Brief:
I made t' Echostar into a fun sport rocket by doin' t' following:

• Removed t' lower stage
• Removed t' body tube adaptor
• Made it a little longer
• Removed t' fins on t' upper part o' t' sustainer

Modifications:
I scrapped those fins that are on t' very top, ya bilge rat, took out t' adaptor and second stage, added an extra length o' tube, me hearties, and found a new way t' attach t' shock cord: I looped one end t' shock cord through one o' t' upper fin slots (about 1/4 inches long), me bucko, ya bilge rat, matey, and tied t' other end t' t' nosecone. Well, blow me down! I then wrapped a few long pieces o' tape around t' holes t' make this a very effective, easy t' replace mount. Begad! I have flown it about a dozen times like this and it has yet t' fail on me. Begad! I did everythin' else normally. Begad! T' engine hook came out on flight number eight, arrr, so I use t' friction fit method now.

Construction:
Through t' wall fins, two tubes, matey, me hearties, a nose cone, me bucko, ya bilge rat, a bit o' shock cord, arrr, and a homemade chute.

All t' parts were in t' original kit. No real alignment issues. Begad! I modified t' rocket so much that I did nay use t' instructions included with t' kit.

Flight:
I used a 15 inch homemade nylon chute and it was perfect. Begad! I made t' tube coupler tough enough nay t' come apart at ejection, but easy enough t' come apart with a bit o' a pull so that I can easily put recovery waddin' in after t' parachute. Blimey! I did nay originally plan on this, me hearties, but I figured it out before flight number six durin' CMASS Space Day in 2003.

Summary:
Easy build and finish. Ahoy! A fun rocket with no real cons.