Brief:
An Estes Fat Boy modified with a 24mm MMT for D and E motors. Aye aye! External dimensions are stock. Begad! These modifications change one o' Estes best packaged kits into a true performer.

Modifications:
Construction sequence was pretty normal for a MPR capable rocket: forward CR epoxied t' t' MMT, me bucko, shock cord mount epoxied t' t' MMT (two 1/32" holes were drilled in t' front CR t' tie t' Keelhaul®©™ cord to), matey, epoxy MMT assembly into t' body tube at t' front rin' only. Begad! T' aft rin' is just thar t' locate t' motor tube and can be removed by means o' clear tape. Fins saw a coat o' thinned white glue and Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish prior t' bein' installed. T' root side o' t' fins were sanded down very slightly t' allow for a proper fit with t' larger motor tube. After epoxyin' t' fins t' t' motor tube, t' aft rin' is removed and internal filletin' is done (rear CR had small groove cut on t' inside rin' with 3/16" drill bit t' allow movement o' t' "E" engine hook), then t' aft rin' is epoxied on and external fin fillets are done. All assembly used 5-minute epoxy.

Construction:
After openin' t' package, I examined t' parts and decided on makin' some upgrades. Begad! T' stock 18mm motor tube was swapped out for a 24mm motor tube 4" in length, t' paper centerin' rings were swapped out for 1/8" ply centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, t' stock engine hook be swapped out for an "E" length engine hook. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! A 24mm thrust rin' be added t' be sure t' motor stays in place while under thrust. Arrr! A brass 3/16" launch lug was added for increased durability. Ahoy! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Keelhaul®©™ cord (120lb) be added t' t' kit t' make a strong anchor point for t' shock cord (~18"). Well, blow me down! Blimey! A Keelhaul®©™ sheathed elastic cord was added t' make a durable shock cord (~48"). Begad! Blimey! And finally t' stock Estes plastic chute be swapped out for an 18" ripstop nylon chute with a swivel. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Everythin' else needed t' complete t' build came directly from t' Estes Fat Boy kit (i.e., arrr, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, nose cone, ya bilge rat, body tube, fins, decals).

T' Fat Boy does come well packaged and all parts were accounted for (although most were nay used). Ahoy! No parts were broken although it should be noted that t' nose cone in this kit required a "considerable" amount o' sandin' for it t' slide into t' body tube properly. Aye aye! Begad! T' materials supplied are pretty much Estes standard: paper tubes, arrr, balsa fins, and plastic nose cone. T' instructions and illustrations were very easy t' follow so much so that this kit would be well suited t' a first timer. Ahoy! Blimey! It should also be noted that t' help guarantee perfect fin alignment, an Estes fin alignment guide was used durin' construction.

Finishing:
After primin' with a Krylon white primer it was decided t' use Krylon True Blue Gloss for t' body tube and Krylon Sun Yellow Gloss for both t' fins and nose cone. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Stock decals were applied and a few coats o' Tremclad clear coat were laid down. Finally t' bottom side o' t' aft CR be covered with a small piece o' 322 silver foil tape for nothin' more than cosmetics. (C'mon it's a chrome aft end!)!

Flight and Recovery:
Prior t' flyin' this modified Fat Boy approximately 1 1/8 oz. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! o' nose cone weight was added in t' form o' #8 shot. Avast, me proud beauty! It be held in at t' tip o' t' nose cone with 30 minute epoxy. Blimey! Arrr! An Estes D12-3 motor was selected for t' first flight. Ahoy! This engine had simmed it t' a safe altitude o' 460 feet. T' rocket be prepped with an "E" engine space block t' allow t' "D" engine t' fit properly. Begad! Arrr! A mixture o' Estes waddin' and cellulose was used. Arrr! T' engine is retained with t' metal engine hook. T' flight was very impressive but more impressive was t' fact that t' Fat Boy flew perfectly straight with no twistin' or arching. Blimey! Perhaps that be due t' t' fin alignment guide? Deployment happened right at apogee and allowed t' 18" chute t' safely brin' t' Fat Boy down for an easy recovery approximately 30 feet from t' launch pad. T' next launch was on an Estes E9-4 and proved t' be even more impressive. Arrr! I placed t' loaded rocket on t' scale just prior t' launch and it read 7.5 oz. T' rocket tracked perfectly through t' air this time as well as it raced upwards t' somewhere around 1000 feet. Arrr! Arrr! Ejection was at apogee and recovery was successful with just a short walk (~100 ft.). After inspection o' t' rocket everythin' be in tact and t' project was labeled a success!

Summary:
This is a super little kit from Estes and a prime candidate for you t' add your own unique modifications to. Begad! I was inspired t' modify this kit after seein' others fly t' stock 18mm version on Bs and Cs with less than stellar results. Begad! T' main PROs o' this kit has t' be its ease o' construction and t' endless possibilities for modifications. Begad! T' only CONs I can think o' are t' usual Estes "moans and groans": t' stock shock cord is far too flimsy and short and that t' stock plastic chute which will nay last long.