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

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

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

I used a band saw t' cut t' curvy outside fins that cover t' rin' fin. Avast, me proud beauty! After gluin' them on, I filled the joints with Elmer's Wood Filler. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This really made t' joints disappear.

I looped t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' motor mount t' anchor it, then glued t' motor mount in. Avast! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! There is nay a lot o' room for t' waddin' and parachute, ya bilge rat, which caused me a little worry. T' original used tumble recovery, matey, so this shortness was nay a problem.

I painted all o' t' balsa surfaces with dilute Elmer's Wood Filler/water slurry and let it dry. Begad! Blimey! Then one sanding, and a coat o' white Kilz. Ahoy! Avast! 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. Begad! Begad! I was worried about meltin' t' chute.

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

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

Summary:
This rocket has a cool look. Avast! I be concerned about its performance, ya bilge rat, and t' shortness of t' tube section for t' recovery, but both turned out just fine. Did I mention that it looks cool? Several o' the Scouts at t' launch asked me about it. Begad! It would be even cooler with t' original paint job.

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

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 was nay t' exact 2X size, but it looks great. Ahoy! I really did sand t' fins too short and then had t' shim them out t' fit t' ring. Aye aye! Ahoy! If things do nay go perfectly, matey, and you are frustrated, take a break. Blimey! Come back t' it, and think about different angles t' come at the problem.