Brief:
Modified Estes Big Daddy t' fly on 29mm motors.

Modifications:
I started this project with a regular Estes Big Daddy. Begad! Begad! When I bought t' kit I knew I wanted t' mod it t' a 29mm so I bought a motor tube and cut it t' a length that would allow it t' come up and touch t' base o' t' nose cone. Arrr! I had heard some rumors that t' nose cone with t' added weight would cause t' body tube t' crush durin' flight so I figured t' tube would help if needed.

T' next thin' I did was t' beef up t' centerin' rings by gluin' them t' balsa. I added two tee nuts for positive motor retention and epoxy them in place. Begad! I cut t' fin tabs t' fit t' new motor mount and added a steel fishin' leader wrapped around t' motor mount and goin' through t' front centerin' rin' t' use as a shock cord attachment.

After t' fin tabs were cut I glued t' fins in place and let them dry. Begad! I glued t' aft centerin' rin' into place next. Avast! I then took card stock and cut them t' fit around t' fins and onto t' body tube t' add strength t' t' design. Avast! I then used Rocksim t' figure out t' CP and CG. Well, blow me down! Blimey! For nose weight I added three ounces o' lead shot epoxied into t' tip o' t' nose cone and then capped t' hole in t' base o' t' cone off with a piece o' plastic and some epoxy. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Next I added an elastic shock cord in place o' t' one provided and attached t' plastic parachute.

All left t' do now be t' fill in t' spots that needed fillin' and t' paint. Aye aye! for this job I used some wood filler thinned out in water and Rustoleum paint. Avast, me proud beauty! I decided t' paint flames with underlyin' ghost flames. Avast! T' finished result be sprayed with clear laquer.

Construction:
For this modification I used an Estes Big Daddy kit, a 29mm tube, a steel fishin' leader, lead shot, ya bilge rat, arrr, elastic, me bucko, epoxy, matey, balsa, arrr, and wood glue. Arrr!

T' kit was very easy t' construct, me bucko, even with t' mods.

Flight:
Since I modified t' rocket t' use a different motor mount t' recommended motor list was useless t' me. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I used Rocksim t' find t' appropriate motors for me. Arrr! Simulations say it will go t' about 2200 ft on a G76G.

Even though it is now made for a 29mm motor I decided t' use an adapter and a 24mm motor for t' maiden voyage. Avast, me proud beauty! I chose t' use an Aerotech F39T-6 reload which sins out t' about a 1200 ft ride. Avast! Blimey! I stuffed some dog barf down into t' motor tube and set out t' see what would happen. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Winds were up above 10 MPH and it be cold with a light snow falling, I set t' pad up, hooked up everythin' and let her rip. Avast!

T' flight was spectacular t' rocket lifted off t' pad and took t' t' sky very fast and was out o' sight in no time. Ya scallywag! Blimey! As we all sat around watchin' for a parachute we noticed t' rocket comin' back into view, arrr, nose cone ejected and no parachute. Blimey! Arrr! It landed about 100 yards in front o' us with a thud. Aye aye! T' nose cone was buried in t' cold hard ground about three inches, matey, along with one fin. Begad! Another fin had struck t' gound as well, but cracked t' length o' t' body (thank god I papered t' fins) and thar be t' shroud lines, layin' out on t' ground attached t' nothin' other than a couple o' tape disks. Blimey! Obviously a casualty o' t' famouse Aerotech late delays.

Summary:
In closin' I was very pleased with t' rocket and its performance. After a bit o' fin repair and some time in t' rocket hospital, and t' addition o' a new nylon parachute this rocket will fly again.