Brief:
This is a Quasar Patriot kit with 38mm motor mount instead o' 3 x 24mm, arrr, through t' wall Microlite fins instead o' surface mount balsa, lightweight tape-together clamshell electronics bay for dual deployment recovery, shortened nose cone shoulder, and deleted large metal eye bolt for weight savings. Begad! Positive motor retention added.

Modifications:
T' Quasar Patriot kit, me hearties, me bucko, motor, and most o' t' modification materials were purchased at Apogee and were delivered smartly and without any damage.

This build is all about simplicity and weight savings. Ya scallywag! Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' object be t' reduce weight by eliminatin' as much epoxy, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, steel, brass, and over-engineerin' as possible. Well, me bucko, blow me down! A secondary goal was t' design an electronics bay that is less imposin' and has simple engine backup for a dual deployment newcomer.

T' 3 x 24mm motor cluster was t' first thin' t' go, replaced by a LOC motor tube and foamboard centerin' rings. Ya scallywag! T' foamboard is extremely light and is perfect for centerin' rings because thar's hardly any thrust against them once t' fins are glued in. T' Microlite is lighter weight than plywood but is stronger than basswood (although a little more springy), arrr, me hearties, so it was used for t' through-the-wall fins. T' tabs butt against t' centerin' rings fore and aft, me bucko, ya bilge rat, so carpenter's glue is plenty strong for fin can assembly and saves weight over epoxy. Aye aye! At t' aft o' t' rocket, me hearties, me bucko, t' centerin' rin' was sealed with white glue and allowed t' dry, arrr, T-nuts were placed for positive motor retention, ya bilge rat, then t' back 1/8 inch be filled with epoxy, arrr, which results in a beautiful, flat, me hearties, shiver me timbers, finished look and adds rigidity and strength t' t' motor mount/fin can assembly.

T' Quasar Patriot kit has a high power body tube and 1/4 inch launch lug so those were nay changed. Arrr! All but one inch o' t' thick plastic nose cone was cut off t' save weight. Ya scallywag! A hole was drilled in t' shoulder, Keelhaul®©™ shock cord installed, and t' nose cone was glued in usin' a small amount o' epoxy. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Thus, ya bilge rat, t' nose cone shoulder becomes t' shock cord mount for t' main parachute.

T' section with t' black and white decal toward t' top o' t' rocket became t' e-bay. Aye aye! Ahoy! It is a natural size for available altimeters. Avast! Foamboard bulkheads were installed in each end o' t' e-bay as well as steel picture wire and lying-around speaker wire connectors. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! T' picture hangin' wire is forever strong and is lighter than t' U-bolts typically installed on e-bays. Avast, me proud beauty! T' bulkheads were sealed with white glue and allowed t' dry. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Holes were drilled around t' lip o' t' couplers and then taped and poured with epoxy (this provides a positive "key" instead o' relyin' just on t' adhesive properties o' t' epoxy). Aye aye! T' e-bay was then cut in half usin' a razor saw. T' isolate t' altimeter from ejection gases, arrr, an inner chamber was built from foamboard. Arrr! It is sealed around t' joints with fillets o' white glue. Well, blow me down! A foam seal goes on t' rectangular surface which fits together and seals air-tight. Arrr! Blimey! An air escape hole was drilled into this chamber for t' altimeter. Avast! When t' two halves o' t' clamshell are brought together, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, t' chamber seals and t' halves are taped together around t' shoulders on both ends o' t' electronics bay so thar are no tape joints on t' outside o' t' rocket.

Construction:
12 inch LOC motor tube, foamboard centerin' rings, 2 T-nuts, ya bilge rat, foamboard bulkheads for e-bay, me bucko, arrr, foamboard inner sealed altimeter chamber, foam seal, 2 additional BT-80 tube couplers, me bucko, 1/8 inch Microlite for t' fins, steel picture wire for e-bay shock cord anchors, speaker connectors for ejection charge hookup, ya bilge rat, Keelhaul®©™ for shock cord, arrr, arrr, and Nomex chute and streamer protectors.

T' Quasar Patriot begs for more power. T' modified motor mount/fin can is lightweight and plenty strong for high power. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' foamboard inner electronics chamber is nay a quick build, but it is simple, strong, and lightweight. Arrr! Avast! A pull-pin switch was added t' activate t' electronics on t' pad.

Finishing:
T' model was finished with three coats o' high-build automotive primer, me bucko, sanded in betwixt coats, then top-coated with glossy automotive paint. Begad! Aye aye! T' provided Quasar decals are stick-on, shiver me timbers, are high quality, me hearties, and easy t' work with.

Flight and Recovery:
First flight was with a G76-10G Mojave Green reload. Avast! Avast! Performance be excellent and appeared t' be much higher than t' 2400ft predicted in RockSim. Begad! Ya scallywag! Motor ejection is used as backup. With t' Nomex protectors, t' ten foot Mylar streamer, and t' 24 inch parachute are a quick pack. Well, blow me down! With two screws retainin' t' motor, matey, it is also quick and simple t' install. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' model flies straight and is quick off t' pad.

T' 20 feet o' braided Keelhaul®©™ shock cord worked fine. Blimey! On t' first flight, shiver me timbers, t' altimeter hole be occluded by some foam rubber and t' altimeter be nay activated. Blimey! Recovery velocity was too fast on t' streamer, but thar was no damage o' any kind, shiver me timbers, me hearties, which proves t' concept o' usin' t' foamboard and Microlite for weight savings.

Summary:
PROs: T' Quasar Patriot comes with a body tube and nose cone that are much juicier than just a 3 x 24mm kit. Their Bio Hazard II be t' same deal. Blimey! T' decals on these kits really set them apart and they're a very inexpensive way for a person t' start into dual deploy without t' expense o' a typical L2 cert sized rocket. Begad! If a flight problem occurs, t' cost o' repair is lower and t' materials give added protection t' t' altimeter compared t' a rigidly mounted plywood and metal sled. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' learnin' curve is nay as steep with these materials either.

CONs: T' foamboard inner chamber takes a little patience but probably less than buildin' a sled.

With t' materials described here, t' final dual-deploy launch weight (includin' altimeter and 9 volt battery) is only 699 grams. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' regular low-power version, arrr, ya bilge rat, built as it's packaged, arrr, weighs 419 grams and can be flown t' 300 feet on 3 C11s.