Brief:
I bought this Big Daddy (on sale, o' course) as a test-bed for a Micro-Hybrid motor. Begad! This required an extension o' t' motor mount, matey, and t' capability t' house electronics in t' nose cone. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Before flyin' it on a Micro-Hybrid, me hearties, I'll probably try it on a conventional motor with motor ejection (1st flight) and with electronics (2nd flight).

Modifications:
Since thar are already several articles on t' Big Daddy, me bucko, I will describe only t' modifications that I made. Ya scallywag! Because t' Micro-Hybrid is just over 6 inches long, matey, and I wanted t' full motor enclosed by t' motor tube t' protect it from ejection gasses, t' 24mm motor mount tube is 7" long. Arrr! I used t' stock cardboard centerin' rings and made small notches in them t' allow a Keelhaul®©™ shock cord t' extend t' t' aft o' t' rocket. Begad! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I also added a single T-nut for positive motor retention. Blimey! This is mounted on t' inside o' t' aft centerin' rin' t' make sure it doesn't pull out (the rin' is fairly thin cardboard, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, after all). Aye aye! T' retention bracket itself is a metal picture frame hanger.

T' allow t' mountin' o' electronics in t' nose cone and t' provide more room for t' recovery components, I cut t' off t' nose cone shoulder in front o' t' stock parachute hook. Arrr! When lookin' for a method o' attachin' t' recovery system and electronics in t' modified nose cone, matey, shiver me timbers, I borrowed a tip from T' Rocketry Forum (TRF). Ya scallywag! I sanded a spare 38mm-to-3" centerin' rin' so that it fits in t' nose cone just ahead o' t' shoulder. It rests against t' shoulder, which provides a mechanical lock. Avast! Well, matey, blow me down! I added a loop o' tubular Keelhaul®©™® for chute attachment, and glued t' rin' in with Liquid Nails. Begad! I used this concept on me Standard Cray-ARM , but never had thought o' it for a standard nose cone (vs. t' tip o' me Crayon rocket). My thanks t' John Coker on this one!

T' control where t' ejection charge gasses go, arrr, shiver me timbers, I built an ejection cannon from a piece o' 24mm tubin' and t' motor spacer provided with t' kit. This assembly is glued t' t' forward centerin' rin' and fits nicely betwixt t' extended motor tube and t' airframe.

T' final two mods were an addition o' 3' o' 250lb Keelhaul®©™ twine (I also used t' elastic that was provided with t' kit) and a pair o' rail buttons from railbuttons.com.

After buildin' this rocket, I weighed it along with me G-Wiz altimeter, arrr, mountin' assembly, shiver me timbers, and a standard 9v battery. Ya scallywag! T' results are nay encouraging. T' Micro-Hybrid's reported thrust ranges are betwixt a D12 and an E24. Avast! Well, blow me down! If me Micro-Hybrid comes in on t' high end, matey, all will be well; if on t' low end, me bucko, matey, I will need lighter electronics. Arrr! Blimey! I am currently thinkin' o' buyin' a Perfectflite mini timer. Another concern is that t' G-Wiz requires a certain level o' acceleration t' begin operation. Well, blow me down! Blimey! They have been known t' fail on flights that are too slow off t' pad.

Finishing:
I had been wantin' t' try an Easter egg paint scheme and this rocket provided t' opportunity. Ya scallywag! I will refer you t' T' Rocketry Forum for t' details, but this method basically just involves sprayin' paint into a plastic trash can filled with water and dippin' t' rocket - just like colorin' Easter eggs. Avast, me proud beauty! This time I have t' thank Lee Reep, t' inventor and undisputed master o' this technique! T' paintin' technique also inspired t' 'Dipper' in t' Big Dipper Daddy's name.

One caution: don't dip in direct sunlight, t' paint dries too fast.

Flight:
I chose an E9-6 t' see how t' rocket would fly on a motor with a low average impulse. Begad! I wrapped t' end o' t' motor with tape for retention goin' up, ya bilge rat, and used t' retainin' bracket for retention goin' down. Ahoy! Arrr! T' speed and altitude were respectable, shiver me timbers, which makes me think this rocket will be fine with t' Micro-Hybrid and a light timer.

Recovery:
I used a 12" Mylar chute and, in t' place o' wadding, a chute protector that I made from a discharged car air bag. Ya scallywag! T' airbag material seems t' work great after several tests with both BP and composite motors. I'll be sure t' nab more o' these if I get a chance!

Summary:
This rocket was easily modified for longer motors and electronic deployment. Ahoy! Begad! Despite t' added weight, arrr, it should fly well on t' Micro-Hybrid usin' light electronics. Ahoy! Arrr! I also got t' chance t' try out an Easter Egg paint scheme as discussed on T' Rocketry Forum. Avast, me proud beauty! This didn't come out quite as well as expected, me hearties, but was a good first try.