Brief:
This is an upscale o' t' OOP Estes Industries NASA Pegasus. Blimey! Ahoy! T' plans are available from Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe. Arrr! It's a futuristic spaceplane type model, me bucko, which happens t' be a style that I particularly like. Begad! I built a standard sized clone which was reviewed previously. I used t' dimensions t' make t' upscale version.

Construction:
T' design has four fins with 2 wings and 2 rudders. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Two long body tubes on t' side are "scramjets".

Components used were:

• 1 BT-70 body tube 23.5" long (I used two pieces joined by a coupler with baffle)
• 1 ejection baffle
• 2 BT-60 body tubes, arrr, 11" long
• 1 24mm motor mount
• 1 custom turned BNC70-AO nose cone
• 1/8" basswood fin stock
• 72" long 1/4" elastic shock cord material
• 22" parachute

T' instructions followed a logical sequence, however, me bucko, ya bilge rat, it did nay mention sandin' t' root edge o' t' wings at an angle t' fit tight against t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! I also sanded t' root edge o' t' rudders into a 'V' shape t' fit tight betwixt t' main body and scramjets. Begad! I used a 24mm motor mount with a 3.75" engine hook t' allow for Estes 'E' motors. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' main body tube was 2 pieces joined with a coupler that be made into an ejection baffle. Begad! Aye aye! I used t' standard tri-fold shock cord mount and an 22" parachute made from a plastic tablecloth. Begad! Ya scallywag! No nose weight was required.

T' BT-70 tube and motor mount was from FlisKits. T' BT-60 tube was from Balsa Machinin' Service and t' Custom nose cone from Roachwerks Custom Turnings.

Finishing:
T' model was given an overall coat o' white paint and t' decals were applied t' complete t' model. I had cleaned up t' decal scan when I made me standard size model so I only had t' enlarge them. Arrr! T' flag decals lacked stars so I substituted flags that I had made myself. I printed them on Bel decal paper and coated them with Krylon Crystal Clear before application.

Flight:
T' day o' t' first flight was rather windy and I had some concerns with flyin' it because t' standard size model had a tendency t' turn into t' wind until boosters were installed in t' scramjets. Aye aye! Begad! I decided t' try it because t' wind was comin' from t' open area o' t' field and if it turned into t' wind, it would head away from t' spectators.

I chose a D12-3 for t' first flight. T' motor mount has an engine hook and I put a spacer t' take up t' extra room. Blimey! Begad! I used an ejection baffle so no waddin' was required.

My worries were well founded because t' rocket attained about 100 ft o' altitude before it turned horizontal into t' wind. It was travelin' really fast when t' ejection charge went off. T' chute was ripped off immediately and t' rocket hit t' grass hard.

When I went t' survey t' damage, I was surprised t' find only a small dent in t' body betwixt t' scramjet tubes, shiver me timbers, t' forward edge o' t' tube was dented, and thar was a small crease in t' first 1 1/2" along t' spiral. All t' fins were intact and nothin' be broken. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' dents were pushed out and t' nose cone has a 2" shoulder on it and will support t' small crease. Avast, me proud beauty! As it turned out, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I was fortunate that its flyable again without havin' t' make repairs.

Recovery:
T' shock cord was intact and thar be no scorchin' due t' t' baffle. Blimey! I have been usin' ejection baffles in me last few rockets with excellent results. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I would recommend that you give one a try.

It be goin' way too fast at ejection and t' parachute distruction was t' be expected. I will upgrade t' chute t' a ripstop nylon one before any further flight attempts just for me own piece o' mind.

Summary:
I really enjoyed this upscale. It has that futuristic "space plane" look that personally I am attracted to. This model should only be flown in light winds and in hindsight, I should have anticipated t' severe weathercocking.