Brief:
This is a 24mm upscale o' t' (justifiably) insanely popular FlisKits Deuce's Wild! All o' t' key parts used in this build (the motor mount, matey, me hearties, arrr, body tube, and nose cone) were ordered directly from FlisKits as well. Ahoy! Blimey! It is built t' use all sizes o' available and popular 24mm motors.

Construction:
I used t' followin' parts:

• 1 NCB-70DW balsa nose cone
• 1 EMK2-24-70C motor mount assembly
• 1 body tube, shiver me timbers, consistin' of:

• 2 BT-70-175 tubes t' create a total length o' 23"
• 1 CPL-70-04 coupler

• 3/16" balsa fin stock
• 1 elastic shock cord with tri-fold paper mount
• 1 screw eye
• 1 15" or 18" rip-stop nylon parachute
• 2 rail buttons

No formal instructions are available from FlisKits but if you have built a Deuce's Wild! before (and who hasn't?!?), you shouldn't have any problems buildin' this now that t' most significant features o' t' standard DW! can be purchased from FlisKits. Well, arrr, blow me down! (I should also mention that 13mm/BT-55 versions o' t' motor mount and nose cone are now available too for anyone interested in buildin' a downscale version.)

Like all good rockets, it all starts with t' motor mount. Ya scallywag! T' MMT kit comes with instructions on buildin' it as well as a fin marking/tube cuttin' template t' install it in t' BT-70 tubing. Arrr! I liked that t' template came with markings for both 3- and 4-fin designs as well as launch lug markings for both fin configurations. Ahoy! With all o' t' excellent documentation included, buildin' t' MMT was pretty easy although I found I had t' do a tiny bit o' trimmin' on t' forward fiber centerin' rin' pieces t' get them t' fit snuggly on t' tubing. Ahoy! Havin' t' template made cuttin' t' BT-70 and mountin' t' MMT practically a no brainer.

Puttin' t' mount into t' long BT-70 tube meant usin' t' template t' cut t' pair o' ovalesque pieces out for t' canted motors t' protrude from t' airframe. Avast, me proud beauty! I cut t' tube by doin' multiple passes with a razor utility knife. Ya scallywag! I dry fit t' MMT t' check for any modifications. I had t' slightly trim t' forward centerin' rin' again t' get a proper fit. Begad! Begad! I took it out, smeared some yellow wood glue inside t' tube and installed t' mount for t' last time. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I gave it plenty o' time t' dry before doin' fillets around t' base o' t' MMT and along t' motor tubes.

Next I needed t' cut a 5.5" long piece off one o' t' other piece o' BT-70. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Again usin' multiple passes, I cut t' tube and then sanded t' edge smooth with a sandin' block wrapped with 220 grit sandpaper. Aye aye! Blimey! I then glued t' coupler halfway inside t' full length piece o' BT-70 with t' MMT, let it dry, me hearties, and then glued on t' shorter piece o' BT-70. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! While that was dryin' I installed t' screw eye into t' nose cone, mounted one end o' t' shock cord inside t' body tube with a paper tri-fold mount, matey, and tied t' other end o' t' shock cord t' t' screw eye.

Time t' cut and mount t' fins. Begad! I used a drawin' program on me computer t' create a fin cuttin' template. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, me bucko, blow me down! I used 1.33x t' increase t' fins t' a 5.33" root edge and span along with a 2.66" fin tip. Aye aye! Begad! I traced and cut t' fins from 3/16" balsa stock. Avast! All fins were then match sanded for uniformity. I beveled t' leadin' and trailin' edges. Well, blow me down! T' fins were then glued onto t' body tube one at a time usin' yellow wood glue and t' "double glue" method.

T' only thin' left at that point was t' drill a pair o' 5/32" holes for t' rail buttons. I prefer t' nay glue in t' rail buttons until I am completely finished paintin' t' rocket. Avast! A couple drops o' CA be used t' hold t' rail buttons in when I finally got around t' screwin' them in though.

Finishing:
Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish was called forth t' fill t' grain in t' fins and nose cone and ensure a smooth transition from t' motor tubes t' t' main body tube. Begad! T' rocket was sanded smooth with 220 grit and then 320 grit sandpaper. Blimey! T' rocket was then given a coat o' Duplicolor Sandable primer, me hearties, ya bilge rat, wet sanded with 400 grit, another coat o' primer, and then rubbed down with a fine grade scrub pad.

T' entire rocket be painted Duplicolor Silver. Begad! Aye aye! I emailed Jim Flis t' get a wraparound template so that I could tape off t' rocket for t' stock paint scheme. Avast! T' alternate color was a Duplicolor metallic burgundy. Blimey! Arrr! I don't know if I would use Duplicolor paint in t' future as it has a unique nozzle that allows t' paint t' come out primarily in a vertical or horizontal pattern. Begad! This wreaked a little havoc for me as I struggled t' get even coverage and avoid runs. I was only moderately successful as thar wound up bein' a couple o' small light spots near t' motor tubes and minor runs on a couple o' fins. Blimey! Begad! After it dried, I polished t' paint (and managed t' lessen t' obvious paint flaws) with a couple o' old T-shirts and some 3M Rubbin' Compound.

Flight:
All 3 flights were done in a relatively short amount o' time at t' July club launch for Spaceport Rocketry Association. Avast, me proud beauty! A couple o' days before t' launch, I picked up a couple packs o' Estes D12-5s and earmarked them for t' DW Upscale. Aye aye! Prep was standard stuff: dog barf waddin' along with an 18" nylon Thrustline Aerospace chute clipped t' t' elastic shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! I built maskin' tape thrust rin' on t' motors as I had t' motor blocks glued in for 3.75" long 24mm motors. A couple wraps o' maskin' tape were also put on t' motors t' keep them from kickin' out durin' ejection.

T' rocket be then put on t' rail (overkill perhaps but it all but guaranteed that I'd be able t' see t' distinctive smoke trails durin' liftoff!) and hooked up with one o' me homemade clip whips. Avast! Both motors ignited on all 3 flights. Blimey! Ahoy! Liftoff was near vertical. A hundred feet or so up t' rocket went into a spin leavin' a very cool helix smoke trail.

Recovery:
Ejection be at or near apogee on all 3 flights. Ya scallywag! T' first flight had t' calmest conditions and it was obvious that ejection came a little on t' early side. Begad! T' second and third flights had slightly windier conditions causin' t' rocket t' be more horizontal at ejection. Begad! Blimey! This was t' first times I used me 18" nylon Thrustline Aerospace chute and it was definitely a perfect match for this rocket. Well, blow me down! It opened smartly all 3 times and brought t' rocket down comfortably without much drift. Avast! Arrr! Considerin' t' overall altitude o' t' flights, me bucko, I felt I had reasonably short walks t' retrieve t' rocket afterwards. Aye aye! T' rocket had no damage from recovery.

After t' second flight though, I noticed thar was noticeable bubblin' o' t' paint on t' motor tubes just above where t' motors were located. Begad! Puttin' me finger inside t' tube, ya bilge rat, it doesn't appear t' be any damage t' t' tube (other than a build up o' BP residue). Ahoy! Arrr! I wanted t' fly it initially on D12s but I'm plannin' on gettin' some E9-8s in t' future.

Summary:
This was a fun project and be as easy as buildin' t' original. Avast, me proud beauty! Acquirin' t' parts was super easy thanks t' FlisKits makin' them available for sale on their website. In fact, me bucko, t' parts didn't cost noticeably more than buyin' t' original kit! Anyone who has built t' original shouldn't have any difficulties recreatin' this larger version. Bigger IS better!