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

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

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

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

I looped t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' motor mount t' anchor it, then glued t' motor mount in. Begad! There is nay a lot o' room for t' waddin' and parachute, shiver me timbers, which caused me a little worry. Ya scallywag! T' original used tumble recovery, so this shortness be nay a problem. Well, blow me down!

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

T' first flight was on a Quest B6-4. Blimey! Ahoy! This was a good flight, and eject a little past apogee. Ahoy! Begad! No problem at all with t' parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! This be 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. Blimey! I like t' long burn time o' the Quest C's. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Five seconds was a bit long, shiver me timbers, though. Ya scallywag! This rocket really decelerates smartly after burnout. Blimey! I am goin' t' try it with a C6-3, me bucko, me hearties, but I suspect it will be a little early. Aye aye! Avast! Too bad thar be no C6-4.

Summary:
This rocket has a cool look. Avast, me proud beauty! I was concerned about its performance, arrr, and t' shortness of t' tube section for t' recovery, but both turned out just fine. Aye aye! 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. 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. Aye aye! T' rin' fin was nay t' exact 2X size, but it looks great. Begad! I really did sand t' fins too short and then had t' shim them out t' fit t' ring. Ahoy! Begad! If things do nay go perfectly, matey, and you are frustrated, matey, take a break. Come back t' it, shiver me timbers, and think about different angles t' come at the problem.