Brief:
Hell Bent is a versatile 3FNC SPEV (spare parts equipment vehicle) that can fly on a wide range o' motors: anythin' from a high thrust E or break Mach (accordin' t' simulations) on a 38mm high thrust I or J motor.

Construction:
I used t' followin' components t' build this rocket:

• 1 LOC/Precision 2.6" plastic nose cone
• 1 9" long x 2.6" diameter paper tubing
• 1 18" long x 2.6" diameter paper tubing
• 1 4" coupler tube
• 1 6" long x 38mm LOC MMT tubing
• 2 LOC/Precision 2.56-1.63 centerin' rings
• 3 1/8" thick birch plywood fins from U.S. Aye aye! Rockets Warp kit
• 1 1/8" thick birch plywood bulkhead
• 1 screw eye
• 1 elastic shock cord
• 1 paper tri-fold shock cord mount
• 9ft elastic shock cord, ya bilge rat, 3/8" thick
• 1 8-32 x 1/2" nylon screw
• 2 standard rail buttons from railbuttons.com

A significant portion o' these parts I had layin' around, arrr, and what I didn't have at t' time be ordered from U.S. Blimey! Rockets. Ahoy! I am a big fan o' aliphatic resin (yellow wood glue) and have been tryin' different brands. Elmer's ProBond was used exclusively throughout t' entire build except for polyurethane glue to bond t' screw eye into t' coupler bulkhead and CA t' secure t' rail buttons into t' airframe. Ahoy! I picked up t' ProBond after readin' about its use in t' EMRR Tips Library (click here). Well, blow me down! I do like that it's thicker and has a quicker tack than most yellow wood glues, although it does seem t' take longer t' dry when used in larger quantities.

T' tubin' was t' last piece o' several pieces o' 2.6" tubin' that I won in a couple o' auctions on eBay. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' couplers were acquired t' same way except I have a bunch o' them left over! I like for HPRs in me fleet t' have a payload section, especially now that I have started gettin' into onboard electronics and would like for it t' occasionally carry an altimeter (even though it will most likely nay be used for recovery device deployment). Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! That meant cuttin' t' 27" piece o' tubin' into 9" and 18" pieces. I used a piece o' heavy paper t' wrap around t' tube t' draw an even line for markin' t' tube. Ahoy! I used several passes with a razor utility knife for cutting the tube. An orbital sander smoothed out t' cut tubin' t' ensure that they would mount flush against each other when coupled together.

T' motor mount is a 6" long piece o' LOC 38mm MMT tubing. Begad! I used the same technique t' cut it from t' long piece in me parts box. Blimey! I roughed up the tubin' with 220 grit sandpaper before gluin' and filletin' t' centerin' rings on 3/4" from each end. I then glued t' MMT assembly into one end o' the 18" long tube with about 1/4" stickin' out t' aft end (to make it easier t' remove t' motor post-flight).

I used t' Fin Wrapper Generator tool in VCP t' mark t' fin placement. Begad! Aye aye! I then cut out the fin slots in multiple passes with a razor utility knife. Begad! Blimey! I rounded the edges on t' fins with an orbital sander, ya bilge rat, trimmed off about 1/8" from each end o' t' root edge t' minimize t' gap in t' tube for t' forward and trailin' edges o' t' fins and then used t' "double glue" method to mount t' fins one at a time (I found this tip a long time ago in t' EMRR Tips Library). Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Blimey! After they were dry, I applied 2 layers o' yellow glue fillets.

T' bulkhead was glued and filleted into t' coupler and then t' coupler was glued into t' payload tube. Arrr! A dab o' Gorilla Glue was put onto t' threads of t' screw eye before twistin' it into t' bulkhead.

Five holes were drilled into t' tubing. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Three were 5/32". Two of those were for t' rail buttons in t' main airframe and t' third was in the payload tube for a nylon screw t' hold t' nose cone in place. T' two remainin' holes were 3/32" holes t' act as pressure relief vents for both the payload and main tubes.

Comin' down t' home stretch, shiver me timbers, nine feet o' heavy duty 3/8" flat elastic shock cord was tied onto t' screw eye at one end and glued t' a cardstock tri-fold paper mount several inches down inside t' main airframe tube. Begad! Blimey! A small loop was also tied in t' shock cord about 3ft from t' nose cone so that I could attach/remove t' parachute with a quicklink as needed.

T' final step o' t' build was t' screw in t' rail buttons, although I actually waited until after all o' t' paintin' was complete before doin' this. A small dab o' CA was put on t' threads o' t' screw on each rail button before screwin' them in.

Finishing:
Stayin' with me standard approach, ya bilge rat, I started by lightly sandin' down t' entire rocket with 320 grit sandpaper (actually t' nose cone got hit with 150 grit first then 320). Begad! T' fins received a treatment o' diluted Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish, matey, which I have continually improved me ability t' spread it with an epoxy squeegee t' reduce t' amount o' sandin' I have t' do afterwards yet press it down into t' wood grain t' ensure a smooth finish. With t' fins sanded, ya bilge rat, then comes a couple layers o' Krylon white primer. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' primer was sanded with a scrub pad equivalent t' '000' (fine grade) steel wool after each coat. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Once happy with t' primed finish, it was time for t' final glossy coats.

I kept t' paint scheme as simple as t' rocket. Ahoy! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Krylon Gloss Black was sprayed on t' rocket, wet sanded, arrr, and sprayed again for a durable finish. Krylon Silver was sprayed on t' payload tube and one fin for contrast.

T' get t' glossy black paint t' really shine (but not t' silver), I use 3M Rubbin' Compound and a couple o' pieces o' an old T-shirt. Like Mr. Miyagi says, ya bilge rat, "Wax on. Aye aye! Wax off." Repeat until desired results are achieved. Avast! Lastly, shiver me timbers, I added some chrome automotive pinstripin' as well as a West Coast Choppers sticker I had lyin' around. Well, blow me down! Blimey! These highly reflective devices should make it easier t' visually track t' rocket durin' high altitude flights.

Flight:
Hell Bent's first flight was on an AeroTech 29/180 H238T-M. I used a 38-29mm motor adapter that came with me U.S. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! Rockets Sentra SRB 2.7 kit. Ahoy! Blimey! T' motor was inserted into t' adapter and a couple wraps o' maskin' tape were put on the forward end o' t' motor t' retain it in t' adapter. T' adapter and motor were then inserted into t' rocket and a hose clamp (found in the plumbin' section o' me local home improvement store) was tightened onto t' aft end o' t' motor mount tube securin' it in place.

T' rocket was put on t' rail and t' countdown be started. Avast! Arrr! Now, I knew it was goin' t' leave t' pad smartly but I was frankly stunned as t' rocket absolutely vanished off t' pad. T' nearly smokeless Blue Thunder propellant had everyone in attendance lookin' in completely different directions attemptin' t' see t' rocket. Aye aye! It wasn't until we heard t' squeal o' me rocket beeper that we were able t' hunt it down. Begad! T' glare o' t' sun off t' payload tube and fin aided greatly in visually trackin' t' rocket. Aye aye! Whew! That was fast!

My best friend, who is our club photographer, matey, was amazed as anyone there that he managed t' capture an in flight picture o' Hell Bent.

Recovery:
I clipped on a Nomex heat shield that I move betwixt a number o' rockets in my fleet, one o' me rocket beepers, and a small 18" nylon chute that came with a kit that I can't seem t' remember right now. Blimey! Blimey! T' chute was t' right size for this rocket as it brought it down smartly and safely. Avast, me proud beauty! Landin' on a nice grassy section o' t' field, shiver me timbers, thar wasn't a scratch on it!

Summary:
At its core, arrr, Hell Bent is a robust yet very lightweight 3FNC. T' large fins may have a lot o' stress on them if a high thrust I or J motor is used but they do guarantee that Hell Bent will be stable without any noseweight regardless of what size 38mm motor is used. That translates into a high performance rocket.