by Chris Kiekens

This project started out pretty simple, matey, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and just sort o' fell together. Aye aye! I had some left over parts from some other projects, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and they just looked like they should be wed. T' name came from t' original concept..build something small, 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...

Construction
T' parts seemed t' just fall together, I had a basic idea o' what I wanted, and I be very pleased with t' outcome.
T' 1/4" launch lug may seem a bit much, me hearties, shiver me timbers, but it fit in with t' look very well, shiver me timbers, and with a strip o' 3/4"x1/2" balsa 6"long,added some needed weight t' t' top o' t' airframe. Arrr! Blimey! Basically, me hearties, t' two BT-20 were glued to t' BT-50, offset from t' aft by 1/4", and on a flat surface, me bucko, so that they all attach t' t' "wing". Ahoy! T' "tail" be mounted flush with t' aft o' t' roc, ya bilge rat, and 4 fins were added betwixt t' BT-20, shiver me timbers, arrr, and the BT-50, ya bilge rat, two on t' top, two on t' bottom. Begad! Begad! T' left-over Heatseeker fins would be easy t' mimic in balsa, shiver me timbers, but I decided t' use what be available. They were mounted flush with t' aft o' t' BT-20. 21 grams o' lead was added t' the balsa nose cone, me hearties, 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, me bucko, me hearties, me hearties, usin' nylon string, and tape/epoxy. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! A typical Estes shock cord, arrr, shiver me timbers, 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, t' rocket landed 150 feet from t' pad, me bucko, 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, me bucko, 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, me hearties, me bucko, matey, t' an estimated 1868 feet! I thought it be gone! Great flight, matey, much straighter than on t' D, arrr, and Out O' Sight! Thank god for t' trackin' smoke! Who knows when ejection occurred.. Ya scallywag! I couldn't see it! Again, me hearties, recovery was without damage, although it did visit a tree briefly. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Next flight should be a cluster, shiver me timbers, matey, and E9 and 2 C's..maybe then I can say goodbye!

Oct 24/2001
Not as nice a day as yesterday, arrr, but I be determined t' get some launch photos, and a video. Begad! Avast! Wind was about 20 Kph, matey, so I swapped t' chute out for a smaller nylon one, and decided t' fly on a D12, me hearties, matey, rather than an E9. Avast, me proud beauty! Last DesCon, one of my entries suffered a CATO, this entry is followin' that lead. Ignition looked fine, arrr, but before it could even get off t' pad..BOOM Hopefully, ya bilge rat, 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, t' third flight ended dramatically. I wanted t' get some decent pictures for this contest, arrr, but I got these... Begad! Blimey! I hope it flys again soon!

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