Brief:
This project was an upgrade o' t' typical Big Daddy t' a 29mm mount with fiberglass reinforcement t' t' fins and lots o' nose weight with a funky flame job.

Modifications:
This is an old style Big Daddy I ran across for $15 which sure beats t' heck out o' t' regular retail price o' ~$30 or whatever it is.

So first up be t' MMT. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I used 30 minute epoxy because that’s what I have in t' house and a #6-32 threaded rod for me positive motor retention. Everythin' got a good dose o' epoxy. Begad! T' threaded rod was epoxied for t' full length o' t' MMT tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Then I drilled a hole in t' aft centerin' as close t' t' middle as possible so t' threaded rod sticks out t' back end about one inch. Blimey! Durin' flight, me bucko, me bucko, I use a small fender washer and nut for motor retention. Avast! I have used this method effectively on many rockets and have never lost a motor.

Next up are t' launch lugs. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I wanted t' push t' lugs as far apart as possible on t' body tube cause I think it looks cool. Avast, me proud beauty! I’ve done this before with success.

I used a dowel rod t' mount an eyelet t' attach t' shock cord and parachute. Ya scallywag! I was goin' t' do this with threaded rod sleeved t' an eyebolt but that didn't work out. I don't trust t' little loop Estes provides on t' side o' t' nose cone considerin' t' type o' shock cord I am using. Arrr! Begad! Anyways t' rod be inserted into t' nose cone and epoxy poured around it. I cut tiny little notches out on t' side so t' epoxy would have a little somethin' t' grab to.

I elected t' use t' stock balsa fins that came with t' kit. Blimey! Nay t' worry as I glassed them tip-to-tip. Ahoy! With one exception o' some blisterin' with one o' t' glassed areas, this went fairly smooth.

Construction:
T' body tube, arrr, fins, and nose cone were all that were used from t' stock Estes Big Daddy kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Here are t' additions: 1/4" launch lugs, 18" nylon parachute, matey, me bucko, Nomex® heat sheild, 29mm centerin' rings, matey, 10ft o' 1/4" shock cord, matey, 29mm motor mount tube, me hearties, #6-32 threaded rod for motor retention, arrr, me hearties, 1/8" eye bolt t' attach t' shock cord, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and a dowel rod epoxied into t' nose cone t' attach t' cord.

After flyin' it once, I took t' nose cone and cut t' bottom out and cut about 2 inches off o' t' dowel rod. I found that thar be no way t' get me heat shield, arrr, 18" nylon parachute, and shock cord packed into t' bird with a 29mm 40/120 casin' in it. Avast! Begad! After that modification was made I be able t' get all t' laundry in t' nose cone. Ahoy! This modification this is an important step t' consider early on because it is a pain t' correct after t' fact.

Finishing:
Finishin' was pretty typical for most Estes rockets. I used wood filler for most o' t' imperfections like t' tube spirals. Well, blow me down! For primin' I used Kilz spray primer. Well, blow me down! Blimey! That is hands down t' best primer I have ever used and I followed that up with a couple o' coats o' gloss black. Then I picked up some 1/8" plastic blue maskin' tape for t' flames at a specialty painters store and used 1 inch blue maskin' tape for all o' t' areas that stayed black. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! A couple o' coats o' red, arrr, yellow, arrr, me hearties, and white, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and me flames were complete.

Flight:
So far, me bucko, I have flown this bird twice. Well, blow me down! First was at Michigan Team 1 Fall 2006 launch on an F20 with a 7 second delay. Avast, me proud beauty! RockSim predicted an optimal delay o' just under 7 seconds but that be far too long. Well, blow me down! Then on January 27th, 2007, I went t' Tripoli Michiana launch and flew it on an F52 with a 8 second delay. Blimey! Again, RockSim predicted a touch over 8 seconds for t' optimal delay. Begad! Begad! Real world results differ because again t' delay was again too long. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Despite t' longish delays, me bucko, me bucko, both flights were a success with no damage. Ya scallywag! I believe this is ready for a G64!

Summary:
This project is a "must do" for anyone who is into mid-power rocketry. This will test your buildin' skills and rocketry knowledge, me bucko, nay t' mention this is a hoot t' fly.