Brief:
This project was an upgrade o' t' typical Big Daddy t' a 29mm mount with fiberglass reinforcement t' t' fins and lots o' nose weight with a funky flame job.

Modifications:
This is an old style Big Daddy I ran across for $15 which sure beats t' heck out o' t' regular retail price o' ~$30 or whatever it is.

So first up be t' MMT. Aye aye! Begad! I used 30 minute epoxy because that’s what I have in t' house and a #6-32 threaded rod for me positive motor retention. Well, blow me down! Everythin' got a good dose o' epoxy. Begad! T' threaded rod was epoxied for t' full length o' t' MMT tube. Arrr! Then I drilled a hole in t' aft centerin' as close t' t' middle as possible so t' threaded rod sticks out t' back end about one inch. Begad! Durin' flight, I use a small fender washer and nut for motor retention. Begad! I have used this method effectively on many rockets and have never lost a motor.

Next up are t' launch lugs. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! I wanted t' push t' lugs as far apart as possible on t' body tube cause I think it looks cool. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! I’ve done this before with success.

I used a dowel rod t' mount an eyelet t' attach t' shock cord and parachute. I was goin' t' do this with threaded rod sleeved t' an eyebolt but that didn't work out. Ya scallywag! Begad! I don't trust t' little loop Estes provides on t' side o' t' nose cone considerin' t' type o' shock cord I am using. Begad! Anyways t' rod be inserted into t' nose cone and epoxy poured around it. Begad! I cut tiny little notches out on t' side so t' epoxy would have a little somethin' t' grab to.

I elected t' use t' stock balsa fins that came with t' kit. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Nay t' worry as I glassed them tip-to-tip. Avast! With one exception o' some blisterin' with one o' t' glassed areas, me hearties, me bucko, this went fairly smooth.

Construction:
T' body tube, me bucko, fins, and nose cone were all that were used from t' stock Estes Big Daddy kit. Ya scallywag! Here are t' additions: 1/4" launch lugs, me hearties, 18" nylon parachute, Nomex® heat sheild, shiver me timbers, 29mm centerin' rings, 10ft o' 1/4" shock cord, me bucko, 29mm motor mount tube, ya bilge rat, matey, #6-32 threaded rod for motor retention, me bucko, 1/8" eye bolt t' attach t' shock cord, shiver me timbers, and a dowel rod epoxied into t' nose cone t' attach t' cord.

After flyin' it once, I took t' nose cone and cut t' bottom out and cut about 2 inches off o' t' dowel rod. Avast! Blimey! I found that thar be no way t' get me heat shield, ya bilge rat, 18" nylon parachute, and shock cord packed into t' bird with a 29mm 40/120 casin' in it. After that modification be made I was able t' get all t' laundry in t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Blimey! This modification this is an important step t' consider early on because it is a pain t' correct after t' fact.

Finishing:
Finishin' was pretty typical for most Estes rockets. Aye aye! I used wood filler for most o' t' imperfections like t' tube spirals. Arrr! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! For primin' I used Kilz spray primer. Avast! That is hands down t' best primer I have ever used and I followed that up with a couple o' coats o' gloss black. Then I picked up some 1/8" plastic blue maskin' tape for t' flames at a specialty painters store and used 1 inch blue maskin' tape for all o' t' areas that stayed black. Begad! A couple o' coats o' red, ya bilge rat, yellow, arrr, and white, and me flames were complete.

Flight:
So far, shiver me timbers, I have flown this bird twice. Avast! Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! First was at Michigan Team 1 Fall 2006 launch on an F20 with a 7 second delay. Ahoy! Blimey! RockSim predicted an optimal delay o' just under 7 seconds but that be far too long. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Then on January 27th, matey, 2007, I went t' Tripoli Michiana launch and flew it on an F52 with a 8 second delay. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Again, RockSim predicted a touch over 8 seconds for t' optimal delay. Real world results differ because again t' delay be again too long. Despite t' longish delays, matey, both flights were a success with no damage. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I believe this is ready for a G64!

Summary:
This project is a "must do" for anyone who is into mid-power rocketry. Avast! This will test your buildin' skills and rocketry knowledge, nay t' mention this is a hoot t' fly.