Here’s a rocket project perfect for a weekend too windy or rainy t' fly rockets. Well, blow me down! All you need is a package o' Estes BT-5 tubin' and a pack (or two) o' PNC-5 nosecones. From these simple beginnings, plus balsa stock and various odds and ends you probably already have around, ya bilge rat, you can build downscales o' t' following all-time greats:

Click t' image below for full size fin templates (in .JPG format). Ahoy!

Obviously, arrr, matey, t' plastic nosecones that Estes sells are nay perfect scale. Begad! In fact, for t' Alpha, Goblin, me hearties, me bucko, and Der Red Max they’re nay even close, arrr, arrr, so you may want t' turn your own from balsa or hardwood. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! They’re small enough to do fairly quickly.

JimZ’s web site has pictures and plans for each o' these rockets, at the followin' URL’s:

If you minimize waste when you cut t' body tubes, me bucko, arrr, you’ll have extra as well as a Mosquito nosecone left over. You could build another mini-Bertha, me hearties, set it aside for a Centuri Mach-10 clone, me hearties, or cut six Mosquito fins, attach them t' a 4-inch length o' body tube, and you’ve got t' Ahnold Schwarzen-Skeeter. T' Mosquito fin template is included with t' others, arrr, just for fun.

Three tables for tube lengths are provided below. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! T' first table shows the original dimensions. Begad! Begad! T' second table shows t' true scale lengths (based on table 1), and should be used if you are turnin' your own nosecones. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' third table assumes you are usin' t' standard Estes nosecones, matey, and t' tube lengths are adjusted t' better match t' original proportions. Please note that the Cherokee-D was available in two lengths, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, matey, so both are listed. Begad! Begad! Der Red Max was also available as Der Big Red Max, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and those dimensions are given as well.

Also in table 2 is a column called ‘% o' Full Size.’ This is the scale o' t' rocket, shiver me timbers, and be t' number that each dimension o' t' full sized plan be multiplied by. Begad! Ya scallywag! For example, arrr, t' Big Bertha downscale is 33% as large as t' full sized version. Aye aye! This number was found by dividin' t' diameter of the BT-5 (13.8mm) by t' diameter o' t' larger tube, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and roundin' off t' two decimal places. Ya scallywag! I used 1/16-inch balsa for all o' t' fins.

Paint t' match t' originals, and don’t forget t' decals! Tango Papa Decals can do downscaled decal sets for t' Goblin, Cherokee-D, me hearties, and Der Red Max. Avast, me proud beauty! Believe me, these decals are works of art! Tom Prestia did a page for me that included complete sets for all three. Contact him at:

Phone: 1 – 484 – 767 – TPD1 (8731) from 10am – 7pm EST
You can see t' Tango Papa web page here: http://www.tangopapadecals.com/index.html

These little screamers fly great, me hearties, and give you another reason t' buy 1/4A’s or Micro Maxx’s!