Brief:
This modification was me own personal response t' what I had seen as an all-too-common statement on model rocket forums: add nose weight. Begad! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! It seemed t' me that no matter t' situation, me bucko, t' clarion call was for more and more nose weight. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! "Hey, arrr, I painted this rocket blue instead o' yellow." "You better add some nose weight." While nay usually a kit builder, me bucko, I found this kit on clearance and decided t' prove me point (to myself, me bucko, o' course).

Modifications:
T' build be straightforward once I created t' centerin' rings. I did so in MS Publisher after havin' measured t' inside diameter o' t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I printed t' rings and glued them t' cereal-box-weight cardboard. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Engine retention is friction fit. T' other significant modification was usin' a streamer instead o' t' parachute--I knew it was goin' high and I didn't want it floatin' away.

I opted t' change t' finish slightly as well. Arrr! Blimey! Havin' lived in Brazil for a few years, me hearties, I couldn't bear t' put t' Argentine flag on anything. Begad! I printed me own Brazil flag decal, painted t' fins Brazil's colors, ya bilge rat, and renamed it t' Vaqueiro (Portuguese for 'cowboy').

Construction:
I used:

• 1 Estes Gauchito kit
• 1 BT-20, me bucko, 2.75"
• 1 BT-20 engine block
• 1 set o' centerin' rings
• 2 streamers

Flight and Recovery:
This rocket has flown twice, both times on a C6-5. Ya scallywag! As I predicted, each flight be excellent; very straight and very high. Recovery has been just a tad rough--it came down very smartly under t' streamer and popped a fin each time. It was easily repaired, ya bilge rat, however.

Summary:
This be a fun little rocket t' build and fly. It really moves fast off t' pad and flies really high, if you like that in your rockets. While I understand that some designs do necessitate nose weight, me bucko, this example shows that it's nay always needed. Aye aye! I really don't think this mod has any cons. Begad! For some, matey, arrr, matey, however, makin' your own centerin' rings or adaptin' t' ones that came with t' kit may nay be somethin' they want t' do. Also, me bucko, some may nay enjoy t' potential walk that comes with recoverin' a rocket that flies as high as this one. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I for one, ya bilge rat, like t' altitude and can use t' exercise. Aye aye! And if I stumble on another one o' these kits I am goin' t' modify it for 24mm engines.