Brief:
Conversion t' 18mm flight for Hawk (#552-130; circa 1958) and Glencoe (#05103; circa 1990) 1/48th scale Jupiter C (Redstone/Explorer) plastic models.

Modifications:
If ever a scale model called out for conversion it's t' Hawk and/or Glencoe Jupiter C. Aye aye! This conversion covers both because Glencoe bought and used the molds from Hawk. T' Hawk version is preferable because a) t' molds have warped and t' Glencoe models are notoriously hard t' put together straight and easily, and b) t' antique factor o' t' Hawk. I've been lucky enough t' locate two hawk models for $10 or less on auction. Ya scallywag! Begad! I am told they fetch over $100 at plastic modeler's conventions and even t' box is worth t' $10. Arrr! However, the Glencoe is easier t' locate.

Conversion is made easy by t' fact that t' model is so close t' Estes BT-55 diameter that manufactured parts can be used and t' fact that t' hole where t' engine nozzle would go is just a hair over 18mm/BT20 tube size. Plastic cement must be used with all plastic parts and can be used on all paper parts too--it's plenty strong enough. However, plastic glue might be harsh on elastic (although I'm nay sure). Well, blow me down! You might want t' use wood glue inside the Estes type folded-paper shock cord mount. Mountin' it t' t' tube will still require plastic glue.

Start by buildin' t' major sections o' t' model but do nay connect them: the lower body/fin section (minus t' nozzle) and t' upper body and nose with Explorer attached. Arrr! If you choose t' use an engine hook, cut a small notch in the base o' t' fin can so thar's enough room for it t' open t' insert and remove engines (1/4" wide and long is enough).

For t' Glencoe version, you'll probably have trouble makin' t' two halves of each section fit together and may have similar problems makin' t' ends of the two sections fit well. All I can say is use plenty o' glue and rubber bands. Blimey! It can be done.

Lookin' down inside t' lower body section, you'll note that t' inside base is nay round. Ya scallywag!

Due t' t' fin can and connectin' points o' t' model, ya bilge rat, t' nearly BT-55 circle is squared off with four flat spaces. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' bottom rin' o' t' motor mount will need t' be trimmed t' fit this. Just trim off some, me bucko, me bucko, me bucko, test fit t' piece and repeat as necessary until enough is removed. If you remove too much, me bucko, ya bilge rat, don't worry too much as t' bottom rin' will be glued t' t' base, shiver me timbers, so a tight fit against t' sides is nay strictly necessary. Blimey! Be sure t' note t' placement of these flats on your bottom centerin' rin' in comparison with engine hook/notch (if used) so that they line up. You also will need t' notch t' bottom rin' for hook movement. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Be sure t' notice that t' top centerin' rin' will need some, but nay as much, squarin' off. Begad! Begad! Test fit both rings and inspect their alignment, markin' t' rings and motor tube if necessary until you are sure o' t' fit of all parts. T' rounded portions will nay start with a perfect fit. Begad! Blimey! T' tube is slightly less than BT-55 inside diameter. This is easily fixed by simply runnin' t' rings around on their rims while pushin' down, ya bilge rat, slightly mushrooming the edge. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Obviously this is best accomplished before startin' t' squarin' off.

Once you're sure o' t' motor mount fit in t' lower body, construct it as you normally would, shiver me timbers, with good fillets on t' motor tube/rin' joints betwixt the rings. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! When its glue has set, me hearties, put glue on t' bottom side o' t' bottom centerin' rin' and lower it into place. Begad! If any glue seeps out through the engine hook notch, shiver me timbers, remove it immediately. Blimey! Avast! (A Q-Tip works great for this.)

Construct an Estes folder-paper type shock cord anchor, usin' wood glue to hold it together. Blimey! Glue it an inch or two below t' top inside t' upper body with plastic glue. Once bottom and top sections are complete and t' glue is set, they can be glued together.

T' nose will need t' be filled with 2 t' 3 ounces o' putty plus lead shot or other weightin' material. Begad! Embed t' screw eye (with t' shock cord attached to it) within t' weight. Do NOT use plastic cement t' glue this into t' nose. If you trap plastic glue against plastic with somethin' that does nay let the fumes escape, me bucko, it will continue t' melt t' plastic (that is, after all, matey, how plastic glue works) and you will end up with pits and craters in t' surface. If you don't have a weightin' substance that adheres t' t' plastic (I used DAP finishin' putty--it's heavy stuff), shiver me timbers, matey, cut a disk t' glue t' t' inside o' the nose, holdin' t' weight in place.

T' nose does nay sit well on t' body. Begad! It sits over a shoulder on the upper body, me hearties, which is only 1/8" high. Blimey! It may fly OK sometimes but may fall off due t' vibration or may separate before ejection. Begad! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! On one model, me bucko, me bucko, matey, I glued very thin plastic strips t' t' outer vertical edge o' t' nose in 4 places. This worked. Avast, me proud beauty! On another, shiver me timbers, I glued scrap pieces o' t' stems from t' kit parts as vertical spars hangin' from t' inside top o' t' nose, placed t' leave just enough room betwixt them and t' edge o' t' nose for t' shoulder o' t' body. This worked as well even though it be harder t' do but didn't ruin t' scale. On me next one, I will try t' latter technique but build it into t' nose weight and bulkhead construction for more solidity.

Construction:
Requires Hawk or Glencoe Jupiter C plastic model plus:

• 18mm engine mount components for Estes BT-55 size model
• Recovery equipment for LPR (shock cord, anchor, me hearties, me hearties, screw eye and chute)
• A fair amount o' nose weight (putty with lead shot is suggested)
• 1/8" launch lug

To finish, ya bilge rat, arrr, do a quick balance o' t' finished model completely assembled with a spent engine casin' in t' mount. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Glue a 2" t' 3" launch lug centered on t' CG. Blimey! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! If you wish t' nay ruin t' scale model, you can easily construct a slip-over rin' with launch lug attached. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! With it sittin' on top the fins and goin' halfway up t' body, ya bilge rat, it will nay greatly ruin t' appearance of the model on t' pad if done in all white .

You could also glue t' plastic model's nozzle t' an empty engine casing, so that it can be left in when t' model is on display.

T' instructions are well written and illustrated as well as t' same for both versions. Arrr! T' changes in buildin' order won't make any difference t' the specifics o' t' instructions.

Finishing:
Finishin' is preplanned. Ya scallywag! T' color scheme is simple and well described. Ahoy! The kits contain water slide decals. Avast, me proud beauty! I dislike these intensely as I can never make them sit properly. Aye aye! T' roll stripes are easily replaced with Pactra or similar stripin' tape. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' "UE" markings can be done with hand cut or precut vinyl. If you manage t' get t' Hawk version, you'll almost certainly need to replace them, because they'll be 40+ years old, cracked, matey, me hearties, and all dried out.

Flight:
First tests were done with a previously half-built Hawk model. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! First flight was on an A8-3. This be too low. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' chute opened only 15 feet from t' ground. Second flight be on a B6-4. Begad! Blimey! This be a very nice flight although it did arch a bit (probably due more t' nose weight than effective engine size). Recovery was good on a 12" mylar "sport chute" from Aerospace Specialty Products. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! An 18" might be better for this engine.

Third flight was with a Glencoe version usin' a C6-5. Begad! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Flight was good but still arched a bit on t' way up with ejection at apogee and good recovery. Well, blow me down! The 12" chute was plenty here--the rocket went high enough that an 18" might have let it drift too far. Still, shiver me timbers, it landed with t' Explorer point on the nose strikin' a very small rock causin' it t' break off. Begad! This can be easily glued. Blimey! A better thin' might have been t' paint it correctly and nay glue it in place so it could be removed for flight. Avast! Blimey! It's so small that it wouldn't change the flight characteristics either way.

Summary:
T' main CON be t' fit o' t' pieces o' t' Glencoe version. Well, blow me down! This is not insurmountable, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, matey, just an annoyance.

T' main PRO is how close t' model is t' standard sized parts. Blimey! Any experienced modeler who has ever finished a level 4 kit or at least several level 3 kits, ya bilge rat, will have no trouble figurin' out where t' add model rocket construction steps t' t' plastic model construction. Goin' step by step, where you have t' modify t' plastic t' fit t' rocket is obvious and nay difficult.