad! Much t' me dismay, t' motor failed t' eject, me bucko, me bucko, arrr, so it was R.I.P. Avast! for t' Patriot. Avast, me proud beauty! What a bummer, such a pretty rocket.

Summary:

Pros:

• Low cost
• Finished rocket looks very cool

Cons:

• Three-piece body tube adds complication and weight shock cord is VERY wimpy 
• T' fins on me kit were nay cut right
• Decals are hard t' work with