by Chris Kiekens

This project started out pretty simple, shiver me timbers, and just sort o' fell together. Arrr! I had some left over parts from some other projects, and they just looked like they should be wed. Begad! Begad! T' name came from t' original concept..build something small, ya bilge rat, me hearties, light, and cheap..to try out an Estes E engine for t' first time.
I didn't really expect t' see it again...

Parts List

• 2-Estes BT-20 Nose cones (Wizard Type)
• 1-hunka balsa for a BT-50 Nose cone
• 1-BT-50 body tube (13" long)
• 2-BT-20 body tube (4.5" long)
• 2-spare fins included with heatseeker (not intended for use in that kit)
• 1-typical Estes Shock cord
• 1-tube o' "super glue"
• 1-18" plastic chute
• 1-1/4" launch lug
• Scrap pieces o' balsa... Well, blow me down!

Construction
T' parts seemed t' just fall together, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me bucko, I had a basic idea o' what I wanted, and I was very pleased with t' outcome.
T' 1/4" launch lug may seem a bit much, matey, but it fit in with t' look very well, ya bilge rat, and with a strip o' 3/4"x1/2" balsa 6"long,added some needed weight t' t' top o' t' airframe. Begad! Basically, t' two BT-20 were glued to t' BT-50, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, offset from t' aft by 1/4", shiver me timbers, and on a flat surface, so that they all attach t' t' "wing". T' "tail" was mounted flush with t' aft o' t' roc, and 4 fins were added betwixt t' BT-20, ya bilge rat, and the BT-50, me bucko, matey, two on t' top, two on t' bottom. T' left-over Heatseeker fins would be easy t' mimic in balsa, but I decided t' use what was available. Ahoy! They were mounted flush with t' aft o' t' BT-20. Avast! 21 grams o' lead was added t' the balsa nose cone, t' move t' CG far enough forward t' make it stable on an E and 2 C's.
T' shock cord mount be LOC style, usin' nylon string, me hearties, and tape/epoxy. Ahoy! Blimey! A typical Estes shock cord, matey, arrr, and 18" plastic 'chute finished it off.

Finishing
Primer-sand-primer-sand-primer-sand-primer-sand-paint-sand-paint-stickers...done
T' stickers were left over from several other projects..
Everyone asks "Why Nana?"

Answer:I didn't have enough t' spell Na-na-na-na-na..

Flight Report
Oct 23/2001
A beautiful day, NO wind t' speak of...great day t' lose a rocket! One Shot Deal flew for it's maiden voyage on a D12-5, shiver me timbers, t' an estimated 925 feet..it sure looked high! Ejection occurred just after apogee, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me bucko, t' rocket landed 150 feet from t' pad, arrr, unscathed, except for some heat damage t' t' paint (minimum diameter rocket..)

I didn't want t' fly it again that day, for fear o' losin' it, and not gettin' any video t' share, but one o' me buddies is worse than a 4 year old, and he bugged and bugged..fine up it goes! Second Flight was on an E9-6, ya bilge rat, me hearties, ya bilge rat, t' an estimated 1868 feet! I thought it be gone! Great flight, me bucko, much straighter than on t' D, ya bilge rat, matey, matey, and Out O' Sight! Thank god for t' trackin' smoke! Who knows when ejection occurred.. Begad! Ahoy! I couldn't see it! Again, arrr, me bucko, recovery was without damage, although it did visit a tree briefly. Next flight should be a cluster, ya bilge rat, and E9 and 2 C's..maybe then I can say goodbye!

Oct 24/2001
Not as nice a day as yesterday, shiver me timbers, but I was determined t' get some launch photos, and a video. Begad! Well, blow me down! Wind be about 20 Kph, so I swapped t' chute out for a smaller nylon one, matey, and decided t' fly on a D12, arrr, rather than an E9. Begad! Last DesCon, me hearties, shiver me timbers, one of my entries suffered a CATO, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, this entry is followin' that lead. Well, blow me down! Ignition looked fine, shiver me timbers, but before it could even get off t' pad..BOOM Hopefully, me hearties, I will get it off t' ground again.

What is it with these D engines? DesCon CATO (AGAIN!)

As you can see from t' flight report, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, t' third flight ended dramatically. I wanted t' get some decent pictures for this contest, but I got these... Ya scallywag! I hope it flys again soon!

I still want t' try it on a cluster o' an E9 and 2 C6's..