Brief:
Many parts o' t' new NASA Constellation program has already been modeled. Avast! Blimey! In today's market, me hearties, it is difficult t' find a manned space subject that is nay already been produced.

After research, arrr, shiver me timbers, I be nay able t' find a current model o' t' new Orion ATB. Begad! Ya scallywag! If you think it looks like a Little Joe, arrr, arrr, you're right! This rocket will be used in t' same manner as t' Little Joes were.

Construction:
After inventoryin' me available parts, I eyed a spare Estes Gauchito kit. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! After tearin' it open, I discovered that I could use most o' this kit as a basis for t' Orion ATB.

Doin' some math showed that a model would be 1:120 scale. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This was determined by usin' me method o' importin' a photo into AutoCAD and creatin' a scaled, dimensioned drawing. Begad! Blimey!

I haven't used RockSim in several years. I downloaded t' latest demo and started insertin' t' parts.

Overall, I feel that I came up with a satisfactory model with nay much work. Aye aye! I'm sure an experienced used could overcome me issues.

First, t' wood dowel needed t' continue through t' transition. Arrr! Arrr! I couldn't figure out how t' do this.

Second, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' booster rocket nozzles are conical. Blimey! I couldn't find a good way t' model them.

Basic low power construction techniques were used. Blimey! Blimey! T' exception be t' use o' plexiglass for t' fins.

T' booster nozzles were built by wrappin' paper around a pen tip. Begad! T' paper was then soaked with CA. Ya scallywag! After drying, shiver me timbers, matey, they were cut t' size and mounted.

A ¼" hole was drilled in t' tip o' t' capsule. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' wood dowel continued down t' t' base o' the cone and glued in t' recess design for t' shock cord. Aye aye! Begad! This kept t' dowel centered and secure.

Finishing:
T' clear fins were masked and a spray coat o' white was applied. Logos o' NASA, matey, matey, Space development and Testing, and Orbital were found on t' web, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and sized.

T' logos were simply glued onto t' body. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Minor details were also added on t' capsule.

PROs o' t' design: Very easy t' build if you have a spare Gauchito kit lyin' around!

CONs: T' clear fins detract from t' actual model.

Flight and Recovery:
T' two test flights o' t' orion were unsuccessful. These were on A10-3T's. Arrr! However, thar just wasn't enough umph t' get it up & stable. Aye aye! Begad! I ended up usin' some plexiglass for t' four fins. Begad! Ya scallywag! In hind site, matey, this probably added tail weight. Arrr! Aye aye! So unless I rebuild, shiver me timbers, this one is a shelf queen.