I was in a rocket buildin' mood one night and has some scrap parts lyin' around and decided t' stick them together into a rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! T' result be t' Spike (just seem t' fit) It will take any 18mm engines. I would stay small for its performance will likely be similar t' that of t' Mosquito, arrr, hence, me bucko, playin' a vanishin' act off o' t' pad. Ya scallywag! Avast! I proceeded to fill t' balsa grain and prime and paint it in Rustoleum Metallic Red then Clear Coat. Ya scallywag! Avast!

I had a problem though . Arrr! . . Ahoy! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! how t' recover it ? There was nay enough room for a recovery system so I had t' figure somethin' else out. Blimey! Kickin' t' engine like t' Mosquito was nay acceptable.

For one I don't like kicking engines. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Second this one is a little heavier than t' Mosquito and streamlining (tumble) in is nay exactly t' safest form o' recovery. Aye aye! Ahoy! So I remember t' Scout I had and grabbed a paper clip and rubber band. Aye aye!

First make 3 small holes in t' nose cone t' vent ejection gases (not too big or thar won't be enough pressure t' move t' engine casing. Begad!

Straighten t' paper clip with 2 hooks on each end (A normal paper clip not large or small) T' paper clip is just t' right size by coincidence. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Now all you do is hook one end in a vent hole and slide t' rubber band in place to hold it there. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Walla (picture on left) is durin' boost. Ahoy! Then t' engine kicks out stopped short by t' hook and walla "horizontal tumble recovery" keepin' t' engine with it (picture on right).

For Parts: Any 18mm blue motor mount tube you get with a rocket (or equivalent length). Begad! Any 18mm nose cone made o' plastic (vent holes in balsa are not a good idea! Personally I used what I had, me hearties, arrr, an Estes X-Ray nose cone. One normal paper clip plus one small rubber band. Well, blow me down! For fins I used t' left overs of my wrecked Apogee Heli-Roc rotor blades, but 1/8" balsa is what is needed.

All parts are common except fins. Begad! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Click HERE for a Gif image o' t' fins. Just print it from your browser window and use as a template t' make three (it is supposed t' be 1:1 with root edge about 35mm)

It is pretty simple and straightforward makin' it easy t' build. Aye aye! Ahoy! Looks nice in metallic paint.

No prep as far as wadding. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Just remove old engine, me bucko, me bucko, load a new one and launch. Begad! Now I have this paper clip and rubber band thin' because I came up with the idea after I made t' rocket BUT it does have an advantage: repair is EASY and if you remove t' clip and band t' rocket is nice, clean and will stand on its fins for show.

I have flown it over a dozen times with great results and no damage every time. I do nay fly larger than 1/2A6-2 engines though for it would go very high) It tumbles nicely sideways although I have t' make sure t' engine is loose so that it will slide back. Ahoy! If it doesn't, then recovery would be Mosquito style with t' engine inside (not necessarily damagin' t' t' rocket but would hurt if it hit you)

Have fun and if you make it all I ask is that you send me info and a picture so I can log how many people make this rocket!