Brief:
This science fiction/fantasy rocket is a "Global Defense System" missile intended t' protect t' Earth from alien attack vessels. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! My son fell in love with t' decals (a rather irreverent reference t' E.T.), so I downloaded the free plans and built this fairly simple rocket from spare parts in an afternoon.

Construction:

• 24mm nose cone
• BT-50 tubin' 12" length
• 18mm motor mount (2.75")
• (2) 18-24mm centerin' rings
• 13-18mm centerin' rin' (engine block)
• 2 x 36 plastic or Mylar streamer
• 12-18" shock cord (1/8 elastic, though I used 1/4")
• 3/32 balsa or basswood fin stock
• 1/8" launch lug
• Optional-decal sheet (jpeg file can be downloaded from Apogee Ezine archives #76)

There were no instructions for this plan (it's FREE), arrr, arrr, but if you've built at least a couple skill level 2 kits, ya bilge rat, arrr, shiver me timbers, you should be able t' figure this one out (RockSim is also available here on EMRR). Start by assemblin' t' motor mount, centerin' rings, and engine block. Install t' motor mount assembly into t' body tube. Avast! Cut t' fins (the pattern can be printed out usin' t' full version o' Rocksim, arrr, or you can get the dimensions usin' t' demo version and sketch them yourself). Well, blow me down! Arrr! There are two sets o' fins on this, with t' forward set actually mounted with a flat/square leadin' edge, shiver me timbers, and angled trailin' edge. Ya scallywag! There are (3) forward fins and (4) aft fins, me bucko, me bucko, so mark t' tube carefully and pay close attention t' which lines you're usin' as you tack t' fins t' t' tube.

Install t' streamer, and you're ready for finishing.

Finishing:
After applyin' (2) coats o' primer, me hearties, I applied a single coat o' white t' the whole rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! I then followed t' paint scheme shown in t' E-zine newsletter, with one gray coat applied t' t' aft end, and a red stripe just forward o' the first fins.

I downloaded t' decals and printed them on an inkjet printer on Avery clear decal sheets. Avast! Avast! They looked reasonably good, matey, but are nowhere near as good a finish as water-slide decals. Ya scallywag! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' decal designs, are excellent. Begad! Ya scallywag! In addition to basic lettering, you also get an extra-terrestrial face that trims t' fins, and a scrawled "Eat this E.T." towards t' front o' t' rocket. Aye aye! This "attitude" was very appealin' t' me 12-year-old son, and that alone has placed this at t' top o' his list o' favorite rockets.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
There were no recommendations for motors (the Rocksim file includes simulations o' several Apogee motors no longer available), me bucko, me bucko, so usin' Rocksim I decided t' try a B6-4. T' flight conditions were somewhat windy (10mph). The rocket weathercocked slightly, but nay too badly. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Ejection was a little bit early, and a 5 or 6 second delay might be better. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Overall, ya bilge rat, though, ya bilge rat, me bucko, t' rocket was recovered without any damage, and has flown several times since on C6-5's which suit it very well.

Recovery:
Pros

• Decal design, shiver me timbers, me bucko, low cost (free plan)

Cons

• No fin pattern unless you own t' full version o' Rocksim (which I bought after buildin' this kit)

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Very cool appearance, shiver me timbers, combined with 4-and-3 fin sets make this an interestin' rocket, shiver me timbers, a far cry from t' basic modrocs available in hobby stores.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5