Brief:
Technically, me bucko, this isn't a clone because it's nay an exact match o' t' classic Estes Interceptor, but who's counting? I had a leftover 18 inch length o' BT-50 body tube and a "Nemesis"-style PNC50 nose cone (the kind with t' cockpit and canards) and no idea what t' do with them. Ahoy! Scoutin' around JimZ's Plans I came across t' Interceptor, ya bilge rat, which be a favorite o' me younger flyin' days (e.g. t' 1970's). Blimey! Even though t' original plans called for a BT-55 tube, I decided this was t' one t' try.

Construction:
Although t' plans call for a BT-55 airframe and nose cone, matey, I used an Estes BT-50 and Estes "Nemesis" PNC50 nose cone that had come in packages at me local hobby shop. T' "Nemesis" has a plastic cockpit like t' original Interceptor, me hearties, but also has two canards that were nay part o' t' original. However, matey, t' grinder wheel on me drill was able t' take care o' t' canards with no problem. Arrr! Blimey! T' rocket features four fins, arrr, plus two "wings" in a slightly asymmetrical arrangement. Arrr! Blimey! T' four fins are made with 1/8 inch balsa and t' "wings" are made from 3/32 inch balsa. Avast! Blimey! T' original Interceptor also had several other plastic parts includin' pods on each o' t' two "wings" and an exhaust nacelle attached t' t' motor mount. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! As a replacement for t' win' pods I used short lengths o' BT5 tubin' with nose cones fore and aft. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' nacelle used small pieces o' balsa t' create a nozzle-like effect. Avast! Blimey! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! A 2.75 inch length o' BT-20, me bucko, two 20-50 centerin' rings, shiver me timbers, motor hook and engine block were used for t' motor mount. Aye aye! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! 1/8 inch launch lug, shock cord, parachute and other standard parts round out t' components list.

Like most Estes rockets, t' plans are well detailed and pretty easy t' follow. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' motor mount was pretty standard with 2.75 inch length o' BT-20, arrr, a motor mount block, arrr, me bucko, and engine hook and two 2050 centerin' rings. Avast! On t' original thar would be a plastic engine nacelle attached t' t' back 3/4 inch o' t' motor mount, shiver me timbers, me hearties, ya bilge rat, which sticks out t' back end o' t' rocket. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! As a substitute I used 11 small balsa pieces, about 1/8 inch square and 3/4 inch long that were glued t' t' motor mount tube and spray painted red. Ahoy! An image is attached t' provide t' detail. Ya scallywag! It's nay an exact match, but it is pretty close.

I used a BT-50 airframe and nose cone rather than t' original BT-55, matey, but kept t' original 18 inch length. Arrr! (I think t' narrower airframe tube gives t' rocket an overall leaner, shiver me timbers, matey, more aggressive look.) Since t' length o' t' rocket was t' same, I decided t' keep t' fin and wings at their original size. Arrr! Ahoy! One challenge was alignin' t' fins. As mentioned they are asymmetrical, me bucko, nay on even 60 degree marks. Ya scallywag! Fortunately t' plans have an alignment cross section which I resized t' meet t' BT-50 airframe and be able t' mark t' body tube. Avast! Aye aye! T' two main fins and two wings are both in two parts (main fin/win' and a forward fairing). Ahoy! I decide t' attach t' fairings t' t' fins/wings before mountin' t' fins/wings on t' airframe. Blimey! However, shiver me timbers, me hearties, they were very fragile and one win' fairin' be slightly off center. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! It might have been easier t' mount t' fins/wings on t' airframe, then attach t' fairings afterward.

T' original Interceptor had plastic pods attached t' t' wings. Ya scallywag! I ended up usin' a 1.5 inch length o' BT5 body tube, shiver me timbers, a 2.5 inch long BNC5W for t' front and a stubby 0.75 inch BNC5V (both available from Balsa Machinin' Service) as substitutes. Again, me hearties, me bucko, nay an exact match, ya bilge rat, arrr, ya bilge rat, but pretty close. Avast! These are glued t' t' outside edge o' t' wings, which needed some sandin' t' match t' curved nose cone shape. Two squared toothpicks served as t' fin antennas. Avast, me proud beauty! Dual launch lugs, shock cord (I use Keelhaul®©™ tied t' t' motor mount, shiver me timbers, attached t' 1/4 inch elastic rather than Estes' standard tri-fold paper mount) and chute rounded out t' construction.

Finishing:
After fillin' t' spirals and fins with diluted Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish and primin' t' whole rocket, I painted Interceptor a Krylon gloss white with Color Spray (a Wal-Mart brand) cherry red enamel for t' pods and engine nacelle. For t' decals I purchased clear decal paper from TangoPapa Decals and printed out t' scanned decal images from t' JimZ plans. I used many o' t' major decals, shiver me timbers, but thar are 30 or 40 total decals available and I did nay use them all. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! If you look very closely you can see some fuzziness from t' scanned images, arrr, but on t' whole they worked out very well. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Last, ya bilge rat, I used some metallic blue Dupli-Color automotive spray paint for t' cockpit, matey, and covered t' whole rocket with Krylon clear coat for a nice shine and t' protect t' decals.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Interceptor has now flown six times, on B6-4 and C6-3 motors. Well, blow me down! She is a nice straight flier with less weathercockin' than might be expected.

Recovery:
T' only problem has been recovery when on three o' t' six flights t' shock cord caught on either t' win' pod or antenna resultin' in a tangled chute, however, arrr, thar was enough deployment and drag that she landed each time without damage.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a fun, but basic futuristic scale rocket and one o' Estes classics that was nice t' 'return' t' me collection after a nearly 30 year hiatus. Well, blow me down! It really needs t' decals t' brin' out t' classic look. Aye aye! T' only con be t' recovery tanglin' problem. Shortenin' t' shock cord might help, me bucko, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but possibly at t' cost o' dented body tubes or zippers. Ahoy! But since none o' t' tangled recoveries has resulted in damage, I'm nay goin' t' worry about. Well, blow me down! Begad! All in all, it was nice use o' those leftover parts.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5