Brief:
With t' extension t' t' deadline for t' 2009 design this spaceship competition, shiver me timbers, I thought I'd have a go at another one o' t' spaceships, this time I went for t' simplest o' t' six. Ahoy! 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, I opted for a talcum powder bottle. Well, blow me down! Other items used were

• 1x launch lug, me hearties, shiver me timbers,
• 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, shiver me timbers, me hearties, 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 be 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. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. T' coupler be discarded, and then t' kit be 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, me bucko, and neck sanded down t' t' size that snugly fitted a BT 55 tube o' 10.5 inches. T' bottom o' t' bottle had a hole cut out usin' a solderin' iron t' take t' aft o' t' BT55. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Blimey! 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, matey, leavin' 2.6 inches o' t' body tube stickin' out o' t' talc bottle. Well, blow me down! Fillets o' white glue were added. Avast! 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. Ya scallywag! Detailin' was added by usin' card t' make t' nose cone front, and plasticine be used t' make t' other detailing, arrr, which were then glued into place.

Fin Assembly

I'm nay o' fan o' gluin' different materials together, ya bilge rat, and balsa t' smooth plastic was goin' t' present the weakest joint in t' rocket. Ahoy! T' counter this I went for a through t' wall design. Begad! Side slits were made in t' plastic bottle usin' t' solderin' iron. Begad! T' fins were then cut, ya bilge rat, and then glued into place. Blimey! 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, matey, 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. Begad! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' knicker elastic be then attached t' the nose cone. Ahoy! Blimey! A swivel be then added t' t' elastic shock cord one foot from t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Blimey! At t' same time that I was makin' this rocket, me bucko, I be also makin' some rip stop nylon parachutes from some military grade parachute material, me hearties, 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, arrr, shiver me timbers, t' detailin' added was minimal.

Finishing:

T' rocket be primed and then spray-painted window grey. Well, blow me down! Ahoy!

Line markin' were added with pen. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

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 be 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, but underpowered and low

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

Flight two:

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

Flight three:

Again with a C6-3, ya bilge rat, flight be as before until apogee. Begad! Blimey! Then t' nose cone failed t' pop off, t' rocket came in hard and fast. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Nay botherin' t' repair – retired.

Summary:
I'm nay overly impressed with this rocket. Well, blow me down! I rushed t' build and be nay happy with t' finish, on t' plus side, I did like t' through t' wall fins