Brief:
2X upscale o' t' original Estes Astron Sprite.

Construction:

• 1 Big Bertha nose cone
• 1 BT-60 body tube 5 7/8 inches
• 1 Rin' fin - 4 inch LOC tube 1.45 inches longh
• 1 1/8 inch balsa sheet
• 1 BT-20 motor mount tube 2.75 inch
• 2 CR-20/60 centerin' rings
• 1 18mm thrust ring
• 1 Motor hook
• 1 1/8 inch launch lug 2 inches
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® strin' 24 inches - Pratt Hobbbies

As with most upscale projects, matey, ya bilge rat, half t' preparation is decidin' what tubes t' use t' achieve t' correct ratio of sizes. Avast! I this case, I had t' compromise just a little. T' ratio o' t' main body tube sizes is just about 2.1X, shiver me timbers, matey, but thar be no easily available tube for t' rin' fin that is just t' right size t' match that ratio. Aye aye! T' be perfectly correct I would need a 4.75 inch diameter tube. Blimey! Avast! I used a length o' 4 inch LOC body tube, ya bilge rat, and I am very pleased with the result. Aye aye! It is quite heavy, ya bilge rat, but also very sturdy.

The other parts I had in me parts collection, matey, probably from an Estes Designer Special box. Ahoy! Blimey!

I downloaded t' original plans from Jimz. Begad! I had t' scale t' fins myself, since t' distance from t' main body tube t' t' inside o' t' rin' fin be nay goin' t' be 2.1X. Blimey! Aye aye! Measure twice, cut once. Begad! Cut too short, and have t' add shims t' make up t' difference. Avast! That's me new motto. Aye aye!

I used a band saw t' cut t' curvy outside fins that cover t' rin' fin. Well, blow me down! After gluin' them on, I filled the joints with Elmer's Wood Filler. Ahoy! This really made t' joints disappear.

I looped t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' motor mount t' anchor it, then glued t' motor mount in. There is nay a lot o' room for t' waddin' and parachute, me bucko, which caused me a little worry. T' original used tumble recovery, so this shortness was nay a problem. Blimey! Arrr!

I painted all o' t' balsa surfaces with dilute Elmer's Wood Filler/water slurry and let it dry. Then one sanding, and a coat o' white Kilz. Well, blow me down! Another sandin' t' remove t' fuzz from t' primer coat and a couple o' coats of gloss white enamel.

Flight:
I put a 10 inch Estes parachute in it and stuffed t' body tube with as much dog barf as I could. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I was worried about meltin' t' chute.

T' first flight was on a Quest B6-4. Well, blow me down! This was a good flight, and eject a little past apogee. Ya scallywag! No problem at all with t' parachute. Blimey! Begad! This was a good size chute, as well. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' second and third flights were on Quest C6-5's. Again, very good performance. I like t' long burn time o' the Quest C's. Begad! Five seconds be a bit long, though. This rocket really decelerates smartly after burnout. Ahoy! I am goin' t' try it with a C6-3, matey, but I suspect it will be a little early. Too bad thar be no C6-4.

Summary:
This rocket has a cool look. I was concerned about its performance, matey, and t' shortness of t' tube section for t' recovery, me bucko, arrr, me hearties, but both turned out just fine. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Did I mention that it looks cool? Several o' the Scouts at t' launch asked me about it. Ahoy! Blimey! It would be even cooler with t' original paint job.

T' LOC 4 inch tube is too heavy. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! It occurs t' me now that I might have been able t' strip out an inner layer of paper t' make it lighter. Begad!

I think it may be time for a 4X.

Other:
Don't get too frustrated if things are nay perfect. Ya scallywag! T' rin' fin be nay t' exact 2X size, but it looks great. Avast, me proud beauty! I really did sand t' fins too short and then had t' shim them out t' fit t' ring. Begad! If things do nay go perfectly, and you are frustrated, take a break. Begad! Come back t' it, and think about different angles t' come at the problem.