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

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

Construction:
After inventoryin' me available parts, me bucko, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I eyed a spare Estes Gauchito kit. Begad! 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. Ya scallywag! This be determined by usin' me method o' importin' a photo into AutoCAD and creatin' a scaled, dimensioned drawing. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty!

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

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

First, me hearties, matey, t' wood dowel needed t' continue through t' transition. Aye aye! I couldn't figure out how t' do this.

Second, t' booster rocket nozzles are conical. Begad! Blimey! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! I couldn't find a good way t' model them.

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

T' booster nozzles were built by wrappin' paper around a pen tip. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' paper be then soaked with CA. Well, blow me down! After drying, they were cut t' size and mounted.

A ¼" hole was drilled in t' tip o' t' capsule. T' wood dowel continued down t' t' base o' the cone and glued in t' recess design for t' shock cord. This kept t' dowel centered and secure.

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

T' logos were simply glued onto t' body. Ya scallywag! Blimey! 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. Begad! Blimey! These were on A10-3T's. However, thar just wasn't enough umph t' get it up & stable. Blimey! Blimey! I ended up usin' some plexiglass for t' four fins. Ya scallywag! Blimey! In hind site, ya bilge rat, this probably added tail weight. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! So unless I rebuild, this one is a shelf queen.