Brief:
This was t' second rocket I built around t' wooden birdhouses I found at Michael's. Arrr! I decided t' body o' the birdhouse reminded me o' a squatty version o' t' Honest John cone. This rocket is based on 3" tubin' and flies on a cluster o' four 24mm motors. Begad! Ahoy! Its name is also based on the Raygun Gothic Rocketship from Burnin' Man 2009.

Construction:
I found 3" tubin' would fit t' 'cone' perfectly and decided t' use some Giant Leap tubin' that I had around. Ahoy! I started construction with t' cone. Begad! Blimey! T' fins on t' birdhouse were held on with both glue and wire brads, but were easy t' remove. Avast! Arrr! A bulkhead be glued t' t' bottom o' t' birdhouse, t' shoulder (Giant Leap coupler) be glued over that, and a 2nd bulkhead was glued t' t' end. Blimey! Begad! A long eyebolt goes through both bulkheads.

I cut t' centerin' rings and fins from 1/8" luan plywood. Aye aye! T' rings were cut on buddy's router and t' four 24mm holes with a hole saw. Aye aye! I cut t' fins on a table saw. Ya scallywag! Because t' four motor tubes were shorter than t' fin root, t' through-the-wall tabs had t' be notched accordingly.

T' shock tether is 1/8" Keelhaul®©™® attached t' t' motor mount. Aye aye! Arrr! Blimey! A bolt is attached in t' center o' t' mount for motor retention. I recessed t' mount so t' rocket could sit flat on its end with t' motors installed.

I originally had thought about 'steam punk' stylin' with metal trim and copper pipin' for t' spin motors, however, ya bilge rat, t' weight was addin' up and I wasn't findin' suitable 'surplus' parts. Arrr! Begad! So, matey, I went with more o' a classical Honest John trim scheme. Aye aye! I added a couple o' thin outer tube sections around t' body, one at t' top and one above the fins. I used a couple o' wooden craft spools for t' rail button standoffs. T' 'spin motors' were formed from scrap balsa.

T' cone was left rough but was sealed with a coat o' primer. I only filled a couple o' spots where t' fins had been. Most o' t' rocket is painted olive drab usin' Rustoleum paint. Arrr! Blimey! T' keep a little o' t' steam punk look, ya bilge rat, arrr, I painted t' tip o' t' cone gold and t' raised rin' silver. Avast, me proud beauty! I looked and looked for somethin' t' plug t' hole in the cone and came up with an emerald colored plastic bottle that fit perfectly.

Tada!

Flight:
I used a Nomex® chute protector and a large 40" chute. Well, blow me down! I added tape thrust rings t' four D12-5 motors and held them in with a small washer. T' four motors were ignited with Quest Q2/G2 igniters. All four lit but t' boost was awfully anemic. Weather cockin' resulted in late ejection. T' chute opened in plenty o' time and t' recovery was good.

Summary:
I though this rocket turned out lookin' great but kind o' wish I had put in a 29mm mount. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I've never clustered composites but maybe I'll have t' try with this one.