Brief:
Designed as a "deep space explorer", this intriguin' design features 9 total fins--6 on t' end and 3 slightly forward. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! It can be down-sized t' fly on 24mm motors, me hearties, but really lives up t' t' deep space exploration theme flying on an F. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction:

• 29mm nose cone
• 29mm body tubing, matey, 26", me bucko, rugged enough t' double as motor mount
• 3/32 basswood for fins
• Engine block
• Launch lug (1/8")
• Streamer (2x56 mylar)
• Recovery cord (I suggest 90-120 lb Keelhaul®©™® and 1/4" elastic)
• Decal file (can be downloaded from Apogees newsletter archive, arrr, #80)

Download t' plan as a Rocksim file for free (RockSim is also available here on EMRR). Avast! It doesn't come with instructions, me bucko, though t' design is straightforward enough t' build without them if you've got at least a skill level 2 amount o' experience. Begad! You'll need t' print out t' fin pattern from the full version o' Rocksim, as none is provided in t' newsletter. Arrr! Arrr! Also, shiver me timbers, I highly recommed downloadin' t' decals and printin' them out on an inkjet (unless you know someone with a nice ALPS printer). T' decals make t' difference between a great-lookin' rocket and a "generic" rocket built from spare parts.

This be t' first rocket I'd ever built with Six fins mounted around the diameter, which was a little challengin' t' achieve t' proper alignment. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I used t' add-on software for Rocksim called "Fins Fun" which can read a Rocksim file and print out an alignment template/tube markin' guide. It simplified this part o' t' build.

Construction be straightforward - install an engine block (I used a 24-29mm centerin' ring), cut out t' fins, me bucko, me bucko, mount t' t' tube, glue on the launch lug, install t' recovery device, and you're ready t' paint.

Finishing:
I went with t' Shrox scheme o' yellow/white two-tone, shiver me timbers, matey, after two coats of primer. Allowin' a couple o' days t' fully cure, me hearties, I then applied t' decals, which I printed on me Canon Bubblejet usin' Avery clear label paper. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' finish isn't nearly as glossy and clear as water-slide, me bucko, matey, matey, but at a cost o' about $0.75 per page, it represents a decent alternative t' most printers.

With t' decals and glossy paint, this is a very nice lookin' rocket when complete.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Bein' a scratch build, I decided t' start small with a D12-3 motor. Blimey! It was a windy afternoon (10-15mph), arrr, and t' bird weathercocked slightly but still got to an estimated 800 feet. T' ejection was a tad early, me hearties, arrr, and a D12-5 would be a better fit. Well, blow me down! After a fine recovery, arrr, I put it back up on an Econojet F21-6, arrr, arrr, and the flight was fantastic - much less weathercock, matey, and well over 1200 feet. Ahoy! Blimey!

Recovery:
For lower-power flights, me bucko, a 12" or 18" chute might be better than a streamer. Begad! After 4 flights, shiver me timbers, I broke one fin on impact. Arrr! For F and above though, streamer be t' only way you'll ever get this back. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5