Brief:
I wanted t' create a split-fin design rocket on a mid-power scale with out actual split fins. While thar may appear t' be 6 separate fins thar are actually only 3 separate fins with a notch cut out. Avast! Begad! I also wanted t' try t' get t' fins t' whistle like bigger rockets sometimes do. Arrr! It is a simple design similar in size and weight t' a Aerotech Mustang or Cheetah.

Construction:
Here be t' parts list:

• 22" long 1.65" Dia. Avast! body tube.
  Basically a left over 38mm motor mount.
• Lots o' 1/4" elastic shock cord.
• 3 ea. Ya scallywag! Avast! 1/8" plywood fins.
• 3 ea. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! 29mm-38mm centerin' rings
• LOC Aura nose cone
• 6/32" threaded rod

Anyone with any mid power rocketry experience will find this build a snap t' repeat. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! First was t' construction of the motor mount / fin can. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! This is a little over built but I have built other scratch rockets before and I really don't mind t' extra time it takes.

I used 3 centerin' rings because I slotted t' airframe. Begad! T' front 2 rings make it a sure thin' that t' motor tube is pointed directly in t' middle o' t' airframe. Before gluin' t' rings, I marked t' 29mm tube for t' fin alignment and for t' all-thread. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I used standard Tite-bond wood glue for this step. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty!

Then came t' fins. These were a bear t' cut out. I used RockSim t' create t' templates t' trace and then went from there. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I don't have a band saw or a scroll saw o' any sort so this be a real challenge t' do by hand. I used a Dremel with a tiny sandin' drum t' get all 3 fins t' t' same shape. It is strongly recommended t' use a table saw with a really good blade on it or a band saw if attemptin' a fin pattern like this.

Once t' fins were cut with t' leadin' and trailin' edges slightly rounded over it was time t' glue them t' the MMT tube. I used a medium CA glue t' tack them into place on t' lines and then Tite-Bond wood glue for t' interior fillets.

Then it was time t' slot t' airframe. Aye aye! Since fins never seem t' be perfectly aligned, I cut t' fin slots based on the exact location o' t' fins. Ya scallywag! Avast! It is a simple process. Ahoy! Number t' fins, me bucko, slide t' MMT in as far as it goes and then make marks that line up with t' fins and mark matchin' numbers on t' body tube so that this dictates t' slot location. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Make t' slots slightly larger (about 1/32" - 1/16") than t' width o' t' fins. Well, blow me down! I used a standard hobby knife with a fresh blade t' cut t' slots.

After t' glue set on all t' centerin' rings I notched out t' after rin' and glued into place t' all-thread up t' t' middle centerin' ring. This is me motor retention. Avast! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! It is as simple as it get and I could nay figure out another way t' do retention without resortin' t' retention rings.

Since wood glue sometimes has a real strong initial tack I used Elmers white glue on t' centerin' rings when I slid t' MMT into t' slotted airframe. Begad! I have done this before with wood glue and had a hair-raisin' experience when I couldn't slide t' MMT all t' way in because t' wood glue was beginnin' t' take hold. Begad! This process can take a few minutes t' slide everythin' into place so a quick settin' glue is nay a good idea.

Next was t' shock cord. I used 2 4" pieces o' 1/4" elastic cord and epoxied them t' t' inside o' t' body tube ala LOC/Precision style. Begad! T' loop created by this is where I tied t' cord t' the nose cone. Ahoy! I then epoxied a drywall mount screw hole in t' base o' t' nose cone. Blimey! Then epoxied a wood screw-eye in the hole. Aye aye! This became me nose cone attachment for t' cord and t' parachute.

I used 30 minute epoxy for t' fillets on t' fins. This be used simply because I have found it much easier to get good lookin' fillets usin' epoxy than wood glue.

Finishing:
I don't spend a lot o' time finishin' me rockets just because it's nay me thing. I did use 30 minute epoxy for t' fillets just because I have had better luck gettin' those t' look good rather than usin' wood glue.

Figurin' out a simple but different lookin' paintin' scheme be difficult. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! I have no idea what inspired what I did but I used 1/8" blue painters tape down t' length o' t' bird after I painted it white. Ahoy! Then came t' yellow, green and blue. Begad! I used all Krylon paints and Kilz spray-on primer.

Flight:
I plan on flyin' this mostly on E's and F's and if t' weather is perfect with ZERO wind maybe a G.

Flight one: F24-4w It flies straight with a little whistle in t' fins just as planned. Begad! It weather-cocked a bit in t' higher winds which is nay surprisin' with t' proportionally large fins. Begad! Rocksim seems to think that t' 7 second delay is what I ought t' use but I went with t' 4 because o' t' winds. Begad! T' delay was a tad short as expected but nay even a hint o' damage. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down!

Flight two: F24-4w Almost identical t' flight one. I did notice that t' 12" thin mil parachute I used seem a touch small as it came down pretty fast. Ahoy! Avast! No damage though with t' super soft corn field we use.

Unfortunately, me hearties, both sets o' launch pictures came out extremely blurry...

Summary:
Pro: This is an awesome little E and F burnin' rocket. It should last a long time.

Con: T' fins. Arrr! Whatta pain. Begad! Blimey! If you take on a project off like this be sure you have t' right tools lined up rather than try t' cut it out with hand tools like I did. With t' right tools this is an awesome way t' do a spilt-fin design.