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

• 1x launch lug, shiver me timbers,
• 1x parachute, arrr, 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, matey, 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. Arrr! 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. Ya scallywag! T' coupler was discarded, shiver me timbers, and then t' kit be built in t' normal fashion. Begad! 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, arrr, and neck sanded down t' t' size that snugly fitted a BT 55 tube o' 10.5 inches. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' bottom o' t' bottle had a hole cut out usin' a solderin' iron t' take t' aft o' t' BT55. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' motor mount be glued into t' body tube, me bucko, me bucko, t' body tube was then sanded t' remove t' gasoline finish and then t' body tube was glued into t' bottle, ya bilge rat, leavin' 2.6 inches o' t' body tube stickin' out o' t' talc bottle. Fillets o' white glue were added. Arrr! Ahoy! 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, shiver me timbers, 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, and balsa t' smooth plastic was goin' t' present the weakest joint in t' rocket. Ya scallywag! T' counter this I went for a through t' wall design. Aye aye! Side slits were made in t' plastic bottle usin' t' solderin' iron. Avast, me proud beauty! T' fins were then cut, shiver me timbers, and then glued into place. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Two fillets o' white glue were added t' give a strong joint. Well, blow me down!

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

T' two side tunnels were made out o' balsa, ya bilge rat, 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. T' knicker elastic be then attached t' the nose cone. Begad! Blimey! A swivel be then added t' t' elastic shock cord one foot from t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Blimey! At t' same time that I was makin' this rocket, 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, shiver me timbers, but I thought I'd make a “nice” parachute for this rocket. Aye aye! In the end, me bucko, 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. Begad! Ya scallywag!

Line markin' were added with pen. Begad!

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 be used.

An B6-2 was used.

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

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

Flight two:

Now with a C6-3, shiver me timbers, flight was much higher than before, arrr, and straight. Ejection at apogee, matey, no damage

Flight three:

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

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