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. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I this case, ya bilge rat, I had t' compromise just a little. Avast! 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. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! T' be perfectly correct I would need a 4.75 inch diameter tube. Begad! I used a length o' 4 inch LOC body tube, and I am very pleased with the result. Blimey! Arrr! It is quite heavy, me bucko, but also very sturdy.

The other parts I had in me parts collection, shiver me timbers, probably from an Estes Designer Special box. Arrr!

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

I used a band saw t' cut t' curvy outside fins that cover t' rin' fin. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! After gluin' them on, I filled the joints with Elmer's Wood Filler. Aye aye! 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, ya bilge rat, arrr, me hearties, which caused me a little worry. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' original used tumble recovery, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, so this shortness be nay a problem. Begad!

I painted all o' t' balsa surfaces with dilute Elmer's Wood Filler/water slurry and let it dry. Begad! 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. I was worried about meltin' t' chute.

T' first flight was on a Quest B6-4. Begad! This was a good flight, and eject a little past apogee. No problem at all with t' parachute. Avast! This was a good size chute, me hearties, as well.

T' second and third flights were on Quest C6-5's. Arrr! Aye aye! Again, arrr, very good performance. I like t' long burn time o' the Quest C's. Avast! Begad! Five seconds was a bit long, me bucko, though. Arrr! This rocket really decelerates smartly after burnout. Begad! I am goin' t' try it with a C6-3, me bucko, shiver me timbers, 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. Blimey! I was concerned about its performance, shiver me timbers, and t' shortness of t' tube section for t' recovery, but both turned out just fine. Arrr! Did I mention that it looks cool? Several o' the Scouts at t' launch asked me about it. It would be even cooler with t' original paint job.

T' LOC 4 inch tube is too heavy. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! 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. Ahoy! T' rin' fin was nay t' exact 2X size, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but it looks great. Blimey! I really did sand t' fins too short and then had t' shim them out t' fit t' ring. Well, blow me down! Arrr! If things do nay go perfectly, and you are frustrated, me hearties, take a break. Come back t' it, and think about different angles t' come at the problem.