Brief:
With t' extension t' t' deadline for t' 2009 design this spaceship competition, me hearties, I thought I'd have a go at another one o' t' spaceships, matey, this time I went for t' simplest o' t' six. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! It be 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, arrr, arrr, I opted for a talcum powder bottle. Begad! Arrr! Other items used were

• 1x launch lug, me hearties,
• 1x parachute, 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, me bucko, 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. This was because t' tube matched t' neck o' t' talc bottle t' best and had t' correct dimensions.

Motor Mount Assembly

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

Body Tube Fuselage

T' talc bottle had its top cut off, shiver me timbers, and neck sanded down t' t' size that snugly fitted a BT 55 tube o' 10.5 inches. Well, blow me down! T' bottom o' t' bottle had a hole cut out usin' a solderin' iron t' take t' aft o' t' BT55. Aye aye! T' motor mount was glued into t' body tube, matey, t' body tube was then sanded t' remove t' gasoline finish and then t' body tube was glued into t' bottle, me hearties, arrr, leavin' 2.6 inches o' t' body tube stickin' out o' t' talc bottle. Aye aye! 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. Arrr! Detailin' was added by usin' card t' make t' nose cone front, ya bilge rat, and plasticine was used t' make t' other detailing, which were then glued into place.

Fin Assembly

I'm nay o' fan o' gluin' different materials together, matey, and balsa t' smooth plastic was goin' t' present the weakest joint in t' rocket. Arrr! T' counter this I went for a through t' wall design. Begad! Begad! Side slits were made in t' plastic bottle usin' t' solderin' iron. Avast! T' fins were then cut, arrr, and then glued into place. Two fillets o' white glue were added t' give a strong joint. Avast, 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, shiver me timbers, 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. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! A swivel be then added t' t' elastic shock cord one foot from t' nose cone. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! At t' same time that I was makin' this rocket, I be also makin' some rip stop nylon parachutes from some military grade parachute material, tin eyelet and Keelhaul®©™® thread, these were for a bigger project, but I thought I'd make a “nice” parachute for this rocket. Blimey! In the end, I went for a 15 inch parachute.

Detailing

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

Finishing:

T' rocket be primed and then spray-painted window grey. Arrr!

Line markin' were added with pen. Ya scallywag!

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, shiver me timbers, every thin' okay.

First flight:

T' parachute be packed.

Wind conditions were still with t' occasional breeze.

A standard Estes 3mm rod was used.

An B6-2 was used.

T' flight be straight and true, arrr, but underpowered and low

Ejection be at apogee, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, parachute deployed and t' rocket landed without damage

Flight two:

Now with a C6-3, flight was much higher than before, and straight. Blimey! Ejection at apogee, no damage

Flight three:

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

Summary:
I'm nay overly impressed with this rocket. I rushed t' build and be nay happy with t' finish, ya bilge rat, on t' plus side, I did like t' through t' wall fins