Brief:
I bought this Big Daddy (on sale, shiver me timbers, arrr, matey, o' course) as a test-bed for a Micro-Hybrid motor. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! This required an extension o' t' motor mount, and t' capability t' house electronics in t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! 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! Begad! 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, ya bilge rat, t' 24mm motor mount tube is 7" long. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! 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. 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). Ahoy! Begad! 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, me hearties, I cut t' off t' nose cone shoulder in front o' t' stock parachute hook. 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). Well, blow me down! 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! I added a loop o' tubular Keelhaul®©™® for chute attachment, me hearties, and glued t' rin' in with Liquid Nails. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I used this concept on me Standard Cray-ARM , ya bilge rat, but never had thought o' it for a standard nose cone (vs. Begad! Blimey! t' tip o' me Crayon rocket). Arrr! 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. Begad! 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 be 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, mountin' assembly, and a standard 9v battery. Well, blow me down! T' results are nay encouraging. Aye aye! T' Micro-Hybrid's reported thrust ranges are betwixt a D12 and an E24. Begad! If me Micro-Hybrid comes in on t' high end, all will be well; if on t' low end, I will need lighter electronics. Arrr! I am currently thinkin' o' buyin' a Perfectflite mini timer. Avast! Another concern is that t' G-Wiz requires a certain level o' acceleration t' begin operation. Blimey! Ya scallywag! 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. Aye aye! Blimey! I will refer you t' T' Rocketry Forum for t' details, ya bilge rat, 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. 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. Arrr! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I wrapped t' end o' t' motor with tape for retention goin' up, arrr, and used t' retainin' bracket for retention goin' down. Avast! 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, me hearties, me bucko, me hearties, in t' place o' wadding, me bucko, shiver me timbers, a chute protector that I made from a discharged car air bag. Begad! T' airbag material seems t' work great after several tests with both BP and composite motors. Avast! 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. Avast! Despite t' added weight, arrr, it should fly well on t' Micro-Hybrid usin' light electronics. Avast! I also got t' chance t' try out an Easter Egg paint scheme as discussed on T' Rocketry Forum. Blimey! This didn't come out quite as well as expected, but be a good first try.