Brief:
This is for t' Box o' Parts contest Well, this rocket for me has had multiple problems, arrr, hence t' “jinx” name. Aye aye! Part o' t' issues was good old procrastination. Avast! But, ya bilge rat, excessive work schedules (a few weeks where I be averaging 70 hours a week), stuck tubes, matey, a crashin' computer that lost me files, ya bilge rat, and crashin' rockets (more about that later) – but it finally flew successfully! T' parts arrived late March. Blimey! Like a kid giddy at Christmas, me hearties, I opened t' box, and was surprised by t' amount o' stuff!

Construction:
T' parts that I used are listed below:

• 1 – BT80 x 14 ¼” tube
• 1 – BT55 x 13 ½” tube
• 1 – BT50 x 18” tube
• 1 – BT50 x 3 ¼” tube
• 1 – BT20 x 18” tube
• 1 – BT20 x 3” tube
• 1 – BT19 x 3” tube
• 2 – BT5 x 9” tube
• 2 – BT5 x 7 ½” tube
• 1 – BT80 x 4” coupler
• 2 – BT55 x 3” couplers
• 1 – 80K balsa nose cone
• 1 – BT55 x 5 ½” plastic nose cone
• 2 – BT55 x 3” broken plastic nose cones
• 2 – BT20 x 2 ¾” nose cones
• 1 – BT20 x 1” fiber nose cone
• 3 – BT20 ~ BT50 adapters
• 1 – BT50 ~ BT60 adapter
• 1 – plastic cup
• 3 – measure/mix cups
• 2 –large plastic caps
• 5 – small plastic caps
• 1 – BT5 fin can
• 1 – dual display nozzle
• 2 – 12” parachutes
• Misc 1/8” balsa
• Misc 1/16” balsa
• 1 – fin
• 3 - snap swivels
• 2 – engine hooks
• 1/8” launch lug
• 7 – toothpicks
• ¼” dowel
• 2 large skewers
• 3 small skewers
• Paper
• Decals
• Holographic sheet
• Mailin' box

T' first thin' I did was t' weigh t' parts. My goal was t' use as much as possible. Based on t' weight, I decided that t' rocket would need a cluster o' 2 D engines t' fly. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I also felt t' amount o' balsa wood be a bit skimpy (but as I actually got into t' build, shiver me timbers, it appeared that whenever I needed some wood, thar was still a piece available).

Durin' t' rest o' t' build, you will find me referrin' t' version 1.1 and version 1.2. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! What should be obvious, I first built version 1.1. First flight was at NERFF 4 and t' rocket crashed, causin' some major damage. Aye aye! JINX! T' keep with only usin' what came in t' box, arrr, I repaired and updated t' design t' version 1.2. Blimey! T' second launch also crashed. JINX! But at least nay as bad.

Durin' t' development, I made up various pieces and taped them together, ya bilge rat, givin' me some flexibility t' adapt the design. Avast, me proud beauty! Below is a teaser o' t' taped up version. Blimey! You will also see where I filled spirals usin' Elmer’s F&F.

I be tempted t' fly it, but I could nay figure out

1. Begad! What t' speed o' maskin' tape was

2. Arrr! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! How t' convince an RSO t' launch it

3. How many pieces would it be in after a flight

For version 1.1, shiver me timbers, matey, one o' me first steps was t' boil some corn (although clams or any other grub would work as well – or just plain water). Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Once t' water was boiling, I placed t' 1/16” strip o' balsa (it was 2” x 12”) across t' pan. Ahoy! Besides satisfyin' me hunger, I was also steamin' t' wood so I could bend it. Aye aye! Ahoy! Blimey! T' corn was done first so I had t' keep steamin' t' balsa but I finally removed t' balsa and sandwiched them betwixt 2 o' my wife’s cake savers (one is 10” t' other is 12”). Ahoy! WARNING – that last step can get you into trouble!! Blimey! I let this sit for a while (over a day) for t' balsa t' retain its shape

I decided on usin' t' BT80 as me main tube, me hearties, with 3 pod tubes off o' this main. Avast! I wanted t' use t' couplers to hold these pods. Aye aye! Aye aye! Take t' 3 couplers (1 BT80 and 2 BT55) and draw lines t' length o' t' coupler on opposite sides (180 degrees apart). Avast! Avast! For t' BT80, me hearties, make a mark at 2” on one line and a mark at 1” on t' other. Begad! Ya scallywag! For t' BT55, make t' marks at 1” and ½”. Avast! Begad! Usin' stiff paper, me hearties, matey, connect t' marks on both sides. Well, blow me down! Usin' a sharp knife, cut along these lines.

Some other preparation work – take one o' t' 9” BT5 tubes. Blimey! Make a mark 4.5” down from one end. Cut t' tube usin' this mark as t' center on an angle, matey, shiver me timbers, ¼” above and below this position. Begad! Ahoy! Epoxy a large plastic cap t' t' straight end o' each tube.

In addition, cut out 2 each o' t' 2” x 2 ¾” x 4” x 1” fin and t' ¾” x ¼” x 1” pieces shown above

For t' motor mount, me hearties, I traced t' BT80 onto t' mailin' box and cut out t' circle. Arrr! Avast! Then I drew a line that went through t' center. Begad! Begad! On here, me bucko, matey, I traced 2 circles, arrr, me bucko, centered on t' line but t' edges separated by about 1/8”. I cut out these holes and dry fitted t' piece into t' BT80 and t' BT50 tubes into t' center circles. Sand t' fit. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Once satisfied, me hearties, I used t' first piece as a template and made a second piece. Ya scallywag! T' two BT50 motor tubes had a 1/8” slit made 2 ½” from one end. Insert t' motor hook and secure with tape. Well, blow me down! Slide t' motor tubes into t' two centerin' rings. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Cut another piece o' cardboard 2” x 2.6” Glue t' 2 motor tubes t' t' centerin' rings, sandwichin' t' 2” x 2.6” cardboard betwixt t' motor tubes and t' rings. Avast, me proud beauty! Let dry.

Take t' other 2 tongue depressors and make a mark 2 ½” from each end on t' edge. Begad! Blimey! Draw a line connectin' t' marks. Avast! Blimey! Cut t' tongue depressor apart on this diagonal line. Avast! Blimey! Bevel t' cut edges and glue t' pieces back together t' create an angle. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Glue a toothpick into t' angle created.

For version 1.1, me hearties, I made some standoffs. Avast! Cut 4 pieces o' balsa ½” x 1 ¼”. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Bevel one o' t' 1 ¼” edges on each piece. Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Glue t' pieces together so t' bevels create a “V” channel

While t' version 1.1 was designed for a 3/16” rod, me bucko, ya bilge rat, t' rocket was too heavy. Blimey! T' version 1.2 was upgraded for ¼” rod. Well, blow me down! Since all I got was 1/8” launch lug material, shiver me timbers, I had t' improvise. Take 3 o' t' small skewers, cut 2 t' 7” and t' third t' 9” from t' pointed tip. Begad! Save t' cut off ends for future use. Glue the two 7” skewers t' a tongue depressor even with t' ends. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Let dry. Blimey! Cut t' ¼” dowel into two 6” sections. Avast, me proud beauty! Glue these t' t' 7” skewers. Blimey! Begad! Finally, ya bilge rat, t' 9” skewer needs t' be glued in t' middle o' t' tongue depressor on t' opposite side.

From t' 1/8” balsa, cut 2 fins 9” x 3”. Ahoy! I received a plywood fin that be already 6” x 2 ¼”. Begad! You would need t' cut your own fin out.

T' BT80 section needs t' be lengthened for stability, ya bilge rat, so I transformed t' 80K nose cone into a transition. Avast! For version 1.1, matey, me hearties, I planned t' eject t' parachutes from t' very top, but I ran into issues. Well, blow me down! Version 1.2 separates at the transition. Avast, me proud beauty! First, take t' plastic cup and cut about 1 1/8” diameter hole in t' top. Ahoy! Slide t' cup over t' nose cone end. Ya scallywag! Adjust t' hole size until t' edge o' t' cup (with t' lip) is snug on t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Carefully, shiver me timbers, cut away the trim, arrr, double check t' fit, matey, then glue t' cup over t' nose cone. Let dry.

This is how it looks when done

T' attach t' top t' t' nose cone, take one o' t' BT 20 t' BT50 adapters and place it over t' top o' t' 80K nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Mark where it touches t' cone and remove it. Blimey! Take t' BT50 tube. Begad! First cut off a 3” length (to use as a motor mount). Blimey! Slide a BT50 section over t' nose cone end. Again, me bucko, matey, mark where it touches. Arrr! Dry fit t' BT20 t' BT50 adapter in t' 15” length and t' BT50 t' BT60 over t' same end. Push t' tube and adapters onto t' nose cone and verify t' fit. Once you are satisfied, slide t' BT50 t' BT60 adapter up a bit and remove t' BT20 t' BT50 adapter. Begad! I used 30 minute epoxy; put some inside t' BT50 tube followed by t' BT20 t' BT50 adapter. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Place more epoxy on t' outside o' t' BT50 tube near t' end. Finally, place more epoxy on t' nose cone at t' marks made earlier. Place t' tube over t' end o' t' nose cone and press down. Avast, me proud beauty! This will push t' BT20 t' BT50 adapter up, and slide the BT50 t' BT60 adapter down. Make sure t' tube is straight with t' nose cone. Let dry.

While t' transition section is drying, you can make t' nose cone section. Take t' 3” BT20 tube and 4 equally spaced lines (every 90 degrees) along t' length o' t' tube. Begad! Arrr! From one end, make marks at 1” on two opposite lines, me bucko, and marks at 1 ½” on t' other two opposite lines. Similar t' t' couplers, connect t' marks and carefully cut t' tube. Avast! Arrr! Take t' BT19 tube and make 2 lines t' length o' t' tube on opposite sides.. Ahoy! I am not sure if BT19 is a real designation. Ahoy! (This tube is one you would normally get with an Estes rocket, make a mark, put glue inside a motor tube, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and use this tube t' push t' motor block in up t' t' mark, shiver me timbers, and then “quickly remove to keep from gettin' stuck”).

One piece o' t' BT20 will be slightly smaller. Aye aye! This be t' top. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Glue it onto t' BT19 linin' up t' pointed ends with t' marks on t' tube. Glue t' 1” BT20 nose cone onto this end. Glue t' other BT20 section onto t' BT19, also linin' up t' pointed ends. Avast! Glue 2 BT20 t' BT50 adapters onto this end. Blimey! I put t' first on so it only left a small 1/16” ~ 1/8” o' t' BT20 extending, matey, so t' adapters are mostly glued t' each other

Since t' 1.1 version was t' be t' separation point for ejection, me hearties, me hearties, I did nay want this nose t' slide down, so I created a lip by cuttin' 2 launch lug sections, with t' tops cut at an angle, me hearties, t' t' BT20 tube in line with the pointed ends. Begad! Begad! T' 2 balsa pieces cut earlier (¾” x ¼” x 1” pieces) were glued t' t' top on the shorter portion, matey, ya bilge rat, 90 degrees from t' launch lugs.

I glued 2 toothpicks as antenna, but they smartly broke off. Avast! I would nay bother.

Once t' top be dry, t' ensure stability, arrr, I added 1.5 ounces o' epoxy and BB pellets t' t' top.

T' win' pods can start assembly. Blimey! Cut t' 18” BT20 in half. Aye aye! Begad! Draw a line along t' length o' t' 2 pieces. Make marks at 2 ¼” and 7” from one end. Avast! Glue t' 2 BT55 couplers cut before at t' 2 ¼” and 7” locations. Avast! Avast! Note t' positions o' t' smaller and larger coupler segment and t' direction o' t' angled cuts. Make 2 o' these. Well, blow me down! Glue t' BT20 x 2 ¾” nose cones in. Usin' a Dremel tool, I cleaned up t' ends o' t' broken BT55 nose cones. Begad! Arrr! These I epoxied into t' other end t' look like a nozzle. Blimey! Begad! I canted t' nozzle for appearance. Let dry, then glue t' 2” x 2 ¾” x 4” x 1” fin t' t' other side. Begad! You should cut a notch into t' fin to fit over t' coupler.

Back t' t' main section, I slid t' larger BT80 coupler into t' BT80 tube with t' point even with t' end. Aye aye! Blimey! I used this as a markin' template t' cut t' BT80 tube. Begad! Blimey! I then spent an hour tryin' t' get t' coupler out o' t' tube, causin' me t' have t' cut ¼” strip off where a chewed it up tryin' t' push t' jammed thin' out. Aye aye! Blimey! JINX! Blimey! Cut out t' BT80 tube at t' mark.

I used a piece o' paper and marked t' paper t' determine t' BT80 circumference. Sorry for changin' units, but I found it t' be almost exactly 21 cm. Well, blow me down! I wanted t' wings pods t' be slightly asymmetrical, ya bilge rat, so for 3 pods they should be 7cm apart, instead I used 6cm. Well, blow me down! for t' 2 wings. Avast, me proud beauty! I centered t' point with t' 6cm marks on t' point o' t' BT80 tube and marked t' tube. Extend these lines t' length o' t' tube. Well, blow me down! Glue t' motor mount into t' BT80 so t' 2 tubes are perpendicular t' t' point.

Since me motor mount was cardboard, matey, I did coat it with epoxy for protection.

Glue t' launch lug assembly so t' aft o' t' dowel is 4” from t' end o' t' BT80 tube.

Glue t' win' pods t' t' BT80 so t' aft o' t' win' coupler is 1” from t' end o' t' BT80 tube on the 6cm lines.

Thee rudder pod is similar t' t' win' pods. Mark and glue t' BT80 couplers t' t' BT55 tube at 2 ¾” and 9 7/8” positions. Begad! Ya scallywag! Glue t' smaller fin t' t' coupler and body tube (you will need t' cut a notch into t' fin for t' coupler) as shown.

T' 2 large fins should wait until this is glued t' t' BT80 tube. Aye aye! Mark and glue this pod t' t' BT80 tube, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, again with t' end o' t' coupler 1” from t' end o' t' BT80 tube. Begad! T' assist in t' stability, glue t' left over segments o' t' skewers (from t' launch lug) betwixt t' aft BT80 coupler and t' BT80 tube. T' 4 ½” BT5 tubes glue betwixt t' front coupler and t' BT80 tube, ya bilge rat, alignin' t' angled cut with t' coupler. Glue t' BT55 nose cone t' t' front.

Once dry, glue t' larger fins betwixt t' coupler sections on either side. Aye aye! Begad! T' make a nozzle for t' rudder, ya bilge rat, arrr, I sanded and roughed up t' 3 measuring/mixin' cups. Begad! I cut 2 circles (1 3/8” diameter) from t' mailin' box. I beveled t' edge, and then glued one circle into 2 o' t' cups, then glued t' cups together (all usin' epoxy). Once dry, matey, ya bilge rat, this glued into t' aft o' t' BT55 tube. Begad! This nozzle I left straight.

Now t' complete t' top. Startin' at t' BT50 t' BT60 adapter, glue 2 large skewers and 2 toothpicks along the tube. Avast! Attach two o' t' 7” BT5 tubes in line with t' toothpicks startin' at 9” from t' top o' t' BT50 tube. Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Glue small plastic caps t' t' top o' these tubes. Glue t' nose assembly t' t' top. Begad! T' launch lugs should be in line with t' BT5 tubes

T' shock cord was cut in half. Well, blow me down! A provided screw eye be attached t' t' 80K nose cone. Avast! Blimey! I used some o' t' paper to make a trifold t' attach t' shock cord t' t' main tubes. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Usin' t' snap swivels, ya bilge rat, one 12” parachute was attached t' t' top and t' other was attached t' t' main tube shock cord.

For version 1.1, t' bent balsa was attached t' t' fins on t' wings. Aye aye! T' V beveled standoffs were attached over the win' fins. Blimey! A missile be made usin' t' last BT5 tube, t' fin can, t' display nozzle, and another small cap. Ahoy! Arrr! A missile rack was made with some ¼” x ¼” x 2” supports. Avast! Finally, two 1” x 3” supports were made t' support t' missile. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Your size may vary based on t' size o' your wife’s cake savers (or other molds you may have used).

Flight:
Cuttin' things t' t' wire, t' night before I left for NERRF I’m givin' this thin' a quick primer coat and 1 coat o' white. Ya scallywag! There were supposed t' be chances o' thunderstorms at NERRF and I was afraid t' field could be wet. Water and cardboard don’t mix. Well, blow me down! So, on Saturday, arrr, ya bilge rat, off t' NERRF 4 I went t' fly t' beast. Well, blow me down! As I previously stated, the rocket was designed t' eject t' parachutes from t' top (I did nay discuss about t' holes I drilled through the 80K nose cone. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! As I was preppin' t' rocket, I noticed t' parachutes were tight. Avast, me proud beauty! This had me concerned. Blimey! Begad! I had not glued t' 80K t' t' BT80 (fortunately), so I taped this joint. Well, blow me down! Installed 2 D12-3 engines and got through t' RSO (he did wince when I stated it only used two 12” parachutes). Avast! While waitin' t' load, matey, shiver me timbers, I had several comments askin' how I kept all t' small pieces on. Avast, me proud beauty! I explained this be its first flight. Blimey! Ya scallywag! We called a heads up flight.

They launched t' HPR rockets, shiver me timbers, started t' LPR – and stopped halfway! They then went t' more HPR and did not come back t' t' LPR. My rocket sat on t' pad for over an hour. JINX! Finally, it launched. Ya scallywag! It danced a bit on t' pad – t' rocket weight was really too heavy for a 3/16’ rod. Avast! Also, matey, I thought t' 3/16” rods were 4’, but they were only 3’. But, me bucko, t' rocket went up nice and straight. Ahoy! Blimey! But those tight chutes did nay come out. The tape at t' transition let go – crash. JINX!

I gathered up t' pieces. Arrr! Ahoy! T' worst damage be t' wing. Avast, me proud beauty! At least t' corn had tasted good.

As I previously stated, at this point I cut off t' 1.1 version o' t' launch lug and rebuilt it as version 1.2. I decided t' missile added too much weight, shiver me timbers, and I had no good place t' put it, me hearties, so I left it off. Avast! I cut off the standoffs for t' tongue depressors and mounted them upside down. It be also at this point when I changed t' t' shock cords t' connect at t' transition. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! So, I went back t' NERRF on Sunday. Begad! Blimey! While loadin' t' engines, matey, I had t' rocket leanin' against t' side o' me car. I had t' grab something, and it fell over and cracked a fin. Begad! JINX! A quick glue repair and it be good t' go. I did nay have t' wait this time, matey, arrr, matey, possible since I be now on t' ¼” rods. Again, arrr, matey, I requested a heads up. Arrr! It launched beautifully straight, shiver me timbers, but when t' chutes came out t' one for t' main section tangled on t' launch lug skewers and landed hard. Begad! JINX! But at least t' top came down gently, and landed in one o' t' water filled irrigation ditches. Avast! Avast! JINX! JINX! JINX! Fortunately, it was only t' very tip with t' epoxy/BB filling. Arrr! There was some minor damage t' t' rocket, shiver me timbers, but it was repairable. Ahoy! I was goin' t' give up, me bucko, but then t' contest got extended a week, ya bilge rat, me hearties, just enough time for some repairs and painting. Arrr!

My son and I went t' a local school yard and did 1 launch. Nice and straight, me bucko, both chutes opened, me bucko, me bucko, and a safe recovery! I be nay goin' t' tempt fate with another launch. Ya scallywag! One thin' I would say, t' rocket really needs 18” chutes minimum. Avast! While t' landin' did nay cause any damage, I did wince as it looked rather hard. Begad! Avast! However, shiver me timbers, I had to live with what I got – t' 12” chutes.

Summary:
This was a great contest that challenged me. Aye aye! Despite all me JINXes, me hearties, me bucko, I think I came up with somethin' special that used almost all o' me parts. Blimey! I guess t' only thin' I didn't try is puttin' t' rest o' t' parts into a blender...