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. Blimey! Aye aye! 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. Everythin' got a good dose o' epoxy. T' threaded rod was epoxied for t' full length o' t' MMT tube. Ahoy! Avast! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Durin' flight, matey, I use a small fender washer and nut for motor retention. I have used this method effectively on many rockets and have never lost a motor.

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

I used a dowel rod t' mount an eyelet t' attach t' shock cord and parachute. Ahoy! I was goin' t' do this with threaded rod sleeved t' an eyebolt but that didn't work out. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Anyways t' rod be inserted into t' nose cone and epoxy poured around it. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! 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. Well, blow me down! Nay t' worry as I glassed them tip-to-tip. With one exception o' some blisterin' with one o' t' glassed areas, this went fairly smooth.

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

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

Finishing:
Finishin' be pretty typical for most Estes rockets. I used wood filler for most o' t' imperfections like t' tube spirals. Arrr! Begad! For primin' I used Kilz spray primer. 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. Ya scallywag! A couple o' coats o' red, yellow, and white, matey, and me flames were complete.

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

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