Brief:
It's an upside-down flyin' rocket! Features "Rear" eject (or should I say "front" eject?) recovery system. This was a BRS Contest Entry

Construction:
To build t' Which Ways Up, you will need t' followin' components.

• 1 18" length o' BT-55 body tube.
• 1 2.75" length o' BT-20 tubin' (standard 18mm motor tube used as a fake motor mount)
• 1 12" length o' BT-20 Tubin' (powered motor tube)
• 3 CR-2055 centerin' rings
• 2 CR-2050 centerin' rings
• 2 EB-20 18mm thrust rings
• 2 regular motor hooks (optional)
• 1 spent 18mm motor.
• 1 sheet clear plastic "fin" material. Ahoy! Available at Hobbytown USA.
• 1 sheer 1/16" balsa fin material
• 1 18" plastic parachute
• 1 1/8" x 36" long elastic shock cord.
• 1 length o' Keelhaul®©™® string.
• 1 or 2 1/8" launch lugs.

For t' "nose cone", me hearties, me hearties, you can use any BT-55 based nose cone. It may be tricky t' drill out a core for t' BT-20 motor tube. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Another option is to use a BTC55Z V2 boat tail with bored BT-20 hole available from Balsa Machining Services. Begad! That is what I used.

Construction starts with t' body o' t' rocket. Aye aye! You will build it just like a regular model rocket. Begad! Motor mount with centerin' rings, me bucko, thrust ring, and the optional motor hook. Well, blow me down! 4 balsa fins. Ya scallywag! Two launch lugs. Arrr! nothin' fancy. However, there are a couple things different. Ahoy! T' tail o' this rocket is actually the nose. So, t' nose o' t' rocket is actually its tail... Begad! I know, me bucko, me bucko, matey, sounds confusing!

Anyway, shiver me timbers, t' shock cord mount for t' rocket be t' typical length o' Keelhaul®©™ cord fastened t' t' motor mount. Begad! Make sure you have enough length so you can easily attach t' shock cord. Begad! Remember, me hearties, shiver me timbers, after frequent flights, it may become necessary t' replace t' shock cord. Aye aye!

Complete t' assembly o' t' body o' t' rocket by gluin' in a spent black powder motor in t' "motor mount." (Do nay even think about usin' a live motor.)

Now here be t' creative and tricky part: t' "nose" o' the rocket. Start off by assemblin' t' "live" motor tube. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Glue a thrust rin' into one end o' t' motor tube and install a motor hook if desired. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Glue the motor end o' t' motor tube into t' "nose cone." Get another piece o' Keelhaul®©™® and tie it t' a CR-2050 centerin' ring. Blimey! Tie a loop t' t' other end. Glue this centerin' on top o' t' motor tube about 3/4" from t' end o' t' tube that does nay have a nose cone glued on top o' it. Well, blow me down! Next, arrr, glue on t' remaining CR-2055 centerin' rin' followed by t' remainin' CR-2050 centerin' ring. Arrr! Set aside t' dry.

While t' glue is dryin' on t' motor mount, it is time t' cut out the fins. Begad! This is easier than it sounds. Begad! I used Corel Draw t' lay out t' fin pattern like you would when cuttin' out fins on a sheet off balsa. Then I printed this out on label stock, me bucko, and stuck it on top o' t' protective coating on t' plastic. Aye aye! Takin' a metal edge and a hobby knife, I scored lines into the plastic tracin' t' pattern. After this was complete, ya bilge rat, bend t' plastic and it will snap where t' scores are. Ahoy!

When all t' glue on t' nosecone (the real motor mount) is dry, install it onto t' body o' t' rocket. You will want t' use t' same lines you used on t' body’s fins t' mark t' location o' t' clear fins on t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Carefully extend those lines onto t' nose cone. Use a hobby knife t' cut slots into t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Test fit each fin, but do nay glue them in yet. Primer and paint t' rocket with your favorite technique. Blimey! Once all t' paint is dry, matey, matey, attach t' fins t' t' nose cone usin' CA.

T' recovery system o' t' WWU is finished by attachin' a length o' shock cord t' both Keelhaul®©™® loops and tyin' a twelve inch parachute t' t' nose cone (motor mount) loop. Cut a little V on t' outer circumference. Arrr! This will allow t' Keelhaul®©™® to pass betwixt t' centerin' rin' and t' wall o' t' body tube. Ahoy!

Flight:
To fly t' WWU, matey, arrr, install t' motor o' your choice in t' "nose cone" of t' rocket. Blimey! Recommended motors are B6-2, B6-4, me hearties, shiver me timbers, arrr, C6-3, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and C6-5. Ya scallywag! Once the motor is installed, arrr, pack t' recovery system so t' parachute and shock cord material can fit in betwixt t' motor tube and t' body tube. Begad! It is important to note that only t' Keelhaul®©™® attached t' t' body tube should be exposed t' t' ejection charge gasses. Well, blow me down! This means that t' booster sections loop also is packet betwixt t' motor tube and body tube. Avast, me proud beauty!

One thin' t' note, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' ejection charges on Estes motors tend t' be on the powerful side, me hearties, so it is important t' have a generous amount o' shock cord to help prevent t' motor mount from snappin' back into t' body tube.

Enjoy a video by clickin' HERE

Summary:
This rocket was an interestin' project. It required some trial and error and workin' with materials I would normally nay use. Ahoy! Blimey! This rocket always brings interestin' conversations and has turned more than one head at launches. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Flies great on small fields with B motors, can get some altitude on Cs. The "rear" eject recovery system is cool. Well, blow me down! Blimey!