Summary
T' FAT BOI-NK is a scale version o' a popular fat rocket. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' body is made from foam rubber and t' fins from foam poster board. Aye aye! I wanted t' build somethin' out o' a noodle for a long time, and this contest finally inspired me to do so. Begad! Arrr! Although this review may nay qualify for t' contest, arrr, I just couldn't resist submittin' it anyway. Begad! 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! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! 12" section o' a 2" diameter, pink pool 'noodle'
• 2. Avast! Ahoy! Small chunk from a purple noodle t' plug t' forward hole and provide color contrast
• 3. Ya scallywag! Avast! Foam poster board
• 4. Ya scallywag! Blimey! BT-20 motor tube
• 5. Spent 18mm engines for a motor plug and forward ballast
• 6. Begad! Ahoy! Clay for ballast
• 7. Aye aye! Blimey! A pair o' Matt's rail buttons

Construction
T' noodle came with a center hole that fit an 18mm motor - it be 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. Aye aye! With t' drill clamped in a vise, I shaped the end near t' drill while stabilizin' t' far end by hand. 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, ya bilge rat, and included a ½" tab. Blimey! Aye aye! T' body was slotted t' accept these tabs. Begad! An engine consists of a section o' BT-20 and t' nozzle end o' a spent casing. Begad! Aye aye! I cleaned the nozzle and plugged it with just a dab o' epoxy clay. Hey, sometime you gotta use what you have on hand. Well, blow me down! T' nose weight was 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. T' foam plug in t' end o' t' nose is pressure fit. Well, matey, blow me down!

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

Flight
Launch Report #1 - I chose a B6 for t' first flight. Begad! Begad! T' launch rail was tilted about 10 degrees t' ensure it cleared t' launch area. Blimey! Blimey! T' boost was nice and t' motor ejected near apogee with a loud pop. Aye aye! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! BOINK! T' FAT BOI-NK bounced several feet in t' air and came t' rest unharmed. Begad! Blimey! However, 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, shiver me timbers, arrr, I tried a C6-5. Ahoy! 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. Ya scallywag!

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

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

Summary
This was an easy rocket t' make and it flies great. Avast! Blimey! Boink recovery is pretty cool.