Brief:
I changed t' booster t' a triple 18mm cluster by installin' motor mounts into the two side pods along with a conventional waddin' type recovery system in each side pod capable o' utilizin' either streamers or 12" parachutes in each pod. Well, arrr, blow me down! Nose weight added t' compensate. Begad!

Modifications:
T' biggest trick on this one be determinin' a balance point. I tacked t' kit together in t' manner that Estes prescribed and determined t' center of gravity. Aye aye! From thar it was a relatively simple matter o' addin' enough nose weight t' reproduce t' CG position in t' modified version. 1 1/8 oz. Begad! o' nose weight be added in t' form o' #7 1/2 lead shot and sealed into t' nose with PML expandin' foam. Avast, me proud beauty! T' side pods were attached with epoxy, t' rest o' t' kit was built with Titebond yellow glue. I had read in EMRR about t' problems with the side pods chafin' t' sustainer air frame on separation. Avast, me proud beauty! I solved this by usin' coffee stir sticks as shims betwixt t' booster air frame and t' side pod tubes. This provided about 1/16" o' offset. All balsa parts and the ends o' all mount tubes, me hearties, matey, shiver me timbers, couplers, and airframe tubes were reinforced by applyin' a thin layer o' CA t' t' appropriate surface and sandin' after curing. This should always be done outdoors t' disperse t' fumes and with disposable rubber gloves t' protect t' hands from unwanted bonding. Aye aye! Avast! The sustainer shock cord consisted o' two separate pieces o' 1/4" shock cord bound together every few inches by zip ties. Arrr! This method provides 100 percent redundancy in separation protection in case one o' t' elastic cords burns through. At that point both elastics are replaced.

Construction:
T' stock BT-50 x 5" side pod tubes were exchanged for two BT-50 tubes 6.25" long. T' plugs for t' aft o' t' pods were discarded and conventional 18mm Estes mounts were installed in each pod, matey, t' aft o' the mount tube flush with t' aft o' t' pod tube, motor hook extendin' aft and on the outboard side o' each pod tube. Arrr! T' motor mounts were all installed with a length o' 100 lb Keelhaul®©™® shock cord attached t' t' engine block in t' manner o' Quest kits. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! The Keelhaul®©™® was then attached t' elastic shock cord before mountin' t' t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Arrr! 12 inches o' 1/8" flat elastic was used in t' side pods and a double 24" strand o' 1/4" flat elastic in t' sustainer.

T' overall kit quality is quite typical for t' 'Made in China' Estes kits and all o' t' parts were good quality and fit was as one would expect.

Finishing:
Previous experience with Estes stickers has taught me t' avoid them. Blimey! T' tube spirals were filled with Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish before construction commenced and more FnF be applied t' t' fins and fillets after sealin' t' wood with CA. Aye aye! Three coats o' primer were applied and sanded out after each coat. The model be finished with Createx Pearl red, me hearties, me hearties, Pearl gold, arrr, and Pearl purple. Well, blow me down! All paint be applied with an airbrush. Aye aye! Ahoy! Hologram tape and stripin' tape completed the decoration with t' rocket then clear coated with Future floor finish.

Flight:
Only one flight so far, arrr, B6-2's in t' side pods and a C6-0 t' C6-7 combination in t' booster sustainer core. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Booster ejection occurred very shortly after stage separation and both booster and sustainer were successfully recovered with no damage. Aye aye! A very successful flight with an estimated max altitude o' 1500 ft.

Summary:
A very enjoyable experiment, this deals with t' Renegade's problems o' being underpowered and prevention o' damage t' t' intricate booster section.