Brief:

This is a modification o' t' Estes Patriot kit into a semi-scale model o' t' Little John tactical nuclear missile

T' motor mount was built and installed in t' shortened body tube as per t' instructions (LJ01). Arrr! Avast! T' yellow tube was modified into a payload section by use o' a balsa nose block from Balsa machining. I formed a "eye hook" from a paperclip and ran it through t' balsa block and bent t' ends over inside t' payload bay so that it couldn't come out(LJ02). Ahoy! I used a spare BT20 tube cut t' 3" long and two BT60 t' BT 20 centerin' rings t' make a holder for a PerfectFlite ALK15 Altimeter.

I cut a hole in t' base o' t' nosecone t' allow t' altimeter t' fit and held it in with a foam plug(LJ03). Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' FlisKits baffle served as t' shock cord mount (LJ04)

T' fins were made from 1/16" balsa and mounted on t' same lines as t' patriot fins, shiver me timbers, 1/8" from t' back o' t' rocket.

Click here for t' fin pattern.

I cut t' launch lug into two 3/4" pieces and mounted them at t' top and bottom o' t' main tube, on t' same line as t' Patriot markin' guide.

Construction:

• BT-60 body tube 10 15/16" long (made from t' two patriot white tubes cut t' length)
• Yellow Patriot Body tube
• Patriot Nosecone
• BT 60 Balsa nose block from Balsa Machinin' Co.
• BT 60 Ejection Baffle from FlisKits
• Patriot motor mount
• Paperclip
• Plastic 12" Parachute from patriot kit
• (optional for altimeter mount)
• BT-20 cut t' 3" length
• (2) BT60 t' BT20 Centerin' rings

Aside from t' addition o' a payload bay, t' rocket goes together very much like t' patriot kit.

Paintin' is relatively simple since t' entire rocket is olive drab. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I used Tamiya AS-6 Olive drab paint.

T' "U.S. Begad! Army" letters are vinyl 1/4" R/C aircraft letterin' that I laid out on wax paper and then cut slivers out o' t' simulate t' look o' army stencils.

I then laid maskin' tape over t' letters and peeled them off o' t' wax paper and transferred them t' t' rocket.

T' finished rocket turned out t' look a lot like t' real thing, arrr, I felt (LJ05).

This be me second modification o' a Patriot kit. T' first was a two-stage kit bash I built for t' 2009 EMRR challenge called t' "Yellow Jacket" (LJ07)

Flight:
T' rocket flew very well (LJ06). Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! And I made several successful altimeter flights. Avast! Blimey! It flew pretty consistently t' around 550' on a C6-5. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! But after a few flights it was clear that I needed a more positive retention for t' altimeter and nosecone. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! On most flights, me hearties, t' altimeter slammed forward at ejection and wedged into t' nosecone, matey, me hearties, and twice, ya bilge rat, me bucko, t' force was strong enough t' dislodge t' nosecone and it (with t' altimeter) fell free o' t' rocket for a tumble recovery. I think a longer tube, shiver me timbers, with a BT20 nose block and a small pin run through it would be a better retention system.

On one long road trip, t' rocket got crushed in a box, arrr, and despite straightenin' out OK for display, it just doesn't fly straight anymore. Ya scallywag! Blimey! So, me bucko, after 7 flights, me bucko, I retired it.

Summary:
I think this is a good conversion that builds into a sweet lookin' rocket. It needs a more positive nosecone and altimeter retention method though.

Other:
This kit taught me a lot about t' importance o' really securin' things like altimeters and nose cones. Begad! Friction fit is just nay enough over time.