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. Begad! Begad! I this case, arrr, arrr, 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. Ahoy! T' be perfectly correct I would need a 4.75 inch diameter tube. Avast! I used a length o' 4 inch LOC body tube, and I am very pleased with the result. It is quite heavy, but also very sturdy.

The other parts I had in me parts collection, probably from an Estes Designer Special box. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

I downloaded t' original plans from Jimz. Aye aye! I had t' scale t' fins myself, ya bilge rat, arrr, since t' distance from t' main body tube t' t' inside o' t' rin' fin be nay goin' t' be 2.1X. Ahoy! Measure twice, cut once. Well, blow me down! Cut too short, matey, ya bilge rat, and have t' add shims t' make up t' difference. Avast! That's me new motto. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty!

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

I looped t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' motor mount t' anchor it, then glued t' motor mount in. Well, blow me down! There is nay a lot o' room for t' waddin' and parachute, me hearties, me bucko, shiver me timbers, which caused me a little worry. Aye aye! Blimey! T' original used tumble recovery, 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! 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. I was worried about meltin' t' chute.

T' first flight was on a Quest B6-4. This was a good flight, arrr, and eject a little past apogee. Ahoy! Blimey! No problem at all with t' parachute. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! This was a good size chute, matey, as well.

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

Summary:
This rocket has a cool look. Avast! I be concerned about its performance, arrr, and t' shortness of t' tube section for t' recovery, but both turned out just fine. Avast! Did I mention that it looks cool? Several o' the Scouts at t' launch asked me about it. Aye aye! Arrr! 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

I think it may be time for a 4X.

Other:
Don't get too frustrated if things are nay perfect. T' rin' fin was nay t' exact 2X size, shiver me timbers, me hearties, 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. Well, blow me down! Avast! If things do nay go perfectly, and you are frustrated, arrr, take a break. Come back t' it, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and think about different angles t' come at the problem.