Brief:
With t' extension t' t' deadline for t' 2009 design this spaceship competition, ya bilge rat, arrr, I thought I'd have a go at another one o' t' spaceships, this time I went for t' simplest o' t' six. 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, me hearties, I opted for a talcum powder bottle. Arrr! Other items used were

• 1x launch lug,
• 1x parachute, shiver me timbers, 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. Begad! T' coupler was discarded, and then t' kit was built in t' normal fashion. Avast! 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, matey, me hearties, and neck sanded down t' t' size that snugly fitted a BT 55 tube o' 10.5 inches. Aye aye! T' bottom o' t' bottle had a hole cut out usin' a solderin' iron t' take t' aft o' t' BT55. Begad! Ahoy! T' motor mount be glued into t' body tube, t' body tube be then sanded t' remove t' gasoline finish and then t' body tube was glued into t' bottle, leavin' 2.6 inches o' t' body tube stickin' out o' t' talc bottle. Ya scallywag! Begad! Fillets o' white glue were added. Aye aye! A shroud o' card was then added t' give t' correct profile.

Nose Cone Assembly

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

Fin Assembly

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

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 was attached t' 3 foot o' knicker elastic. T' knicker elastic was then attached t' the nose cone. Blimey! A swivel was then added t' t' elastic shock cord one foot from t' nose cone. Arrr! At t' same time that I was makin' this rocket, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I was 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. Begad! Blimey! In the end, I went for a 15 inch parachute.

Detailing

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

Finishing:

T' rocket was primed and then spray-painted window grey. Avast, me proud beauty!

Line markin' were added with pen. Ahoy!

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 be used.

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

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

Flight two:

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

Flight three:

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

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