Brief:
This is a 40% Phoenix downscale based on Estes kit #1380.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• ST10 body tube (9")
• BC1032 nose cone
• #7 t' #10 engine mount
• 3/32" fin stock
• Keelhaul®©™® shock cord (30")
• Copper coated steel BBs for nose weight
• 14" parachute

All t' parts I used for this project were ordered from Semroc. Begad! I chose t' Phoenix as me downscale for t' 2008 EMRR Challenge because o' t' availability o' t' nose cone and body tube size. T' Semroc ST10 is almost exactly 40% o' t' diameter o' t' regular Phoenix body tube and t' BC1032 nose is an exact match.

This was a fairly easy build. Aye aye! I followed t' instructions for t' regular Phoenix, me bucko, me bucko, matey, which I downloaded from JimZ, ya bilge rat, with t' followin' exceptions:

• I used a single body tube instead o' two pieces because t' shorter length o' this downscale did nay require usin' two.
• I attached a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord t' t' motor mount instead o' t' Estes-style folded paper with rubber shock cord.
• I did nay shape t' fins because o' their small size.

Tracin' a fin pattern and cuttin' it be more o' a challenge than I anticipated. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I did get better as I went and I think after some sanding, t' fins turned out how I wanted them.

I used RockSim t' check t' design o' this downscale Phoenix and found that it needed some extra nose weight. Arrr! I drilled out part o' t' nose and epoxied about 12g o' BBs into it. Begad! T' rocket is a little heavy but should be stable even with an Estes C6 engine.

Finishing:
I used Krylon white primer and gloss white top coat t' finish t' Phoenix. Blimey! For decals, I downscaled t' regular Phoenix set and printed them on me HP inkjet printer usin' Avery clear label sheets. This method worked out great, matey, me hearties, although once a decal is on, it is almost impossible t' reposition, so a few o' mine are a little crooked. Arrr! Still, matey, this is an easy, arrr, ya bilge rat, inexpensive method for puttin' that finishin' touch on any rocket.

Flight:
T' Phoenix Downscale (40%) simmed fine on RockSim usin' Estes A8-3, B6-4, and C6-5 engines. Begad! I flew it twice usin' an A8-3 and once with a B6-4. Begad! Well, blow me down! All flights were good, arrr, although it seemed t' spin a little on t' way up usin' t' B6-4.

Recovery:
This rocket recovered well usin' a Custom Sam-X 14" parachute. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! It received a slight zipper (1mm long) on t' first flight, so a small piece o' tape was added around t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and its second and third flights were fine. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Because o' t' nose weight and t' slight angle I had t' launch it from, it tended t' deploy with its nose down but put pretty much at apogee each flight.

Summary:
I loved t' challenges o' buildin' this rocket. It is a simple design, me bucko, but it looks great, especially with t' many decals from t' original kit.