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

Construction:
T' design has four fins with 2 wings and 2 rudders. Blimey! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! 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, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, 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, it did nay mention sandin' t' root edge o' t' wings at an angle t' fit tight against t' body tube. Ya scallywag! I also sanded t' root edge o' t' rudders into a 'V' shape t' fit tight betwixt t' main body and scramjets. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I used a 24mm motor mount with a 3.75" engine hook t' allow for Estes 'E' motors. Ya scallywag! T' main body tube be 2 pieces joined with a coupler that was made into an ejection baffle. I used t' standard tri-fold shock cord mount and an 22" parachute made from a plastic tablecloth. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! No nose weight be required.

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

Finishing:
T' model be given an overall coat o' white paint and t' decals were applied t' complete t' model. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! 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. Well, blow me down! 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. I decided t' try it because t' wind was comin' from t' open area o' t' field and if it turned into t' wind, ya bilge rat, it would head away from t' spectators.

I chose a D12-3 for t' first flight. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor mount has an engine hook and I put a spacer t' take up t' extra room. Blimey! Avast! 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. Arrr! Blimey! It be 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, t' forward edge o' t' tube was dented, and thar was a small crease in t' first 1 1/2" along t' spiral. Aye aye! All t' fins were intact and nothin' was broken. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' dents were pushed out and t' nose cone has a 2" shoulder on it and will support t' small crease. Ya scallywag! As it turned out, I be fortunate that its flyable again without havin' t' make repairs.

Recovery:
T' shock cord was intact and thar was no scorchin' due t' t' baffle. Ahoy! I have been usin' ejection baffles in me last few rockets with excellent results. 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. Begad! 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. Begad! This model should only be flown in light winds and in hindsight, matey, I should have anticipated t' severe weathercocking.