Brief:
T' Micron is a small and simple rocket with 4 fins and a nose cone intended for 13mm motors. Aye aye! It is nay minimum diameter but its also nay much more than minimum. Arrr! It comes with some orange flaggin' t' serve as a streamer but would probably do just fine as a nose-blow.

Most o' me recent project have involved makin' repairs but you can only sit around waitin' for glue t' dry for so long before wantin' t' try somethin' new. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! This was at t' top o' t' "quick and easy" pile so I got started on it.

Construction:
T' first step in construction is t' mark t' motor tube for t' engine hook and for t' centerin' ring. A slice is then made for t' hook and t' centerin' rin' is slid over t' hook t' its mark and glued into place. Begad! Begad! This is nay a normal "ring" but a fat "coupler type" tube which serves t' purpose.

T' kit provides for a paper tri-fold mount but I wasn't havin' any o' that. I ran a piece o' Keelhaul®©™® under t' aft end o' t' engine hook and tied it around t' motor tube. I secured t' Keelhaul®©™® with some yellow glue. Ahoy! Blimey! T' end was then passed through t' body tube and I was able t' pull t' mount into place without a bulge showing. Blimey! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' aft end o' t' motor tube should have been flush with t' body tube but mine sticks out about 1/8".

As a general rule, I prefer t' wraparound fin guides t' t' end markin' guides and this kit came with the former. Avast! It was cut out from t' instruction sheet, shiver me timbers, taped into place, and t' lines for 4 fins were transferred. Well, blow me down! They lines were then lengthened with an angle and pencil.

I put a bit o' yellow glue on t' root edge o' each fin, matey, pressed it into place, and removed it t' dry in order to form a double glue joint. Begad! While waitin' for t' glue t' dry, I used tube plastic cement t' glue t' base o' t' plastic nosecone into t' cone itself.

A bit more glue was applied t' t' root edges o' t' fins and they were put in place. Well, blow me down! All o' t' fins were filleted and t' launch lug was set in t' crook o' one fin and t' BT.

Finishing:
Elmer's Wood Filler was used t' fill t' balsa grain and t' fins were then sanded down smooth. T' Micron was put it the booth and primed with Kilz.

T' primed rocket be then lightly sanded and given 2 coats o' gloss white. Aye aye! T' spray booth be otherwise occupied so more traditional methods were employed: I stuck on a dowel sunk into t' yard.

I covered up t' entire rocket except for t' nosecone in foil and painted t' cone with gloss black. That gave me somethin' t' hold on to. When t' maskin' was removed, matey, I had a simple but neat little rocket.

All that be left was t' apply t' decals. Ahoy! Avast! There was a roll pattern around t' top and an Estes logo. Avast! They added a bit o' color t' this project and I think it looks pretty sharp.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' Micron got its maiden flight at me monthly club launch. Blimey! I got t' club equipment set up before anyone else arrived and decided t' go ahead and launch it. Begad! Blimey! I loaded it with a 1/4A3-3T and set it on t' pad. When it lifted off, it went straight up. Aye aye! Ahoy! Blimey! I am constantly amazed and surprised by how well even a very light rocket does on t' 1/4A. It deployed its streamer and then I lost sight o' it. Avast, me proud beauty! I didn't see it again until it hit me in t' head!

Video o' t' first flight can be seen here.

Almost immediately, matey, another club member arrived. Begad! We both prepped our rockets with me choosin' t' give t' Micron another shot. Blimey! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! This time was on a 1/2A3-2T. It again boosted well, shiver me timbers, me hearties, deployed a bit early, and recovered safely despite the streamer nay unravelin' all t' way.

Video o' t' second flight can be seen here.

Recovery:
PROs: It's light enough nay t' hurt when it hit me in t' head.

CONs: It hit me in t' head!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This would be a nice first rocket, shiver me timbers, if it be made any more. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! You have t' do some gluin' and paintin' but its simple. It an fly on a small field but keep you deadlights peeled so you don't lose it.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5