Brief:
Scratch built 38mm, apogee only recovery, me hearties, through t' wall G10 fins with a 3" OD phenolic airframe specifically built t' take Pro38 G motors.

Construction:

• 1 - 20" long by 3" OD phenolic body tube
• 3 - G10 fins with fin tabs
• 1 - 3"OD x 12" PML nosecone
• 2 - 5mm plywood centerin' rings
• 1 - eyehook with nuts
• 1 - 38mm slimline motor retainer
• 1 - 3" bulkplate with eyehook for forward recovery mount point.
• 4oz lead shot for nose weight
• 15' o' 1/2" tubular nylon
• 1 - 20" SkyAngle parachute

I had some left over components for this rocket. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! So it was only a matter o' fleshin' out t' details usin' RockSim before construction could start. Blimey! I was nay goin' t' reinforce t' body tube as I wanted t' be sure that it would fly on t' single grain Pro38 motors. Arrr! This meant that construction followed t' usual process with t' exception that I slotted t' airframe all t' way down (i.e. Ahoy! I mounted t' fins on t' motor mount externally t' t' airframe and then slotted t' whole fin/motor assembly back into t' airframe).

As always I used me Dremel t' profile t' fins but that was really all that was needed on t' base materials.

All gluin' was done usin' 1 hour epoxy. Avast! Blimey! Fillets were applied t' t' airframe (after fittin' t' fin/motor assembly back into t' airframe) usin' 1 hour epoxy and microballons (this gives a nice smooth fillet).

T' construction was completed very smartly and before long I was ready t' apply wood filler t' fill t' spirals. Arrr! Once dry I sanded down t' airframe and sprayed it usin' grey Holts Filler Primer paint.

A couple o' paint/sand cycles left me with a nice smooth primed rocket. Blimey! T' color scheme consisted o' a white rocket with red fins and upper section.

Picture by Bob Arnott

A G50 decal (still t' do) will finish it off.

Flight:
T' rocket was built for Pro38 G's so I started with a G79 Smokey Sam which boosted perfectly t' an estimated 1500 feet (RockSim). Arrr! T' parachute deployed at apogee and due t' its small size brought t' rocket down quite fast. Ahoy! With no damage I was ready for a second flight on a Pro38 G66 (US reload). Well, blow me down! As before it boosted nicely with an apogee deployment and nearby recovery. Begad! Again no damage and I look forward t' many more flights.

Summary:
PROs: Your basic 3FNC rocket is just so easy t' build. If you keep it stock (i.e. Begad! no layups etc..) you can finish one in a couple o' days.

CONs: T' cost o' t' motor retention is always a bit o' a sore point. Avast, me proud beauty! I just don't trust DIY methods o' retainin' expensive motor hardware.