Construction

I was racin' t' get this built durin' a short period when both me girls were napping, so I didn't have a huge amount o' time t' document with pictures and even forgot t' do t' internal fillets!

I pretty much ignored t' instructions, but I did use t' green rin' Estes have supplied t' line up tbe centerin' rings correctly, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, this be very useful and I liked t' attention t' detail. Avast!  I built t' entire model with yellow glue as I like it, except for a dab o' epoxy at t' end.

I put two centerin' rings either side o' t' fin tabs and left t' third one off t' use it in a zipperless modification. Avast, me proud beauty! T' centerin' rings were tight on both t' motor and body tubes, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but I didn't sand them as t' tighter t' better for keepin' it solid with minimum extra weight. Blimey! I didn't put in a thrust rin' as I plan t' use Cesaroni reloadables o' various lengths. I tied a 10 foot length o' kevlar t' t' motor tube and through t' upper centerin' rin' t' avoid usin' t' Estes 3 fold method. 

I am buildin' t' model t' break apart at t' coupler in t' aft section, and used t' third centerin' rin' on t' top o' t' coupler t' stop t' kevlar from zipperin' t' body tube. Begad! Avast! Blimey! I have nay tried it before and we will see how it works.

My first issue with t' kit (beyond t' shock cord and attachment) be that if you put t' transition and nose cone into t' payload thar be almost no room left for anything. Begad! I want at least a mobile phone in thar for camera and trackin' so I trimmed off t' top o' t' transition t' give myself more volume, shiver me timbers, howvever t' lower end o' t' transition is pierced. I realise this will have all t' laundry betwixt t' motor and this hole but t' stop any pressure passin' through and poppin' off t' nosecone I sealed it with a bit o' scrap balsa from t' launch lug standoffs.

I then fitted and glued t' fins, ya bilge rat, and tied t' elastic t' t' lower part o' t' transition and glued t' transition into t' "upper-lower body tube" (if that makes sense) and t' payload tube.

T' elastic and kevlar I tied t' a steel curtain rin' I have lyin' around for this sort o' thing, and attach t' parachute t' t' rin' as well. Ahoy! I will add some permanent waddin' as well before flying.

T' fins went on well and lined up easily.

After that I realised I had forgotten t' add internal fillets but t' rocket is feelin' pretty solid and I think I will get away with it especially with TTW tabs.

I then scored t' inside o' t' retainer body with a craft knife, and epoxied it into place. Begad! I had a little run into t' motor tube but saved it with finger soaked in meths and added that t' t' aft fillet I built up below t' retainer so t' epoxy puddled around t' centerin' rin' and t' base o' t' retainer.

T' standoffs I thought were very interesting. I discarded t' lugs as we tend t' launch this size rocket from rails in t' UK and will be addin' buttons onto t' standoffs. Begad! Blimey! They are very simply two pairs o' thin standoffs that you glue together t' make a much more sturdy attachment for t' launch guides. I used an aluminium angle and drew a line, then glued these on. Well, blow me down! Once everythin' was dry and set I will add t' rail buttons.

My daughter was squawkin' through t' monitor so I washed up and went t' get her.