Brief:
T' followin' website offers free plans o' card models t' construct: http://www.currell.net/models/index.htm

I thought it would be fun t' build t' Single Stage t' Orbit Rocket RVT-9, a prototype Japanese rocket that has had limited success in field tests. Blimey! I followed most o' t' instructions for t' card model but ended up addin' a 13 mm motor mount t' t' interior, drillin' holes for t' launch lug, ya bilge rat, and addin' toothpicks t' t' card stock legs. Avast, me proud beauty! My initial plan was t' build t' rocket for t' Estes A10-P motors, arrr, as thar would be no need for waddin' or a need t' protect t' inside o' t' rocket. Begad! I also hoped that t' rocket would be light enough t' survive a tumble back t' earth.

Modifications:
T' rocket consists basically o' constructin' t' main shroud, addin' centerin' rings, matey, addin' t' bottom nozzle unit with card stock legs, nose cone unit, arrr, and then external details such as little pitch and yaw nozzles, shiver me timbers, matey, electrical boxes, antennae, me bucko, etc.

I constructed t' model as directed but at t' bottom o' t' rocket, instead o' completin' t' external engine nozzle, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I cut a space into t' heat shield t' make space for t' 13 mm tubing. Aye aye! I then inserted t' tubin' into t' rocket, matey, measured t' length o' BT-5 necessary for a small extension past t' bottom o' t' rocket. I cut t' selected amount and simply glued t' BT-5 into t' rocket. Begad! There is no need for centerin' rings if t' BT-5 extends all t' way t' t' nose. Begad! I also added t' thrust rin' t' ensure that t' motor extends .25" out from t' end o' t' rocket.

After completin' t' rocket, I used me Dremel t' drill a hole in t' bottom o' t' rocket near t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Begad! I used a launch rod t' guide me eye t' t' place at t' top o' t' rocket where t' launch rod would extend, and drilled a hole at this point. Ya scallywag! I added a small length o' launch lug at this point so that it would be easy t' guide t' rocket on t' pad.

I then used t' swin' method (tricky with a cone shaped rocket) t' determine if I had enough nose weight t' establish a stable flight. Begad! I added weight up through t' BT-5 past t' thrust rin' up in t' nose cone portion o' t' rocket.

Construction:
I used a color ink jet printer t' print t' patterns on t' 8.5" x 11" bristol board (card stock). Blimey! Begad! T' patterns fit on t' 2 sheets. Begad! Avast! T' rest o' t' instructions can be printed up on regular paper. Other items needed t' convert t' RVT-9 t' a flyable rocket: 13 mm (BT-5) tubing, a thrust ring, wood glue, matey, matey, clay for nose weight, me hearties, matey, 1/8" launch lug, shiver me timbers, toothpicks for additional structural support.

T' main PROs about this project are t' cost and availability o' parts. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Anyone with a printer, a spare BT-5, shiver me timbers, and some card stock can build this rocket for t' cost o' a few cents. It is already decorated with colored letters, matey, arrr, arrr, symbols and text. Begad! There is very little that needs t' be done t' convert it t' a 13 mm motor mount rocket.

T' main CONs about this project are that since t' material is made o' card stock, me hearties, me hearties, t' rocket is somewhat fragile. T' card stock legs were too flimsy, me hearties, so I added some toothpick supports underneath them. Well, blow me down! Also, ya bilge rat, arrr, since I used an ink jet printer, I had t' be careful that I did nay put any moisture on t' printed paper. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' finished rocket should really be sprayed with some Krylon gloss overcoat or somethin' similar. Also, ya bilge rat, arrr, some o' t' small external detail is so tiny and fragile, matey, me bucko, shiver me timbers, it is hard t' glue on t' t' body. Well, blow me down! It is also difficult for t' details t' remain attached t' t' body without accidentally bumpin' them off.

Flight:
I prepped t' rocket with an A10-PT. Because thar be no ejection charge, me bucko, no waddin' is needed. Well, blow me down! It flew surprisingly well, ya bilge rat, rather straight at first with only a little wobble at t' end o' t' ascent. Arrr! If you make one o' these rockets, matey, just make sure t' CG is in t' upper half o' t' rocket so that it is stable. Ya scallywag! My overall weight came t' 15 grams (about .5 oz). Well, blow me down! Begad! At apogee, t' rocket flipped over and tumbled back t' t' ground. Arrr! I did nay lose any external detail, although one o' t' legs took a poundin' and needs a little glue reinforcement.

PROs for flight: easy prep. Aye aye! It's t' perfect rocket for those A10-PTs.

CONs: Although t' rocket tumbled rather safely t' t' ground only damagin' one o' t' legs, I don't think t' rocket will survive many flights without some further modifications. Also, shiver me timbers, t' small external details are fragile. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Blimey! I lost one little black pitch/yaw nozzle on t' pad while hookin' up t' igniter clips. Aye aye! Strangely, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, matey, I did nay lose any when it bounced around on t' ground on recovery.

Summary:
This is a great little rocket that was meant t' be constructed for static display, but with a little invention can fly quite well. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Lookin' back on me experimentation, me hearties, I think it may be possible t' make t' nose cone separate from t' rest o' t' rocket, me bucko, usin' a small part o' an expended engine as a coupler. Well, blow me down! With this adjustment, one could use Keelhaul®©™® for a shock cord and add a long streamer for recovery. Well, blow me down! This may slow t' rocket down even more than t' tumble recovery. Ahoy! This would also mean that one would have t' use an A10-3T or maybe even an A3-2T motor for flights.

Other:
Great little rocket, fun t' fly, fun t' build, and requires little modification for flight. Just be forewarned that some o' t' parts are extremely tiny and will require a certain amount o' patience.