Brief:
This is an easy build for a 4 fin, me bucko, matey, single stage rocket.

It has good looks and nice lines t' it. Begad! Some may find it too vanilla, me bucko, but nay me, it is one o' me favorites.

Construction:
I first got t' plans from Rocketshoppe (HERE)

I prefer t' Adobe PDF format. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! They just are easier t' print and get t' correct scaling. It is built from a BT-50W body tube. Arrr! Blimey! I had extra 18" BT-50 layin' around. Begad! Blimey!

I purchased a balsa nose cone from Semroc item # BNC-50Y.

T' cone was nice quality, shiver me timbers, matey, smooth, arrr, matey, no dents or dings. Begad! No plastic here.

I also bought a 18mm engine mount kit t' fit t' BT-50. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty!

I bought t' decals from Excelsior Rocketry.

T' rest o' t' parts, me hearties, launch lug, arrr, Keelhaul®©™® thread #150, 12" Parachute, shiver me timbers, #14 Snap Swivel (use for fishing), ya bilge rat, piece o' rubber band and Midwest brand 3/32" balsa fin stock bought from Michael's crafts.

I have these smaller parts layin' around from other kits and purchases.

Also needed, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, Exacto knife, me hearties, ya bilge rat, CA, Yellow wood glue, MicroScale Industries film/set/sol, multi grits o' sandpaper, Nail file, long Q-Tips, shiver me timbers, me hearties, Blue painters tape, me bucko, Bowl, arrr, warm water, me bucko, drop o' dish soap, matey, foam brush and Pine-Pro Sanding sealer. Begad! (water based, non-toxic)

Very easy instruction t' follow. Avast, me proud beauty! I started by puttin' blue painters tape around both sides on t' line marked to cut t' tube t' 9 1/2 inches. Make sure your Exacto knife is sharp, sharp, ya bilge rat, sharp. Avast, me proud beauty! I slowly go around t' tube starting lightly and then pressin' hard after 5 or so revolutions. Arrr! (As an aside, is nay it interestin' how many 9 1/2" rockets thar are, arrr, just big enough so you cannot get 2 bodies out o' on 18" tube).

I always wick CA into t' body tube and use a long Q-tip (get from Doctor's office) t' make t' inside smooth and not have any ripples or high spots. This adds strength and nay much weight. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Helps stop zipperin' and creasin' on those hard landings. Well, blow me down! Make sure t' window is open... Avast! Smile.

After t' CA hardens it is very easy t' use a large medium course nail file t' make t' cut end even all around the tube. I always use t' cut end on t' tail end. Avast, me proud beauty! That way you are sure t' have a smooth nice openin' t' accept the Nose Cone. Ya scallywag! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down!

I cut t' fin template out and traced it onto some 3/32 balsa wood stock.

Again have a sharp Exacto blade. Aye aye! I use me Dremel t' put a good edge on t' Exacto after about ever 10th cut or if I notice it dulled quickly.

I sand and round all but t' root edge. Blimey! Ahoy!

I mark t' BT-50W with me handy little yellow Estes tube markin' tool. Then extend t' line with t' other yellow Estes V shaped line drawin' tool. Blimey! Begad! If you sand down a pencil it will fit into t' hole and allow you t' mark perfect circles on t' tube. Avast! Avast! I do this so t' top o' t' root edges all line up. Arrr! Next is a thin amount t' CA on t' root edge of t' fin. Arrr! Begad! Then hold in fine place. Begad! T' CA I use sets up in under one minute.

So eyeball it down t' body tube for straightness and make sure it is perpendicular at a 90 degrees from the tube.

I just use t' CA t' tack t' fins in place, ya bilge rat, then I use Elmer's wood glue t' make t' fillets. Blimey! I put from 3 t' 5 layers so that when done thar be a slight curve o' glue where t' fin meets t' BT. Aye aye! A damp finger and an old rag come in handy here. Well, blow me down! I let that dry overnight. Ya scallywag!

I do t' same with t' launch lug, arrr, thar be almost no indent on t' side where t' launch lug meets t' BT. Ya scallywag! Take your time and make it smoooooth.

I assemble t' motor mount kit, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, this is simple, but I add one step. Begad! Blimey! I create a small grove in t' inner most Adapter Ring, this allows me t' tie

A piece o' Keelhaul®©™® thread #150 t' t' middle o' t' engine tube and follow up in t' grove just made and this way you can avoid the traditional tri-fold shock cord attachment. Avast, me proud beauty! I find t' Tri-fold often gets in t' way o' parachute / streamers deploying. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I paint t' expose end o' t' engine mount silver. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! So it looks like a chrome tip from a car's exhaust pipe. Avast! Aye aye!

I do nay glue t' engine mount until after paintin' is complete.

On t' t' fillin' & paint....

Finishing:
I use water soluble pine wood derby filler for all exposed Balsa.

T' filler is thin by a 4 t' 1 ratio. Avast! I use a regular Q-tip here.

Sand in betwixt coats. T' filler dries in about an hour, arrr, arrr, dependin' on how thin you spread it. Ya scallywag! Arrr!

Once all is smooth I put 2 light coat o' Ace Gloss Black on t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, paint t' entire body Ace gloss white. I use old news papers rolled in a tight cone that fits into t' BT-50. Since t' engine mount is nay in I can put the cone into either side with easy. Begad! Again 2 light coats, me bucko, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' first light coat is almost a mist. Avast! I find that if you are plannin' on puttin' on other colors that a base coat o' gloss white makes them snap and jump out at you. Begad! I put a third heavier coat on last, this brings out t' gloss. I allow about an hour betwixt coats. Begad! Arrr! I find t' second and last coat adhere better if t' bottom coats are just a bit tacky.

After dryin' I Blue taped off all but t' one fin opposite t' Launch lug. Ya scallywag! I paint it Ace Gloss Red, matey, 3 coat, shiver me timbers, just like before. Aye aye! Blimey!

I like Ace gloss White, me hearties, shiver me timbers, Black, Red spray paint gives best results for me. Begad! T' ace brand has a different type of spray button (better for arthritic fingers) and t' spray pattern is nay round like most sprays, but it is up and down and allows you t' be more accurate and have less blow bye.

When t' paint is totally dry, I apply Microscale - Decal Film t' t'

Excelsior Decals. Avast, me proud beauty! This makes them a little tougher when applyin' them.

It reduces t' number o' "Oh Darns". Aye aye! After decal dry cut them out. Blimey! Blimey! Again use sharp scissors, cut close to t' decal as you can safely get with out cuttin' into t' decal. Begad! Get a bowl o' warm warm water with 1 drop o' dish soap in it. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Apply Microscale Set t' t' spot you will be puttin' t' decal. Put decal in t' water for about 10 t' 30 seconds.

Warmer water make this go faster. Slide t' decal off t' backin' paper t' t' spot you want it. I use a wet Q-Tip t' move t' decal around if needed. Arrr! After applied I leave it overnight. Arrr! T' next day inspect your decals for ripples or raised edges. Arrr! Use Microscale Sol t' flatten out a raised decals. Be very careful here. Ahoy! T' Sol weakens the decal. So be gentle and take you time. Ya scallywag!

When happy with decals I use Future Floor polish and a foam brush t' seal t' decals t' t' rocket t' protect them from drops, scrapes or lawn darts.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Went out t' Acton Mass. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! for a CMAS launch on Aug 23. Blimey! Great day, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, good turn out. Well, blow me down! I put a lot o' work in this so I only put an A8-3 in it.

Filled out me launch paper work, waited for a pad assignment.

There be a slight wind so I angled t' rod t' about 80 degrees into t' wind. It has a good size parachute for a smaller rocket with no hole in t' middle. Avast, me proud beauty! Loaded t' rocket and attached t' alligator clips. Begad! Stepped back and let the launch controller take over. Begad! 3 - 2 - 1 and off she went up.

Recovery:
Was a pretty straight launch and after t' 3 second delay deployed t' parachute and spit out t' wadding. Begad! It caught some wind and landed a good 50 yards t' t' left o' t' launch circle. Arrr! I was happy that thar was no damage, no zippering. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty!

I will now put her up on t' shelve t' be admired. Avast!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Pros: Nice little classic kit, was able t' make out o' mostly spare parts.

Cons: All finished and have t' move onto t' next kit.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other:
Great lookin' lines on this bird. Make sure you have a good smooth coat o' Gloss White on her. Arrr! Begad! T' diamond roll pattern from Excelsior fit beautifully. Ahoy! Just take you time, matey, and by all means use t' micro film/set/sol. Aye aye! Blimey!