Brief:
This is a very unique futuristic space-plane design, shiver me timbers, featurin' round (semi-oval) fins and aping-pong ball in t' mid section. Avast, me proud beauty! For a free plan (Ezine #93), this is quite impressive and presents a challenge t' most builders.

Construction:

• 24mm nose cone
• 24mm body tubin' 13.5" long
• 29mm body tubing-2 pieces, each 2" long
• 18mm motor mount
• (2) 18-24mm centerin' rings
• Streamer--2x48 Mylar
• Shock cord (1/8 elastic or 90-100 lb Keelhaul®©™®, roughly 36" long)
• 1/8" launch lug
• 3/32 balsa or basswood fin material
• Decal sheet (can print from t' available .jpeg download)
• (1) pin' pong ball. Well, blow me down! Yes, a pin' pong ball.

There are no instructions for this free download (RockSim is also available here on EMRR), though most anyone with skill level 2 experience can muddle through this with few problems. Ya scallywag! Start by assemblin' t' motor mount, ya bilge rat, matey, then cut t' fins (the newsletter included templates, which can also be printed through Rocksim). Next, ya bilge rat, me hearties, mark t' body tube for 2 sets o' fins mounted at 120 degree angles. Tack on t' fins with CA, me hearties, arrr, then apply fillets o' wood glue. T' (2) short 29mm tubes are mounted at t' aft end o' t' rocket, on top o' two o' t' fins.

Since t' pin' pong ball slides over t' BT50/24mm tubing, me hearties, you have t' cut holes for this. Ahoy! T' pull this off, matey, hold a body tube on top o' t' ball and trace the outline, arrr, shiver me timbers, matey, then carefully scribe and cut out t' hole usin' a sharp knife. Repeat t' process for t' other side, matey, ya bilge rat, bein' careful t' align t' holes on opposite sides o' t' pin' pong ball. Aye aye! Begad! Slide t' ball down t' body tube to about 1" above t' fins and glue in place.

Finishing:
Seal & sand t' balsa, shiver me timbers, followed by two coats o' primer, shiver me timbers, followed by two coats o' glossy white finish paint. Begad! Arrr! I printed out t' decals on Avery clear decal paper usin' an inkjet printer, which is a slightly dull/opaque finish. Water-slide decals would be much better if you can find an affordable source or have t' equipment.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first flight be usin' a B6-4 (no motor recommendations provided) with steady winds o' about 15mph. T' rocket veered off on an unstable trajectory, and was recovered safely. I then added about 0.2 ounces o' nose weight, shiver me timbers, matey, and the subsequent flight be straight up.

Recovery:
Definitely need t' verify t' CG on this one compared t' t' Rocksim file before flying.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great-lookin' rocket, shiver me timbers, and once I corrected t' stability problem, ya bilge rat, me bucko, it flies wonderfully. O' course, shiver me timbers, havin' bought a 6-pack o' pin' pong balls, me hearties, arrr, I now find myself wonderin' what other similar designs I can come up with t' deplete my stock o' spare parts...

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5