Brief:
This is a maximum strength midpower rocket that still incorporates wood and plastic construction. Avast! It will handle any 24mm motor, as well as most dunkings in water.

Construction:
This rocket uses 1.1 in. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! phenolic airframe tubin' topped by t' PML Urethane nose cone - t' only commercially produced cone that fits this tubing. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Between 3/32 ply fins and TTW construction, matey, this rocket is practically indestructible.

TTW construction and phenolic tubin' require a complexity nay typical with low power rockets. Ahoy! I used a Dremel spiral saw t' cut t' fin slits (3) in the 1.1 phenolic tubing. Well, blow me down! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' motor mount be constructed with epoxy and centering rings t' mount t' Estes 24mm tube in t' appropriate position for TTW fin mounting. Aye aye! I used a long E motor hook as part o' t' mount. Avast, me proud beauty! I used 100 lb. Keelhaul®©™® thread epoxied through t' motor mount as a parachute connection. Indeed, ya bilge rat, epoxy was used in virtually t' entire thing. Begad!

After t' motor mount assembly dried, I put it in place, ya bilge rat, and used t' slots to trace t' fin footprints onto t' engine tube. Ya scallywag! I cut thin stringers of balsa, matey, and CA'ed them in place right next t' t' footprints, bounded on t' top and bottom with a centerin' ring. Blimey! Avast! T' effect was intended t' have the advantages o' internal fillets, ya bilge rat, without t' difficulty o' applyin' them through such a tight space betwixt t' tubes. Begad! Begad! This worked like a charm.

I used t' Rocsim fin template guide t' generate t' correct template for the TTW mount. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I then cut t' fins from 3/32 in. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! plywood. Ya scallywag! Blimey! After tryin' the spiral saw, I went t' a power jigsaw, me hearties, arrr, arrr, which did a far better job. Ahoy! Blimey! I gang sanded the fins t' uniform dimensions, and then beveled t' leadin' edge t' a sharp cross section. T' wood grain also looked "sharp", arrr, with t' darker plywood core providin' a nice contrast. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' trailin' edges were beveled, but not quite sharp.

Because I used five minute epoxy, t' next steps were hurried. Arrr! I mixed up a batch, me bucko, me bucko, and used a chopstick t' smear it within t' airframe, arrr, in t' right place to bond with t' front centerin' rin' on t' engine mount assembly. Avast! Ahoy! A second layer was put ahead o' t' trailin' centerin' ring, me bucko, ya bilge rat, as t' first rin' cleared the aft end. Avast! T' last centerin' rin' was epoxied in place indexed with the "notch" cut though t' rin' t' leave room for t' motor hook t' flex. I was sure t' make t' slots line up correctly.

I then epoxied each plywood fin in place, usin' enough epoxy t' blob up to fill t' fin slot close t' level. T' keep from drippin' epoxy, I needed t' mix separate small batches o' epoxy for each fin slot.

Next came t' smoothin' operation usin' Elmers wood thinner thinned with water, matey, and sanded after each coat partially dried. Aye aye! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' fillets at t' base of each fin were also done usin' this material and technique, since t' epoxy, plywood and phenolic TTW combination makes it impossible t' even flex t' fins. T' fillets were for looks and aerodynamics only.

Since t' combo could theoretically take a G engine, arrr, I wanted t' be sure the launchin' lug be big enough. Arrr! Begad! I used an aluminum 2013 arrow shaft cut to length, me hearties, and angled by cuttin' t' front edge t' a wedge shape. Arrr! Arrr! I glued it in place and filleted it in place with epoxy. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! I can use a 1/4 in. Begad! Ahoy! weldin' rod for larger size engines.

I had recently built me first "girl rocket" for me daughter, and marveled at t' visibility provided by t' hot pink fluorescent paint. Begad! After fillin' t' spirals in t' tube with Elmers filler, I sanded, arrr, painted, me hearties, and then clear coated. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' add a bit o' shine and smoothness, matey, me hearties, I used floor wax t' finally coat t' surface.

I added a couple feet o' elastic t' t' already long Keelhaul®©™® cord, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and hooked a 12" nylon chute t' t' nose cone with a fishin' swivel and snap rings. Begad! Begad! Blimey! Later testin' suggested this was nay enough chute.

Flight:
T' maiden flight was t' test low speed stability, arrr, and recovery. Arrr! I did nay want to blast t' school athletic field with an F right out o' t' startin' gate. I built and installed an 18-24mm engine adapter, me bucko, and installed a C6-5. I launched it off a 3/16 launch rod.

Well, it was pretty normal at first. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' rocket was stable, but then nosed over and kept goin' after burnout. Ahoy! T' delay was way too long, me bucko, and that may have been t' engine, since rocsim says it should have been good. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Fortunately, the chute deployed in time, arrr, and thar be no lawn dart nor core sample. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! For small engines, me bucko, I'd want t' shortest delay possible.

T' engine hook picked up a bit o' dirt from t' grass. Begad! Blimey! It hit with a bit more force than I'd like, matey, but no damage was done. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Still, matey, me bucko, I will use at least a 15" chute next time - probably an 18, matey, t' protect t' motor hook.

PS: T' 18mm adapter blew clear - no impact on recovery deployment.

Summary:
Pros: Bombproof and tough. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Able t' handle almost any ridiculous engine you can cram into it. Avast! Blimey! Probably able t' lawn dart from 300 feet up into sod without damage. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Easy t' see, and teaches you lots about tough construction. Avast! Blimey! A "girl rocket" on t' outside, that is all steroid - induced toughness on t' inside.

Cons: Complicated t' build, shiver me timbers, and expensive. Nay for novices. Heavy, shiver me timbers, and could cause more damage than a light rocket if t' chute failed. Needs a big chute. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Limited nose cone options.

Other:
T' Elmers goop be t' key t' smoothness. TTW / epoxy / phenolic is so strong it is scary. T' world needs a good, me hearties, shiver me timbers, LIGHT, 1.1 in. Ya scallywag! Begad! nose cone (PML is good but HEAVY). Aye aye! Blimey!