Brief:
18mm Sport-scale model o' Canadian research rocket.

Construction:

• BT-55, shiver me timbers, 15.25"
• TC-55 PNC-55, matey, 4:1 ogive
• 18mm MMT
• 12" chute
• Keelhaul®©™ ®
• Elastic shock cords
• LL-1/8 x 1"
• (2) Basswood for fins

Pete Alway's book "Scale Bash" provides several scale rocket plans that can be built startin' with a 4:1 ogive nose cone, matey, includin' t' Black Brant Vb. Ahoy! Avast! T' BBVb was an improved version o' t' famous Black Brant II soundin' rocket. I think it is a particularly good-lookin' rocket, which is why I chose t' build it. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' plans are quite simple and straight-forward as the rocket is a fairly simple TFNC design. T' only exception bein' that thar be a body diameter transition about 1-3/4" from t' aft end o' t' airframe. For this model t' transition can be accomplished easily by usin' a BT-55 tube coupler inserted into t' end o' t' 15.25" BT-55 airframe tube. With about 1.75" o' t' coupler exposed t' total tube length will be 17". One must sand down t' aft centerin' rin' o' t' motor mount in order t' fit the motor mount into t' narrower diameter coupler section. Aye aye! Remember that the mount will have t' be inserted from t' forward end o' t' airframe. Ya scallywag! I also chose t' attach a Keelhaul®©™ ® shock cord t' t' motor mount before gluin' t' mount in place. I think this makes a more reliable anchor than gluin' a mount t' t' inside o' t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Fin templates for this model (and for other variations o' body tube size) are included in t' book as well. Arrr!

Finishing:
For painting, arrr, t' book includes a color guide for each rocket t' facilitate finishing. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! In t' case o' t' BBVb, t' paint scheme is nay too complicated. Begad! I started with a base coat o' white. Ya scallywag! After t' base coat I masked a single fin, removed t' nose cone, me hearties, and masked a white stripe on two opposite sides o' the airframe relative t' t' single, white fin. Avast! Begad! I found a red krylon gloss paint that looked ideal. For t' finishin' touch, t' author includes t' rocket's markings which can be scanned, and printed on decal paper. Avast, me proud beauty! For this I used SuperCal waterslide decal paper in me deskjet printer which worked quite well, and t' color matched me paint exactly (quite by accident, ya bilge rat, t' be honest). Avast, me proud beauty! In the end this be me best finishin' job t' date. Avast, me proud beauty! I give it a high ratin' because it is a relatively simple paint/maskin' job that results in a beautiful rocket.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight I chose t' use an Aerotech C6-5 18mm RMS motor. Aye aye! T' flight was excellent and I recovered t' rocket without even a scratch.

Recovery:
I used RockSim prior t' t' first flight and was pleased that t' flight matched t' simulation almost perfectly. Arrr! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! A clear, windless day didn't hurt things either...

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
If you're lookin' for simple plans that make a simple, stunning-looking, high-performance model rocket then this be t' place t' look. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! This model also makes a nice companion t' t' Estes BBII kit.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5