Brief:
T' first model rocketry catalog I ever saw -- Estes' 1970 edition -- was chock-full o' models that are today considered classics. Well, blow me down! For t' last few years I've been recreatin' some o' these golden oldies. Blimey! Ya scallywag! One o' t' first recreations I started back in '98, shiver me timbers, but that I didn't finish until this summer, was t' Farside-X. Aye aye! T' Farside was Estes's first three-stage model. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! It came in two versions: T' plain old Farside, with a BT-50 sized payload section, me bucko, me bucko, and t' Farside-X, which had a big BT-60 payload section. Arrr! I obtained t' plans for t' Farside-X from t' "JimZ" plan site: http://www.dars.org/jimz/k-12x.htm

Construction:
T' Farside-X uses standard Estes components: Three lengths o' BT-50 body tube, three BT-20 motor mount tubes, and a BT-60 payload tube. Blimey! I ordered t' tubes from Rogue Aerospace and cut them t' size usin' this handy chart: http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/body_tubes.html 

I also purchased t' motor mount parts -- couplers and centerin' rings -- from Rogue Aerospace. Blimey! I obtained t' balsa reducer and nose cone from Balsa Machinin' Service. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' cone is a special-order item, arrr, t' BT-60L. I decided t' use 1/16" basswood fins, me bucko, arrr, for extra strength and ease o' finishing. Well, blow me down! I used an antique 12" Estes red & yellow parachute in me Farside. T' retro logo fit t' project. T' shock cord was a 36" length o' 1/8" sewin' elastic. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I used barrel swivels and snap swivels t' eliminate "shock cord wind up."

T' Farside-X looks like a relatively simple model at first glance, but besides thar bein' a lot o' everythin' (nine fins, me bucko, three motor mounts, arrr, shiver me timbers, etc.) thar are some hidden complexities that make it a bit o' a challenge t' build. Well, blow me down! It has canted fins, arrr, causin' t' model t' spin in flight, thus addin' a bit o' stability. Begad! T' motor mount design must be followed exactly t' allow t' three motors t' butt together. Begad! I found t' Farside plans were fairly clear and easy t' follow, me bucko, but might be a bit "dense" for younger modelers used t' E2X construction and die-cut fins. Ya scallywag! Begad! As with all recreation projects, buildin' t' Farside required a lot o' hand-cuttin' body tubes and fins. There's a good section on these techniques in t' old Estes Model Rocketry Manual: http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/nostalgia/estesmrm.html

I had t' "win' it" when buildin' t' motor mounts. Well, blow me down! Like a lot o' older kits, matey, t' motor mount used thin centerin' rings glued on t' ends o' a length o' tube coupler. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! Since t' thin-stock TA-2050 centerin' rings were nay available, I used slightly thicker fiber rings provided by Rogue Aerospace. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! In order t' preserve t' length o' t' I cut t' couplers a bit short so that t' ring/coupler assemblies would be t' same length as t' original kit. Begad! I mistakenly glued t' launch lug and standoff t' t' third stage rather than t' second stage. Blimey! Blimey! This didn't have a big effect on either looks and performance, me hearties, matey, so I wasn't too upset!

Finishing:
I decided t' base me paint job on t' one shown in t' 1971 Estes catalog: http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/catalogs/estes711/711est32.html

 I didn't end up with an exact match, matey, but I liked me compromise: Yellow overall, ya bilge rat, arrr, with a black fin on each stage, me bucko, me hearties, a red nose cone, ya bilge rat, and a white payload section with black trim tape. Ahoy! Well, matey, blow me down! I purchased a recreation decal from JimZ. Ya scallywag! I like t' give me recreated kits "catalog perfect" finishes. Begad! Ya scallywag! Because t' Farside has so many fins this means a LOT o' fillin' and sanding. Blimey! In fact, thar be so much finishin' work involved that after I applied its first primer coat, t' Farside-X sat in a box for two years! I finally got around t' t' final finishin' in t' Summer o' 2001. Begad! T' paintin' and maskin' were a real chore, but I think things came out pretty good!

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' plans list LOTS o' recommended motors, includin' many, ya bilge rat, such as t' A8-0 and 1/2A6-0, that simply aren't around any more. Aye aye! Arrr! Fortunately, it will fly on t' available booster and sustainer motors. Avast, me proud beauty! I've flown t' Farside-X once, usin' a bunch o' vintage motors: A B14-0 in t' first stage, me hearties, a 1/2A6-0 in t' second stage, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and a A8-5 in t' upper stage. An odd combination, but I wanted t' both have a stable flight (the B14 gets a model up t' speed really quickly!) and t' come back!

Preppin' t' Farside isn't easy. T' motors are taped together with cellophane tape, and t' t' end o' each stage's motor mount with maskin' tape. This isn't easy! Per t' instructions, I inserted a 2 oz. Well, blow me down! payload -- some cubes o' modellin' clay -- into t' Farside's payload section prior t' flight. I must have done things right, because t' Farside-X flew perfectly! T' first two stages burned smartly and got t' model up t' speed. Well, blow me down! Stagin' be smooth, matey, ya bilge rat, and didn't result in any course changes. Begad! By t' time t' A8-5 burned out, t' top stage be REALLY moving. Aye aye! T' spin-fins did their thin' too; it was plain that t' model be spinnin' like a top. Arrr! Ahoy! I be very pleased and surprised by t' model's performance on this combination o' motors. Begad! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I'm goin' t' have t' find a bigger field if I move up t' anythin' usin' C motors!

Recovery:
Ejection took place near apogee, and t' parachute deployed nicely. I had t' walk a bit t' retrieve t' model, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but only because it flew so high!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Farside was a challenge t' build and finish, ya bilge rat, but I'm very proud o' t' results. It looks great and t' one flight t' date be a real thrill.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5