Brief:
This is a 29mm UFO-type rocket made from an old hat. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' hat is removable in case I forget a ball cap - wouldn't want t' sunburn t' top o' me head, me bucko, ya' know.

Construction:
This is really a minimalist rocket. Arrr! I decided t' make t' core out o' a solid piece o' 2" pink foam. Blimey! I started by tracin' t' outline o' t' hat and roughin' out a chunk with a sharp knife. Begad! I did just a tad o' trimmin' t' make sure it be oval, matey, and then found t' center point. Next, me hearties, I drew a circle and slowly bored a hole for t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I also cut a slot on one side t' accommodate a 1/4" lug. T' motor mount includes a 3.25" section o' phenolic tubing, me bucko, a similar length o' 1/4" launch lug, and a 29mm-76mm centerin' ring. Avast, me proud beauty! T' centerin' rin' was mounted so that t' motor tube be flush with t' top o' t' foam. Well, blow me down! It serves t' distribute t' thrust t' t' foam core, and helps ensure that t' motor tube is perpendicular t' t' foam's surface. Well, blow me down! This assembly was then epoxied into t' foam block. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! I added a circle o' scrap plywood t' plug t' front o' t' tube, matey, makin' sure that all openings were sealed with epoxy. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' final step was t' find t' point where t' rod would pass through t' hat itself, and cut a small 'X' with an X-acto knife. Blimey! Like I said, nay much t' it. Slip t' hat over t' finished core and I was ready t' fly.

Flight:
I flew t' hat on a G35 with t' ejection charge removed. After t' unsuccessful flight o' another odd-roc, arrr, t' RSO must have pretty much given up, matey, shiver me timbers, and me flight card got stamped. Well, blow me down! Since I did nay treat t' foam surface t' protect it from t' motor exhaust, me bucko, I made sure it was about 12" from t' deflector. Ya scallywag! T' hat flew great, seemin' t' fly faster and higher than me similarly sized 29mm saucers. Begad! Begad! It fell slowly t' t' ground without even gettin' dirty(er).

Summary:
I find myself likin' UFO style rockets more and more and couldn't resist tryin' this odd-roc. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! This was me first wearable rocket - I wore t' hat t' t' RSO table, arrr, me hearties, t' t' pad, shiver me timbers, and back again after recovery. Begad! Blimey! If anyone else has flown a hat (and someone probably has), ya bilge rat, me bucko, I didn't find anyone who had heard o' it.

Other:
T' Story Behind t' Name In t' late '90's, I was t' project manager for a telemetry, matey, command, arrr, and antenna control system. My team and I traveled t' Clifton, arrr, shiver me timbers, Texas t' run some preliminary tests with t' antennas. Begad! Unfortunately, they weren't quite ready and since springtime in Texas is a tad warmer than in Maryland, we weren't happy campers. Avast, me proud beauty! With t' prospects o' spendin' a fair amount o' time walkin' betwixt t' buildin' and t' antenna pads in t' hot sun, me hearties, one o' me guys ran t' Wal-Mart for hats. This hat became our team's unofficial uniform, matey, and mine came back fairly stained. I was finally about t' chunk it when I got an idea!