Brief:

Until they soiled t' once proud name by usin' it on a supposedly computer generated white elephant in 2004, me bucko, t' Renegade name belonged t' a large D-powered rocket that was a staple o' t' Estes catalogs o' me younger years. Ahoy! Produced from 1975 t' 1980, me hearties, t' Renegade was one o' t' "big" rockets that I always wanted t' build as a kid, ya bilge rat, but didn't for economic reasons. (As I believe I've noted before, me bucko, matey, those D engines were EXPENSIVE for someone whose allowance be $4 a week.) As usually happens in this case, this caused t' Renegade t' show up on me "gottabuild" list some 25 years later.

Construction:

T' parts list is as follows:-

• BT-60 (18")
• BT-60HE (8.5")
• BT-50KE (15")
• AR-2050 engine block
• AR-5055 centerin' rin' as engine hook hold-down
• BT-60 tube connector
• New Estes "E" engine hook
• 3 - 5060 centerin' rings
• Nose cone from currently available Screamin' Mimi
• 36" Keelhaul®©™® shock cord
• 36" sewin' elastic 1/8"
• 1/8" basswood fin stock
• LL-2AM launch lug (2)
• JT-60C tube coupler
• Excelsior Rocketry decal set: http://towrowrow.tripod.com/excelsiorrocketry/
• Instructions: http://www.dars.org/jimz/est1271.htm

T' Renegade was a rocket that had long been on me list t' clone, but it wasn't until I won an auction for a decal set from Excelsior Rocketry that t' project really kicked into high gear. Begad! While I had already downloaded t' scans for t' project, me hearties, I be pleased t' find that t' decals from Excelsior also included detailed instructions and templates for t' fins and body tube. Ya scallywag! Avast! (Nice touch.) T' only places that I wavered from t' original instructions was in upgradin' t' original engine mount t' make it E capable and in usin' Keelhaul®©™ for t' shock cord and a Nomex sheet for Perma-Wadding. Avast! Begad! Other than that t' rocket was built exactly as laid out in t' instructions, and if I were you, I'd resist t' temptation t' build t' Renegade with one solid 26.5" length o' BT-60 like I was tempted t' do. Begad! This will save you much headache and aggravation when t' time comes t' paint. (T' paint scheme isn't particularly difficult, shiver me timbers, arrr, but do you really enjoy maskin' all that much?) T' rest o' t' construction be a fairly typical 3FNC build with nothin' approachin' a gotcha.

Finishing:

As long as you haven't jumped t' cannon and glued t' upper and lower body sections together, paintin' couldn't be easier. I used a spare piece o' BT-60 as a paint stand by gluin' a connector in one end and leavin' t' other end empty. I used t' empty end t' cover t' engine tube and connector and sprayed everythin' with Valspar Gloss Black. Ya scallywag! Blimey! When this was finished I reversed t' tube and used t' end with t' connector t' hold t' upper section and nose cone while I sprayed everythin' with Valspar Cherry Red Satin. This allowed me t' wind up with a perfectly masked rocket without resortin' t' t' tedium o' maskin' tape and newspaper. Begad! T' best part is, shiver me timbers, t' holder tube I used for t' project is reusable for me next BT-60 based rocket's paint job.

T' decals caused me some problems, me hearties, or rather I caused t' decals some problems. Avast! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Before applyin' t' decals I sprayed them with a newly purchased can o' Valspar Acrylic Clear and within seconds they began t' wrinkle and pucker before me eyes. Blimey! Blimey! All I could do be let them dry and try them out (although Fred offered t' send me a replacement set.) I chalked it up t' a learnin' experience and applied them anyway. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' me great surprise they applied flawlessly and look great unless you insist on inspectin' t' rocket with a jeweler's loupe. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' lesson learned? As much as I like regular Valspar paint, arrr, ya bilge rat, I'd be much better served by findin' another, matey, less aggressive clearcoat.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:

I've only managed one flight so far, matey, but that has been because I've been doin' a lot more small field flyin' than I'd normally like o' late. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! (One thin' this bird isn't is small field capable.) T' flight was on a breezy, late March day when everythin' that flew encountered heavy-duty drift problems. Aye aye! I countered t' drift somewhat by flyin' into t' breeze, ya bilge rat, matey, but still wound up with a sizable walk. Aye aye! Flyin' on an Estes E9-6, me bucko, t' first flight be about as I expected. Begad! Blimey! Aimin' it slightly into t' breeze and it's natural tendency t' weathercock somewhat made for a slow, angular flight path that took it several hundred feet south o' t' pads. Aye aye! Ejection occurred a tad early, but close enough that most o' t' speed had been scrubbed off already. Ya scallywag! I like t' E-9 on a rocket o' this type. Avast, me proud beauty! It's flight be much like a Big Bertha on a C6, leavin' you feelin' that you'd seen t' whole flight without any undue snappin' o' t' neck. Aye aye! Well, matey, blow me down! Recovery was likewise slow on an 18" checkered chute that I had recently bought from an Ebay vendor. It crossed over t' flightline and drifted several hundred feet into t' early sprin' brambles, me hearties, an easy recovery considerin' t' conditions.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:

While kits like t' Screamin' Mimi don't do much for me from an aesthetic standpoint, their one advantage is that they use t' same parts that some o' t' classics used. Screamin' Mimi's are versatile in that they can be used as parts donors for a Red Max, Omega, or a Patriot, ya bilge rat, as well as several others.

Pro's:

• Not designed by a computer.
• Classy red, ya bilge rat, matey, black and white paint and decal scheme for a classic.
• Uncluttered look.

Con's:

• T' name has been resurrected with less than stellar results.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5