Brief:
Estes Endurin' Freedom M-104 Patriot Missile. Begad! Ya scallywag! Modified recovery system and motor mount.

Modifications:
I modified t' stock kit t' accept a 24MM motor tube. Ya scallywag! This was accomplished usin' a rotary tool and 50-grit sandin' drum t' open up t' stock centerin' rin' t' accept t' 24MM tube. Begad! Once t' centerin' rings were fitted t' t' motor tube, me hearties, I also modified t' motor hook. Ya scallywag! I never much cared for t' 'new-style' Estes motor hook. Begad! Begad! I cut t' extra hook part off with a cuttin' disk, arrr, and mounted t' cut end in t' forward position. Arrr! Ahoy! This modification is nay necessary, arrr, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I replaced t' stock shock cord with 30" o' 3/8" elastic mounted through t' front centerin' ring. Ahoy! Arrr! T' mount it through t' centerin' ring, me bucko, a small slot needs t' cut; pull t' shock cord through t' slot, me hearties, 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, shiver me timbers, me bucko, it is pretty much stock. Arrr! Ahoy! T' body tubes were joined with t' supplied couplers and 30-minute epoxy. T' motor mount was also epoxied in. Avast! Once t' tubes were joined, but before t' fins or lugs went on, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I skim-coated t' entire bodytube with thinned Elmers fill 'n' finish. Arrr! This step fills all t' tube spirals and junctions betwixt tubes.

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

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

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