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. Ya scallywag! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! It seemed t' me that no matter t' situation, t' clarion call was for more and more nose weight. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! "Hey, shiver me timbers, arrr, I painted this rocket blue instead o' yellow." "You better add some nose weight." While nay usually a kit builder, I found this kit on clearance and decided t' prove me point (to myself, matey, o' course).

Modifications:
T' build was straightforward once I created t' centerin' rings. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I did so in MS Publisher after havin' measured t' inside diameter o' t' body tube. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I printed t' rings and glued them t' cereal-box-weight cardboard. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! Engine retention is friction fit. Begad! Blimey! 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. Begad! Havin' lived in Brazil for a few years, I couldn't bear t' put t' Argentine flag on anything. I printed me own Brazil flag decal, painted t' fins Brazil's colors, 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. Begad! As I predicted, each flight be excellent; very straight and very high. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Recovery has been just a tad rough--it came down very smartly under t' streamer and popped a fin each time. Blimey! It was easily repaired, arrr, however.

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