Brief:
For some time now, I have been a customer of a newer manufacturer, FlisKits, shiver me timbers, arrr, Inc, arrr, and have written a few reviews for EMRR on some o' t' models this company markets. Well, blow me down! T' Deuces Wild! is by far one of my favorite kits from this manufacturer and t' canted cluster 18mm model is a great flier! Blimey! However, when Jim Flis approached me and asked about an HPR version o' t' “Deuce”, ya bilge rat, I just couldn’t resist. Begad! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I began designs in different scales and settled on a 4-inch diameter, me hearties, 38mm version for my upscale which I appropriately named “Deuces Wild — 38 Special”.

Construction:
My model wound up bein' 49.5-inches in height and I used PML 3.9-inch Quantum tubin' for t' bodytube and 38mm phenolic for t' motor mounts. Well, blow me down! T' dimensions for t' upscale proved that these sizes would be very close t' t' correct dimensions. Avast, me proud beauty! Custom 1/2-inch thick ply Centerin' rings were made for t' motor mount; deployment section and bulkheads were made for t' bodytubes and 1/4-inch ply was used for fins. Stainless steel hardware was used throughout the model and I opted for PML’s CPR-Max unit for t' dual deploy. Begad! Finally, I had me good friend Gordon Agnello from Michigan turn a custom nosecone for me, me bucko, which he made from solid poplar. Well, blow me down! Parachutes, me bucko, shock cords, me bucko, Keelhaul®©™® and other extras I already had on hand, matey, so it be time t' start building.

I began by cuttin' two motor mounts t' a length long enough for a three-grain Cesaroni motor. Custom CR’s were next and cut from 9-ply 1/2-inch Birch. Avast, me proud beauty! They are near exact upscales o' t' fiber CR’s shape, arrr, matey, as supplied in t' original’s kit. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' angle on each motor mount be 10 degrees and for additional support, I made t' triangle piece from 1/4-inch ply for support o' t' mounts, another copy from t' original. Ya scallywag! Since this assembly would require portin' for ejection gases, I built a guide tube from 2.1-inch phenolic t' port motor ejection gasses t' t' lower bodytube section. Begad! T' top of this assembly was capped with a stainless steel u-bolt for t' shock cord. Moreover, shiver me timbers, 1/2-inch diameter holes were drilled on two sides o' each rin' and I used 1/2-inch oak wood dowels t' hold t' whole assembly together.. Aye aye! This allowed me t' adjust and reposition t' CR’s t' me likin' for final assembly.

I purchased some 1/4-inch Birch Ply sheets from t' local hobby shop and cut out four fins from t' pattern I had upscaled. Arrr! T' fins had an extended root on them since this would be built with thru-the-wall mounting. Begad! Each fin was fitted t' t' motor mount assembly, which was designed so t' bottom and top CR’s “sandwiched” t' fins for additional strength. Arrr! T' entire assembly be epoxied together usin' West Systems Epoxy and then set aside t' dry. Next, me hearties, I spent time cuttin' each body tube t' length. Begad! Ahoy! I slotted t' bottom BT and cut out t' area for each motor mount usin' a pattern I made from upscaled dimensions. Aye aye! Two separate upper bodytubes were cut; one would be used for dual deploy and one would act as a payload tube for single motor ejection deployment. This versatility allowed the model t' have a broader range o' motors available t' her and still keep the altitude respectable.

A deployment unit was made from two 1/2-inch thick CR’s I made, me bucko, along with a piece o' 38mm tubin' and a 3.9-inch phenolic coupler. I had tons o' PML “CPR” altimeter mounts which I use for other rockets and wanted t' use t' same, matey, test proven deployment for this model, so I decided t' go with t' CPR-Max unit. It was glued t' one end o' t' 38mm tube and provided very simple way t' secure and seal t' altimeter in t' bay. Aye aye! Aye aye! Note that me deployment unit resides inside the coupler for t' upper bodytube. Begad! Blimey! As a side note, ya bilge rat, I really like this CPR-Max unit and will probably use it quite a bit in t' future for other large projects; it’s a very nice piece o' hardware and inexpensive t' boot!

A 5/16-inch eye-bolt was installed in the nosecone and a stainless steel U-bolt was used t' connect t' shock cord for the upper section. Blimey! This U-bolt was mounted t' t' top CR o' t' altimeter bay, while two more eye-bolts were used on t' bottom. When assembled, arrr, t' lower section contains t' drogue chute, while t' upper section o' BT contains the main chute, ya bilge rat, nosecone chute and nosecone. Begad! I decided on two separate parachutes for t' upper section, as t' nosecone was made from solid Poplar and weighed in at over 2.5 lbs. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! With heavier nosecones, matey, I always let them come down under their own parachute and this helps prevent zipperin' o' t' upper bodytube.

After t' upper sections and hardware were assembled, arrr, t' lower fin can was installed in t' lower bodytube. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I used finishin' nails t' tack t' BT t' the fin support planks and bottom CR. Ahoy! Also, Epoxy Putty was used t' fill any small gaps around t' area where t' motor mounts exited t' bodytube. Ya scallywag! T' lower area was sanded and 6 ounce glass cloth be used t' fiberglass t' fin area and motors mounts for additional strength. Ahoy! Additionally, matey, me bucko, me bucko, I coated t' entire nosecone in epoxy t' help prevent shrinkage and cracking.

T' fin area was sanded and blended together, arrr, and then t' entire model was fine sanded with 400 grit sandpaper. Ya scallywag! I added a few coats o' White Krylon Primer, ya bilge rat, matey, then wet-sanded with 220 grit. This was followed by a few coats o' Gray Krylon Primer; once dried, I used filler for any small areas. Aye aye! T' model be wet sanded again with 320 grit, arrr, then a final set o' three coats o' White Primer were added for t' base-coat. Ahoy! Aye aye! A couple days were given for t' primer t' dry, arrr, ya bilge rat, arrr, then it was fine sanded with 400 grit and tack ragged prior t' painting.

I used Krylon Sky Blue (medium blue) and Yellow Glossy for t' colors, as I wanted t' follow t' paint scheme for t' original on t' Deuces Wild! package. Three coats o' blue were applied t' both upper body tubes and t' nosecone and left t' dry. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I cut a small hole in t' dual-deploy upper BT and installed a power switch for t' altimeter. T' lower section be done entirely in yellow, followed by a couple days o' drying, matey, some maskin' and two coats o' Krylon Blue. I took me time t' mask as I wanted t' finish t' turn out well. Blimey! T' final assembly resulted in a model weighin' 8.5lbs “empty” and very closely resemblin' t' original Deuces Wild! model.

Flight:
I had planned on flyin' t' “Deuces Wild —38 Special” at a launch in Whitakers, arrr, but weather and lack o' time prevented this from happening. Avast, me proud beauty! As a backup date, shiver me timbers, I took t' Deuce t' NSL 2003 in Clark Summit, PA. Jim Flis and I had a featured event where he launched a MMX, 13mm, 18mm and 24mm version o' t' “Deuce” and I launched t' 38mm version, all in succession..

I began by preparin' t' model. Aye aye! The altimeter was assembled and installed in t' rocket, ya bilge rat, matey, then t' lower shock cords and drogue chute were installed. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' two sections were joined and I began by packin' t' upper shock cord, arrr, shiver me timbers, 60-inch PML main parachute, 30-inch PML nosecone chute, matey, nosecone shock cord and nosecone. Arrr! Arrr! It was a tight fit but all went together. Well, blow me down! Arrr! A few pieces o' maskin' were added t' t' nosecone and coupler to adjust fit, then I turned t' t' power plant.

T' plan be t' use two Cesaroni Pro38 3-grain I212 Smokey Sam motors for power. Both o' these were assembled, me hearties, but I dumped out t' BP ejection from one motor and used t' DAT tool t' cut t' ejection o' t' other motor t' 12 seconds. Avast! They were then installed in each motor mount and capped usin' Aeropack retainers. I filled out t' flight card and headed t' t' RSO table t' check in the big “Deuce.” T' model caught t' eye o' t' RSO; somethin' about bright colors and two big motor mounts cantin' out o' t' bottom. Aye aye! Well, matey, blow me down! I almost fell over when he announced it weighed in at a whoppin' 13lbs 5oz!!! At this weight, I changed me guesstimate altitude t' around 1400 feet.

I had t' borrow a rail from one o' me friends at t' launch and we set up on a “K” pad, far away from t' crowd. I wanted it have some safety factor built in case thar were problems with motor ignition. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This be one of the reasons I chose Pro38 motors as they light very fast and use low power e-matches which would nay overtax any launch system. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' Deuces Wild — 38 Special was placed on t' pad, t' altimeter was turned on and I installed the two igniters. Blimey! Blimey! Now came t' wait…

When it came time, each o' t' FlisKits models were launched in succession, followed by t' big Deuce. Blimey! When t' countdown came though—nothing. I swallowed me heart and headed back out t' t' pad t' see what was wrong. Another guy next t' me also did nay launch and continuity tested good for both our pads. Avast! Ahoy! T' main box be disabled and switched t' t' far away pad for an M motor cert3 launch. Blimey! T' Deuce would have t' wait.

Come t' find out, ya bilge rat, after t' big L3 went up, the electronics expert at t' field found a blown fuse in t' system, which was quickly replaced. My launch was back on! It be announced as a “Scheduled Event/Notable Launch” and all t' information for it was read. Begad! Arrr! My good friend Jim Flis was standin' next t' me when deadlights began t' turn t' t' Deuce as the LCO started t' countdown and pushed t' button…

Both motors came t' life instantly—I really like those Pro38 Motors!!! T' Deuces Wild — 38 Special took off t' rail fast and loud, with average impulse totalin' a J424 behind it. T' smoke trail was absolutely awesome!!! T' model went straight up, ya bilge rat, arrr, no rotation, ya bilge rat, and allowed t' audience t' view two separate smoke trails that were absolutely incredible!

Recovery:
I faintly heard t' applause in t' background as it topped over and separated at apogee—halfway home. Ahoy! Blimey! T' model began t' tumble in and I completely missed t' backup charge fire on t' one motor. When it hit 750 feet, ya bilge rat, t' main charge fired, t' nosecone came out under chute and t' main came out and filled! Blimey! T' crowd be cheerin' by now and I could hear them under a breath of relief that everythin' went exactly as planned. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Both t' model and nosecone came down together, evenly in decent rate and landed about 200 yards out and straight ahead. Ya scallywag! It was a perfect launch.

In t' excitement, I had broken t' golden rule and was so busy with people comin' up t' me, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I forgot t' watch where the rocket landed! Fortunately, I had people watchin' out for me and me bucko Doug Gardei pointed out where it landed. Begad! T' Deuces Wild — 38 Special was retrieved and beepin' out an altitude o' 1372 feet—very close t' my guesstimate I gave t' RSO. Ahoy! Blimey! T' model landed without a scratch and I was very pleased with t' stability and performance. Begad! Well, blow me down! After watchin' t' videos, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I noticed it coasted for a while after motor burn out, ya bilge rat, me bucko, with it whistlin' a bit while flying. Avast! Blimey! I want t' thank everyone thar for makin' it a real “featured” event—It’s great rocketeers that make a great launch and NSL 2003 was filled with them that day. I do have plans for flying it once again at NARAM this year, arrr, so we will see how that goes, but for now, shiver me timbers, I am happy with me first cluster, ya bilge rat, and a canted one at that!!!

Summary:
To summarize, ya bilge rat, t' model be very easy t' build and it flew great. Avast! About the only change I would make would be t' extend t' motor mounts just a bit more, as they are too short t' handle a Pro38 4-grain. Still, shiver me timbers, with t' performance I had and t' altitude that be achieved, arrr, I have a hard time changin' anything. T' model does deserve an additional touch, me bucko, me bucko, ya bilge rat, somethin' I be holdin' off on until I saw how well it worked. Blimey! I am gettin' some matchin' color Skyangle parachutes for it, matey, hopefully by NARAM, arrr, ya bilge rat, in t' yellow and blue.. Begad! With the weight, ya bilge rat, matey, I figured on a 20-inch drogue, shiver me timbers, a 30-inch for t' nosecone and a 54-inch with d-bag for t' main. Aye aye! This should allow for some better packin' in the forward section. Begad! Anyone interested in tryin' their hand at one o' these can shoot me an email or check out t' thread on T' Rocketry Forum; all t' pics are thar t' build this crowd pleaser…the Deuces Wild — 38 Special!