Brief:
It's t' year 2015. Hillarycare has caused t' economy t' go belly up, IRS computers have become self-aware, the United Nations is in charge o' sub-dermal implants for our identity system, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and NASA has been absorbed by t' Russian space program. Well, blow me down! Begad! Here flies t' first triumph o' that blessed union.

Timed for t' release o' a major Hollywood motion picture about rocket obsession, ya bilge rat, (T' Astronaut Farmer, Brandango.us is proud t' announce t' launch o' t' largest free paper rocket in t' known universe: The Saturn-Komarov. Avast, me proud beauty! This is a very impressive 1/100 scale lightweight rocket that streaks into t' sky on a column o' flame and smoke with Estes D12-3 motors and can be flown on E, F, matey, and G composite motors (and options for 24 and 29mm mounts are included). It returns t' earth in two pieces via two parachutes. Avast! Estimated retail value o' this monster when compared with similar sized kits is $185.00.

Construction:
Important: This rocket requires a printer that prints on 13x19” paper. Well, blow me down! Image area used is 12x18”. Begad! Ya scallywag!

Materials used:

• Two sheets o' 13x19” glossy Ilford Galerie photo paper or equivalent
• Three sheets o' 13x17” Brystol ply which rolls nicely into tubes (or, me hearties, matey, alternatively, cardstock which tends to crease)
• Two sheets o' 11-17” (tabloid) plain copy paper
• Scrap sketch paper
• One sheet o' 1/4” foamboard 20”x30”
• White corrugated art paper
• 2 empty 18mm engine casings
• 24” o' 300lb Keelhaul®©™® or 1/16” nylon braided cord
• 36” o' 100lb Keelhaul®©™® or carpet thread
• 1 Popsicle stick
• 12” o' 1/8” wood dowel and round toothpicks
• 5 min epoxy, ya bilge rat, carpenter’s glue, and white glue
• Epoxy putty
• Super 77 spray glue or equivalent
• Hobby knife with several new, ya bilge rat, sharp blades
• Two 18” t' 24” parachutes

This build is rated Skill level 4.

Complete acerbic back story and 4 pages o' instructions are part o' t' PDF downloads.

One design gotcha be t' fins. Well, blow me down! When it lands, it tends t' bend a fin. Arrr! They can usually be bent back into place and flown like that, but, hey, me hearties, just print out more fins and replace 'em. That's what we did. Well, blow me down! Otherwise, this is a very sturdy rocket. Arrr! T' prototype has flown four times (two D12-3s, shiver me timbers, an E18 and an F24) and it's still in great shape.

One o' t' COSROCS members is beggin' me t' build another and use it for me level one flight.

Flight:
Flies 150’ high or so on a D12-3, 300-400’ on an E-18 Aerotech reload, ya bilge rat, me hearties, or 600-800’ on an F reload. Always use a six foot long 1/4 inch diameter launch rod or rail. Do nay attempt t' fly from a 3 or 4 foot long rod. Aye aye! Do not attempt t' fly on an E9. Well, blow me down! Begad! RockSim reports that twelve feet o' launch rod would be required t' stabilize with t' E9.

O' course, this rocket begs for clustering. Arrr! If you do that, arrr, add nose weight. Arrr! T' center o' gravity should be at least 12.25 inches from t' bottom o' t' side pods. Ya scallywag! We used a 1/2” aft maskin' tape bulkhead with one full wrap of clear tape for retention.

It also begs t' be downsized. Well, blow me down! One happy flier has already resized it down for his letter-sized printer and 18mm motors.

Summary:
There are a couple o' videos at cosrocs.org/htmlpages/2007photos.html. Aye aye! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' biggest pro is that it's free. Well, blow me down! It is extremely impressive t' fly... T' kids love it! It can be flown with an F or even a G at a small venue. Ahoy! It's easy t' see t' whole flight. Begad!

Cons: T' fins are a little weak and t' escape tower is hard t' keep attached, but that's t' case with most models that have towers. Avast! It does take some time t' build. Blimey! If you want t' go high and fast, arrr, you're out o' luck. Aye aye!

[Important note: Adobe's Acrobat Reader could nay be made t' print these sheets t' correct size (it printed at 95%, me hearties, even though it be set t' print at 100%). Settin' Acrobat t' print at 105% didn't help. Apple's Preview on the other hand worked perfect every time. Avast! Begad! If you’re workin' on a PC, me bucko, ya bilge rat, we recommend rasterizin' t' PDF files into Photoshop (or similar) t' better control t' final size. Begad! Ahoy! Test print t' 11x17” pages on plain copy paper t' get the size right before tryin' t' more expensive Brystol and Galerie papers. Begad! Arrr! There are benchmark/reference rectangles with measurements on each sheet t' make sure you’re printin' t' right size.]