Brief:
I bought this Big Daddy (on sale, arrr, o' course) as a test-bed for a Micro-Hybrid motor. Avast! This required an extension o' t' motor mount, me hearties, and t' capability t' house electronics in t' nose cone. Ahoy! Before flyin' it on a Micro-Hybrid, 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, I will describe only t' modifications that I made. Avast! Because t' Micro-Hybrid is just over 6 inches long, and I wanted t' full motor enclosed by t' motor tube t' protect it from ejection gasses, shiver me timbers, t' 24mm motor mount tube is 7" long. Ya scallywag! 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. I also added a single T-nut for positive motor retention. Arrr! Ya scallywag! 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, after all). 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, matey, I cut t' off t' nose cone shoulder in front o' t' stock parachute hook. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! When lookin' for a method o' attachin' t' recovery system and electronics in t' modified nose cone, I borrowed a tip from T' Rocketry Forum (TRF). Ahoy! I sanded a spare 38mm-to-3" centerin' rin' so that it fits in t' nose cone just ahead o' t' shoulder. Blimey! It rests against t' shoulder, shiver me timbers, which provides a mechanical lock. I added a loop o' tubular Keelhaul®©™® for chute attachment, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and glued t' rin' in with Liquid Nails. Well, blow me down! 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). Well, blow me down! Ahoy! My thanks t' John Coker on this one!

T' control where t' ejection charge gasses go, me hearties, I built an ejection cannon from a piece o' 24mm tubin' and t' motor spacer provided with t' kit. Arrr! 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, me hearties, mountin' assembly, and a standard 9v battery. Begad! T' results are nay encouraging. Arrr! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' Micro-Hybrid's reported thrust ranges are betwixt a D12 and an E24. If me Micro-Hybrid comes in on t' high end, all will be well; if on t' low end, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I will need lighter electronics. Well, blow me down! I am currently thinkin' o' buyin' a Perfectflite mini timer. Blimey! Blimey! Another concern is that t' G-Wiz requires a certain level o' acceleration t' begin operation. 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. 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. Arrr! 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, me hearties, arrr, and used t' retainin' bracket for retention goin' down. Begad! T' speed and altitude were respectable, 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, matey, me hearties, in t' place o' wadding, a chute protector that I made from a discharged car air bag. Begad! Begad! T' airbag material seems t' work great after several tests with both BP and composite motors. Ya scallywag! I'll be sure t' nab more o' these if I get a chance!

Summary:
This rocket be easily modified for longer motors and electronic deployment. Despite t' added weight, it should fly well on t' Micro-Hybrid usin' light electronics. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! I also got t' chance t' try out an Easter Egg paint scheme as discussed on T' Rocketry Forum. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This didn't come out quite as well as expected, ya bilge rat, but be a good first try.