Brief:
This is a power-up o' t' discontinued Estes 2.6 V2 and o' course I can't help it. Begad! Begad! I couldn't leave it stock, so I transformed t' stock 24mm into a 29mm performer.

Modifications:
I started by usin' a 29mm phenolic MMT. I made custom rings from 1/8" aircraft ply. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' fins are also 1/8" aircraft ply. Another ply rin' is installed at t' fore end o' t' MMT. Avast! Begad! Betwixt this rin' and t' second rin' is a section o' BT-80 coupler for body tube strength. Avast, me proud beauty! T' very base o' t' nose cone be cut out and I installed an adjustable weight system.

I used West System Epoxy everywhere includin' t' inside and outside fillets. Blimey! I left t' top rin' out o' t' tail cone and applied fillets t' all fin connection points and then installed t' top ring. Fins are t' t' MMT. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I also installed an Aerotech engine clip that will be further retained with a tywrap before launching.

A short spacer is installed before usin' s/u motors. Arrr! It also uses 1/4" launch lugs.

Construction:
I used t' stock tube and both cones. Avast! I feel that fiberglass is nay as necessary as most people would like t' convince me o' and I can back up this claim with plenty o' results. If you want somethin' t' last for 30 yrs go ahead with t' glassing, but I don't feel it's necessary up thru level 1 rockets. Begad! I myself loose them eventually so why bother. Arrr! It's just a bunch o' un-necessary weight.

I did use t' epoxy more than I usually do on this particular build, but I'm sure it could hold up t' an H motor and that was t' goal.

I painted it in t' White Sands April 16, ya bilge rat, 1946 scheme except with a twist. It's orange and black rather than t' yellow and black.

I used Duplicolor enamel and I have t' admit, arrr, me hearties, it glistens! Great paint!!

A Keelhaul®©™heatshield surrounds t' 24" Topflight chute tethered by a Keelhaul®©™cord and elastic combo. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' chute bay is also strengthened with a layer o' thin cya. This puppy will fly well on F and G loads.

I made a beeper locater from one o' those keychain panic alarms with t' pull pin. Begad! I got this one at a drugstore for around $5.00. Basically, matey, you attach t' alarm body t' your shock cord or possibly t' body tube then you leave some slack in t' shock cord and attach it t' t' pull pin so when t' shock cord stretches out it pulls t' pin. Avast! Begad! T' make t' adjustable nose weight, I cut off t' nose cone base. Then I just epoxied a short length o' threaded rod into t' nose cone. Finally, arrr, me bucko, I slid enough heavy-duty washers onto t' rod t' get t' center o' gravity back where I want it for t' weight o' t' particular motor that I put in t' rocket.

I made a sleeve from a cut off ballpoint pen body that holds t' washers tight when I tighten a nut down on t' rod. Well, blow me down! Then I added a piece that screws on t' end o' t' threaded rod t' attach t' shock cord to.

I added a bulkhead (basswood disc) betwixt t' nut and shock cord attachment t' keep t' chute from wedgin' betwixt t' threaded rod and nose cone wall durin' ejection. Begad! T' idea is t' extend t' range o' motors that t' rocket can safely fly on and still land in t' same field... Ya scallywag! Ahoy! well sometimes.

I also always make sure that t' lift off speed is fast enough before it leaves t' launch rod. Ahoy! I used Rocsim for simulatin' things like this. Avast! I use a scale I bought from Office Depot t' weight t' rocket fully loaded after I actually flew t' rocket and saw how it reacted. Arrr! I was able t' experiment a little more by addin' and removin' some weight in-between flights.

Flight:
I first launched it on a F-23 and she be straight as an arrow t' about 900'. T' personal alarm I added worked like a champ. Avast! You could hear it at apogee every time! A good $5 investment for any rocket.

Then I built up a G33 reload and launched her. Man!! Blimey! That thin' is smokey and louder than I remembered. It crackled like a HPR load! Blimey! Nay too fast but hit about 1800'.

T' final flight be an F50. Ahoy! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It literally exploded off t' pad and again straight as an arrow. Blimey! Blimey! It kept goin' and going...1700'.

All 3 flights landed pretty close, very little if any wind cocking. Avast, me proud beauty! Winds were avg 10-15 mph. Ahoy! What a great kit for t' 29mm upgrade! T' 24" chute be perfect for t' sod farm.

At t' next club launch. I again put a F50 in it, set it on t' pad and got situated t' take a pic when t' LCO pressed t' button. Begad! Begad! Bang! It was like a shot out o' a cannon... Ya scallywag! and kept on going!! Too bad I had over adjusted t' launch rod. Blimey! Arrr! It be over a treeline when t' ejection fired. Avast! Begad! ONE square mile o' sod and... Ahoy! Begad! I sent it over a tree line!!

On t' way down, it was comin' back t' clear land but it caught t' last tip top o' t' last tree...ohh so close!!! Blimey! But just didn't make it over!

It's still thar 35' up. Avast! Blimey! I couldn't get it down but I gave it a good effort. Aye aye! Blimey! R.I.P. Arrr! Blimey! (till I brin' t' bow saw t' t' next launch)

Summary:
t' pic t' t' right shows just how fast it left t' pad

If anyone can find one o' these kits I highly recommend goin' t' 29mm if you have t' space t' launch it and you are o' t' type who likes t' neck snappin' (non-scale) flights. Begad! Avast! Otherwise it's a great kit when left stock, especially on E9's.