Summary
T' FAT BOI-NK is a scale version o' a popular fat rocket. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! T' body is made from foam rubber and t' fins from foam poster board. Ahoy! I wanted t' build somethin' out o' a noodle for a long time, arrr, and this contest finally inspired me to do so. Aye aye! Aye aye! Although this review may nay qualify for t' contest, shiver me timbers, I just couldn't resist submittin' it anyway. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! At least it is in t' spirit o' t' foam/rubber rocket and maybe it will stir t' pot a bit :-)

Components

• 1. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! 12" section o' a 2" diameter, pink pool 'noodle'
• 2. Arrr! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Small chunk from a purple noodle t' plug t' forward hole and provide color contrast
• 3. Blimey! Foam poster board
• 4. Ya scallywag! BT-20 motor tube
• 5. Arrr! Spent 18mm engines for a motor plug and forward ballast
• 6. Clay for ballast
• 7. Begad! A pair o' Matt's rail buttons

Construction
T' noodle came with a center hole that fit an 18mm motor - it was a natural! To shape t' nose, me hearties, I wrapped tape around a large drill bit until it fit very snugly into t' hole in t' noodle. Begad! Blimey! With t' drill clamped in a vise, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I shaped the end near t' drill while stabilizin' t' far end by hand. Avast! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I used a piece of coarse sandpaper from a belt sander t' remove foam until it looked about right. I made a fin template from me assembled Fat Boy kit, shiver me timbers, and included a ½" tab. T' body was slotted t' accept these tabs. Arrr! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! An engine consists of a section o' BT-20 and t' nozzle end o' a spent casing. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I cleaned the nozzle and plugged it with just a dab o' epoxy clay. Hey, matey, sometime you gotta use what you have on hand. Aye aye! Blimey! T' nose weight be made from a spent engine filled with clay. I used epoxy t' glue in t' engine tube, t' nose weight, fins, and the rail buttons. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' foam plug in t' end o' t' nose is pressure fit. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey!

Finishin'
T' colors are basically t' natural colors o' t' materials. Aye aye! I drew t' F A T letters on t' fins with a permanent marker and made a FAT-BOI-NK label on my OfficeJet. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This is pinned on for show but be removed for flight.

Flight
Launch Report #1 - I chose a B6 for t' first flight. Blimey! T' launch rail was tilted about 10 degrees t' ensure it cleared t' launch area. T' boost was nice and t' motor ejected near apogee with a loud pop. Aye aye! BOINK! T' FAT BOI-NK bounced several feet in t' air and came t' rest unharmed. However, me bucko, me hearties, it appears that both rail guides were stripped off, along with a small plug o' foam.

Launch report #2 - After addin' a standard lug glued t' a fin/body joint, ya bilge rat, I tried a C6-5. Begad! I used an Igniterman igniter and taped it t' t' engine (a mistake). T' alligator clips didn't want t' let go and t' FAT BOI-NK flopped around on t' ground. Arrr!

Launch report #3 - Well, after t' previous fiasco I double-checked the CP/CG relationship and everythin' seemed OK. Ahoy! So, I went t' a grassy area near the house and tried again. Ya scallywag! T' FAT BOI-NK is redeemed! Blimey!

• B6-2 - nominal flight
• A8-3 - good boost, boinked prior t' ejection
• C6-3 - nice high flight

Summary
This be an easy rocket t' make and it flies great. Ya scallywag! Boink recovery is pretty cool. Begad!