Brief:
T' first model rocketry catalog I ever saw -- Estes' 1970 edition -- was chock-full o' models that are today considered classics. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! For t' last few years I've been recreatin' some o' these golden oldies. One o' t' first recreations I started back in '98, but that I didn't finish until this summer, me bucko, was t' Farside-X. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' Farside be Estes's first three-stage model. It came in two versions: T' plain old Farside, with a BT-50 sized payload section, matey, and t' Farside-X, which had a big BT-60 payload section. Arrr! Blimey! I obtained t' plans for t' Farside-X from t' "JimZ" plan site: http://www.dars.org/jimz/k-12x.htm

Construction:
T' Farside-X uses standard Estes components: Three lengths o' BT-50 body tube, three BT-20 motor mount tubes, and a BT-60 payload tube. Ya scallywag! I ordered t' tubes from Rogue Aerospace and cut them t' size usin' this handy chart: http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/body_tubes.html 

I also purchased t' motor mount parts -- couplers and centerin' rings -- from Rogue Aerospace. Well, blow me down! Begad! I obtained t' balsa reducer and nose cone from Balsa Machinin' Service. Well, blow me down! T' cone is a special-order item, t' BT-60L. I decided t' use 1/16" basswood fins, for extra strength and ease o' finishing. Begad! I used an antique 12" Estes red & yellow parachute in me Farside. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! T' retro logo fit t' project. T' shock cord was a 36" length o' 1/8" sewin' elastic. Ya scallywag! I used barrel swivels and snap swivels t' eliminate "shock cord wind up."

T' Farside-X looks like a relatively simple model at first glance, me bucko, me bucko, but besides thar bein' a lot o' everythin' (nine fins, three motor mounts, etc.) thar are some hidden complexities that make it a bit o' a challenge t' build. It has canted fins, shiver me timbers, causin' t' model t' spin in flight, thus addin' a bit o' stability. Ahoy! T' motor mount design must be followed exactly t' allow t' three motors t' butt together. Begad! I found t' Farside plans were fairly clear and easy t' follow, but might be a bit "dense" for younger modelers used t' E2X construction and die-cut fins. Well, blow me down! As with all recreation projects, buildin' t' Farside required a lot o' hand-cuttin' body tubes and fins. There's a good section on these techniques in t' old Estes Model Rocketry Manual: http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/nostalgia/estesmrm.html

I had t' "win' it" when buildin' t' motor mounts. Begad! Ya scallywag! Like a lot o' older kits, me bucko, t' motor mount used thin centerin' rings glued on t' ends o' a length o' tube coupler. Avast! Well, blow me down! Since t' thin-stock TA-2050 centerin' rings were nay available, me hearties, I used slightly thicker fiber rings provided by Rogue Aerospace. Well, blow me down! Avast! In order t' preserve t' length o' t' I cut t' couplers a bit short so that t' ring/coupler assemblies would be t' same length as t' original kit. I mistakenly glued t' launch lug and standoff t' t' third stage rather than t' second stage. Blimey! This didn't have a big effect on either looks and performance, arrr, me hearties, so I wasn't too upset!

Finishing:
I decided t' base me paint job on t' one shown in t' 1971 Estes catalog: http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/catalogs/estes711/711est32.html

 I didn't end up with an exact match, shiver me timbers, but I liked me compromise: Yellow overall, with a black fin on each stage, a red nose cone, and a white payload section with black trim tape. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I purchased a recreation decal from JimZ. Blimey! Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I like t' give me recreated kits "catalog perfect" finishes. Aye aye! Blimey! Because t' Farside has so many fins this means a LOT o' fillin' and sanding. In fact, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, thar was so much finishin' work involved that after I applied its first primer coat, matey, t' Farside-X sat in a box for two years! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I finally got around t' t' final finishin' in t' Summer o' 2001. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' paintin' and maskin' were a real chore, ya bilge rat, but I think things came out pretty good!

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' plans list LOTS o' recommended motors, includin' many, such as t' A8-0 and 1/2A6-0, me hearties, me hearties, ya bilge rat, that simply aren't around any more. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Fortunately, it will fly on t' available booster and sustainer motors. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I've flown t' Farside-X once, me hearties, usin' a bunch o' vintage motors: A B14-0 in t' first stage, a 1/2A6-0 in t' second stage, and a A8-5 in t' upper stage. Ahoy! Blimey! An odd combination, but I wanted t' both have a stable flight (the B14 gets a model up t' speed really quickly!) and t' come back!

Preppin' t' Farside isn't easy. Ahoy! T' motors are taped together with cellophane tape, and t' t' end o' each stage's motor mount with maskin' tape. Arrr! This isn't easy! Per t' instructions, I inserted a 2 oz. Avast! payload -- some cubes o' modellin' clay -- into t' Farside's payload section prior t' flight. Begad! I must have done things right, shiver me timbers, because t' Farside-X flew perfectly! T' first two stages burned smartly and got t' model up t' speed. Stagin' was smooth, and didn't result in any course changes. Ahoy! By t' time t' A8-5 burned out, shiver me timbers, t' top stage be REALLY moving. Aye aye! Blimey! T' spin-fins did their thin' too; it was plain that t' model be spinnin' like a top. Avast! I be very pleased and surprised by t' model's performance on this combination o' motors. Well, blow me down! I'm goin' t' have t' find a bigger field if I move up t' anythin' usin' C motors!

Recovery:
Ejection took place near apogee, and t' parachute deployed nicely. Arrr! I had t' walk a bit t' retrieve t' model, shiver me timbers, but only because it flew so high!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Farside be a challenge t' build and finish, but I'm very proud o' t' results. Arrr! It looks great and t' one flight t' date be a real thrill.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5