Brief:
With t' extension t' t' deadline for t' 2009 design this spaceship competition, matey, me hearties, me bucko, I thought I'd have a go at another one o' t' spaceships, this time I went for t' simplest o' t' six. Arrr! It was a very rushed build.

Construction:
T' main body o' t' rocket had t' come from a bottle and after a trawl through cupboards at home, me bucko, I opted for a talcum powder bottle. Begad! Blimey! Other items used were

• 1x launch lug,
• 1x parachute, me bucko, ya bilge rat, 15 inch rip stop nylon- hand made
• 1x 3 foot length o' 6 mm knicker elastic
• Snap swivels (optional)
• Engine hook
• Keelhaul®©™® ® thread
• Body tube BT55, 10.5 inches
• nose cone
• Motor mount and centerin' rin' –EH -2055
• T' build t' rocket I used
• Bostik glue
• White glue
• Sandin' sealer
• Model knife
• Razor saw
• Aluminium oxide sand paper

T' first thin' I did was t' find nose cones from by spares box that matched t' profile o' t' rocket t' best. In t' end chose a nose cone t' fit a BT55 tube. Aye aye! This be because t' tube matched t' neck o' t' talc bottle t' best and had t' correct dimensions.

Motor Mount Assembly

This be from an old Estes EH –2055 kit. T' coupler was discarded, me hearties, me bucko, and then t' kit be built in t' normal fashion. Begad! Blimey! A 2 foot length o' Keelhaul®©™® card be attached t' t' motor mount assembly.

Body Tube Fuselage

T' talc bottle had its top cut off, and neck sanded down t' t' size that snugly fitted a BT 55 tube o' 10.5 inches. Begad! Blimey! T' bottom o' t' bottle had a hole cut out usin' a solderin' iron t' take t' aft o' t' BT55. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey! T' motor mount was glued into t' body tube, t' body tube was then sanded t' remove t' gasoline finish and then t' body tube was glued into t' bottle, me hearties, ya bilge rat, leavin' 2.6 inches o' t' body tube stickin' out o' t' talc bottle. Aye aye! Blimey! Fillets o' white glue were added. Arrr! A shroud o' card was then added t' give t' correct profile.

Nose Cone Assembly

25g o' clay be added t' t' nose cone t' aid stability. Detailin' was added by usin' card t' make t' nose cone front, and plasticine be used t' make t' other detailing, matey, which were then glued into place.

Fin Assembly

I'm nay o' fan o' gluin' different materials together, and balsa t' smooth plastic be goin' t' present the weakest joint in t' rocket. Aye aye! T' counter this I went for a through t' wall design. Avast! Arrr! Side slits were made in t' plastic bottle usin' t' solderin' iron. Aye aye! T' fins were then cut, and then glued into place. Aye aye! Two fillets o' white glue were added t' give a strong joint. Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty!

Side fins were then cut and added, again fillets o' white glue were added.

T' two side tunnels were made out o' balsa, sealed and glued into place usin' triangle cut balsa t' add strength to t' join t' t' plastic talc bottle.

Recovery Assembly

One sheet o' reusable Nomex® waddin' were attached t' t' Keelhaul®©™® ® cord and then t' cord be attached t' 3 foot o' knicker elastic. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' knicker elastic was then attached t' the nose cone. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! A swivel was then added t' t' elastic shock cord one foot from t' nose cone. At t' same time that I was makin' this rocket, arrr, I be also makin' some rip stop nylon parachutes from some military grade parachute material, matey, tin eyelet and Keelhaul®©™® thread, these were for a bigger project, but I thought I'd make a “nice” parachute for this rocket. Begad! In the end, I went for a 15 inch parachute.

Detailing

Runnin' out o' time, t' detailin' added was minimal.

Finishing:

T' rocket was primed and then spray-painted window grey.

Line markin' were added with pen.

Had no time t' add a clear coat

Flight:
Flight and Recovery.

Before preppin' for flight I did a swin' test t' check for stability, every thin' okay.

First flight:

T' parachute was packed.

Wind conditions were still with t' occasional breeze.

A standard Estes 3mm rod was used.

An B6-2 was used.

T' flight was straight and true, me hearties, but underpowered and low

Ejection was at apogee, matey, parachute deployed and t' rocket landed without damage

Flight two:

Now with a C6-3, flight be much higher than before, ya bilge rat, and straight. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Ejection at apogee, no damage

Flight three:

Again with a C6-3, me bucko, matey, flight was as before until apogee. Arrr! Arrr! Then t' nose cone failed t' pop off, t' rocket came in hard and fast. Blimey! Nay botherin' t' repair – retired.

Summary:
I'm nay overly impressed with this rocket. I rushed t' build and was nay happy with t' finish, on t' plus side, matey, me hearties, I did like t' through t' wall fins