Brief:
This is for t' Box o' Parts contest Well, arrr, ya bilge rat, this rocket for me has had multiple problems, shiver me timbers, hence t' “jinx” name. Avast! Part o' t' issues was good old procrastination. Avast! But, excessive work schedules (a few weeks where I was averaging 70 hours a week), shiver me timbers, stuck tubes, ya bilge rat, me bucko, a crashin' computer that lost me files, and crashin' rockets (more about that later) – but it finally flew successfully! T' parts arrived late March. Well, blow me down! Begad! Like a kid giddy at Christmas, I opened t' box, and be 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. Blimey! Avast! My goal was t' use as much as possible. Based on t' weight, arrr, ya bilge rat, I decided that t' rocket would need a cluster o' 2 D engines t' fly. I also felt t' amount o' balsa wood was a bit skimpy (but as I actually got into t' build, ya bilge rat, me bucko, it appeared that whenever I needed some wood, shiver me timbers, matey, ya bilge rat, 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! Begad! What should be obvious, I first built version 1.1. Avast! First flight was at NERFF 4 and t' rocket crashed, causin' some major damage. JINX! T' keep with only usin' what came in t' box, I repaired and updated t' design t' version 1.2. Ahoy! T' second launch also crashed. JINX! But at least nay as bad.

Durin' t' development, matey, I made up various pieces and taped them together, me bucko, givin' me some flexibility t' adapt the design. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Below is a teaser o' t' taped up version. Blimey! Blimey! You will also see where I filled spirals usin' Elmer’s F&F.

I was tempted t' fly it, me hearties, but I could nay figure out

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

2. Ahoy! Blimey! How t' convince an RSO t' launch it

3. Avast, me proud beauty! How many pieces would it be in after a flight

For version 1.1, me bucko, arrr, 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! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Once t' water be boiling, matey, I placed t' 1/16” strip o' balsa (it be 2” x 12”) across t' pan. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Besides satisfyin' me hunger, me bucko, arrr, me bucko, I be also steamin' t' wood so I could bend it. Avast! 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”). Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! 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, with 3 pod tubes off o' this main. Aye aye! Avast! I wanted t' use t' couplers to hold these pods. Well, blow me down! Take t' 3 couplers (1 BT80 and 2 BT55) and draw lines t' length o' t' coupler on opposite sides (180 degrees apart). Aye aye! For t' BT80, shiver me timbers, make a mark at 2” on one line and a mark at 1” on t' other. Begad! For t' BT55, make t' marks at 1” and ½”. Arrr! Usin' stiff paper, connect t' marks on both sides. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Usin' a sharp knife, cut along these lines.

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

In addition, matey, me hearties, 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, I traced t' BT80 onto t' mailin' box and cut out t' circle. Aye aye! Blimey! Then I drew a line that went through t' center. Aye aye! On here, I traced 2 circles, me hearties, 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. Once satisfied, I used t' first piece as a template and made a second piece. Arrr! T' two BT50 motor tubes had a 1/8” slit made 2 ½” from one end. Blimey! Begad! Insert t' motor hook and secure with tape. Avast! Slide t' motor tubes into t' two centerin' rings. Begad! 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. Ya scallywag! Let dry.

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

For version 1.1, matey, I made some standoffs. Aye aye! Cut 4 pieces o' balsa ½” x 1 ¼”. Aye aye! Bevel one o' t' 1 ¼” edges on each piece. Avast! Glue t' pieces together so t' bevels create a “V” channel

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

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

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

This is how it looks when done

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

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

One piece o' t' BT20 will be slightly smaller. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This be t' top. Arrr! 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. Ya scallywag! Glue t' other BT20 section onto t' BT19, also linin' up t' pointed ends. Begad! Glue 2 BT20 t' BT50 adapters onto this end. I put t' first on so it only left a small 1/16” ~ 1/8” o' t' BT20 extending, so t' adapters are mostly glued t' each other

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

I glued 2 toothpicks as antenna, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but they smartly broke off. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I would nay bother.

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

T' win' pods can start assembly. Cut t' 18” BT20 in half. Arrr! Aye aye! Draw a line along t' length o' t' 2 pieces. Make marks at 2 ¼” and 7” from one end. Glue t' 2 BT55 couplers cut before at t' 2 ¼” and 7” locations. Aye aye! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Note t' positions o' t' smaller and larger coupler segment and t' direction o' t' angled cuts. Make 2 o' these. Glue t' BT20 x 2 ¾” nose cones in. Arrr! Usin' a Dremel tool, I cleaned up t' ends o' t' broken BT55 nose cones. Well, blow me down! These I epoxied into t' other end t' look like a nozzle. Ya scallywag! Avast! I canted t' nozzle for appearance. Let dry, then glue t' 2” x 2 ¾” x 4” x 1” fin t' t' other side. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! 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. Blimey! Arrr! I used this as a markin' template t' cut t' BT80 tube. 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. Ya scallywag! Begad! JINX! Cut out t' BT80 tube at t' mark.

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

Since me motor mount be cardboard, me bucko, me hearties, me bucko, 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. Ya scallywag! Well, arrr, blow me down! Mark and glue t' BT80 couplers t' t' BT55 tube at 2 ¾” and 9 7/8” positions. Ahoy! 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. Blimey! Avast! Mark and glue this pod t' t' BT80 tube, again with t' end o' t' coupler 1” from t' end o' t' BT80 tube. Begad! T' assist in t' stability, me bucko, 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, me hearties, alignin' t' angled cut with t' coupler. Avast, me proud beauty! Glue t' BT55 nose cone t' t' front.

Once dry, me hearties, glue t' larger fins betwixt t' coupler sections on either side. Ahoy! T' make a nozzle for t' rudder, me hearties, I sanded and roughed up t' 3 measuring/mixin' cups. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I cut 2 circles (1 3/8” diameter) from t' mailin' box. Avast! Blimey! I beveled t' edge, me hearties, and then glued one circle into 2 o' t' cups, me hearties, then glued t' cups together (all usin' epoxy). Once dry, shiver me timbers, this glued into t' aft o' t' BT55 tube. Ya scallywag! This nozzle I left straight.

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

T' shock cord was cut in half. Avast! A provided screw eye be attached t' t' 80K nose cone. I used some o' t' paper to make a trifold t' attach t' shock cord t' t' main tubes. Aye aye! Usin' t' snap swivels, matey, 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. Well, blow me down! T' V beveled standoffs were attached over the win' fins. Arrr! A missile be made usin' t' last BT5 tube, t' fin can, t' display nozzle, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and another small cap. Ahoy! A missile rack was made with some ¼” x ¼” x 2” supports. Finally, two 1” x 3” supports were made t' support t' missile. Arrr! 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. Ahoy! Avast! There were supposed t' be chances o' thunderstorms at NERRF and I be afraid t' field could be wet. Water and cardboard don’t mix. Aye aye! So, on Saturday, me hearties, off t' NERRF 4 I went t' fly t' beast. Ahoy! Avast! 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. Aye aye! As I was preppin' t' rocket, I noticed t' parachutes were tight. Begad! Avast! This had me concerned. Avast! Begad! I had not glued t' 80K t' t' BT80 (fortunately), shiver me timbers, me bucko, so I taped this joint. Arrr! Installed 2 D12-3 engines and got through t' RSO (he did wince when I stated it only used two 12” parachutes). While waitin' t' load, me bucko, I had several comments askin' how I kept all t' small pieces on. Blimey! I explained this was its first flight. We called a heads up flight. Aye aye! Arrr!

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

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

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

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