Brief:
I wanted t' go a little crazy for this stage o' t' EMRR 2009 Challenge.

I've always been a big fan o' "Odd-Rocs" and decided t' combine two o' them. Well, blow me down! T' rules called for a kit-bashed two-stager combinin' two available single stage kits. Blimey! I looked at a few online catalogs and these two won out:

• Booster: Squirrel Works Pie In T' Sky
• Sustainer: West Wayne Rockets Birdie

Both models were ordered through Uncle Mike's Rocket Shack, t' only distributor that carried both models on a single website. Arrr! All arrived on April 16, shiver me timbers, me hearties, 2009.

Modifications:
Birdie Construction:

I ordered t' blue Birdie kit, matey, however, ya bilge rat, it'll be painted black t' better fit t' model's name.

Before any construction, ya bilge rat, I washed off t' shuttlecock with a toothbrush and dish soap t' remove any molding release. Arrr! T' paper trim rin' (beneath t' nose) be peeled off and t' nose was masked t' remain white. T' paint stuck well on t' flexible Birdie body. I thought it might flake or release off t' surface.

STEP 1. Begad! I checked with a "T" (13mm) engine and had t' recess the wooden engine block disk by 1/32" from t' top. Begad! This two-stage configuration requires t' Birdie's engine t' stick out t' aft by at least 1/8". Ya scallywag! It slides inside t' wider booster engine.

In STEP 2 instructs you t' fillet t' centerin' rin' with CA when it is in position. I decided t' touch small amounts o' CA t' hold t' rin' in place then fillet with white glue.

STEP 4 said t' use remainin' epoxy t' fillet t' centerin' ring/engine tube joint. As explained earlier, I used white glue. Ya scallywag! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I couldn't see usin' epoxy here, me hearties, as it was too involved and messy for a simple low-powered build.

T' only place where t' epoxy is needed is where t' top o' t' engine mount meets t' inside o' t' Birdie nose. There was a bit o' "play" at t' top o' t' tube. Ahoy! T' BT-5 is smaller than t' inside diameter o' the Birdie nose cavity. Arrr!

T' wood engine block disk butts up against a rounded rubber post holdin' t' blunt nose on. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I added a 1/4" section o' expended engine casin' over t' top o' t' engine mount tube. It helped center t' top o' t' BT-5 in the nose.

Pie In T' Sky Construction:

T' engine mount construction was straightforward. Ya scallywag! I glued t' launch lug t' t' side o' t' engine mount tube, and I left out t' engine block for now. For t' Pizza t' be a booster and allow t' both engines t' be joined, arrr, I'll have t' glue t' engine block at t' bottom (not t' top) o' t' engine tube.

T' bottom o' t' 13mm (A10-3T) sustainer will friction fit inside t' top o' t' 18mm (B6-0) booster. Blimey! No tape or separation o' t' engines. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' smaller sustainer will slide 1/8" into t' top o' t' booster.

I won't glue t' booster engine tube in place until both models are nearin' completion. Begad! Ya scallywag! On t' Pizza booster, the engine mount tube will extend out t' top o' t' flat disk t' mate with t' Birdie's engine. Avast! Remember, t' booster's engine block rin' is moved t' t' bottom o' t' engine mount tube. Begad! Avast!

T' bottom and sides o' t' disk were painted with Wal-Mart Aluminum spray paint. Aye aye! Blimey! T' engine tube and lug were sprayed gloss black.

T' instructions direct you t' peel and stick t' pizza decal t' t' disk after t' engine tube is glued in the bottom. As me engine tube sticks out over t' top o' t' disk, arrr, I stuck it in place before t' engine tube be glued on. There is nay much direction on how t' center t' decal. Ahoy! I have labeled many CDs in t' past and knew I only had one chance. Blimey! I peeled off t' backin' and set t' decal sticky side up on me thigh. I turned over t' disk, bottom side up and lowered t' disk over t' stick decal. Arrr! I could look through t' (bigger) round motor tube hole and on t' the smaller sticker hole. Begad! T' sticker hole is smaller than t' wood disk hole. Avast, me proud beauty! I lightly rubbed t' sticker decal into place. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I opened up t' decal hole t' t' diameter o' t' motor tube. Ya scallywag! Avast! Remember, on this two-stage model t' booster engine will extend above t' top o' t' pizza disk. Avast, matey, me proud beauty!

With t' two stages joined, I knew t' two different launch lug placements wouldn't line up. With both engines in place, I joined t' two stages. Begad! I dropped a launch rod through t' top o' t' Birdie lug down onto t' top o' the pizza. Begad! I spun t' rod and made a light mark on t' pizza, arrr, then drilled a 1/8" hole t' allow t' rod t' pass through both stages. No lug is needed on t' Pizza booster as t' rod will pass through t' disk hole and continue up into t' Birdie launch lug. Ya scallywag! Usin' both engines as a guide, t' engine mount tube slides through t' disk and extends up 9/32" over t' top o' t' disk.

T' engine tube felt a little wobbly goin' through t' disk. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! I added a fiber 20/50 centerin' rin' under t' disk. It was split and a small wedge be cut out t' fit around t' original lug. Aye aye! Blimey! It stabilized t' tube and gave me a larger surface area for gluing.

Construction:
Both were off t' shelf (online ordered) kits.

Birdie Parts:

• BT-5 Engine Tube
• 13mm Wood Disk Engine Block
• 5/60 Wood Centerin' Ring
• 1/8" Launch Lug
• Plastic Shuttlecock
• Directions

Pie In T' Sky Parts:

• BT-20 Engine Tube
• 18mm Engine Block
• 1/8" Launch Lug
• Pizza Pan Disk
• Pizza Sticker Decal
• Directions

There is only two photographs in t' Birdie instructions. Begad! I've built a few Birdie clones over t' years and know the construction well. Begad! But a first timer might have problems figurin' out t' step descriptions.

T' centerin' rin' launch lug hole isn't in t' correct position. Avast! I widened t' hole towards t' BT-5 so t' lug would be straight goin' through t' top o' t' Birdie body.

Flight and Recovery:
Earlier t' engine block was glued into t' aft o' t' booster mount. Ahoy! T' Quest B6-0 was secured through t' top of the Pie with maskin' tape. Ahoy! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! It be a little harder than normal t' get t' igniter into t' recessed booster nozzle.

T' A10-3T be slid into t' Birdie and both engines were "socketed" together. Aye aye! Both stages were rotated so t' Birdie lug and t' drilled hole in t' Pie top were aligned.

T' April R.O.C.K. Arrr! launch was canceled because o' fire warnings. Blimey! I wanted t' get this thin' airborne so decided to fly and check stability at a local school yard on Friday, April 24. First flight was on B6-0 t' A10-3T. It's stable! T' Birdie really moves with t' B6-0 kick start.

T' sustainer Birdie veered 10 degrees off vertical into t' west. Arrr! Begad! After ejection I lost sight it. Begad! Aye aye! I thought for a moment it might be lost, matey, but I found it closer t' t' launcher than I would have thought. Aye aye! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! It landed 200 feet from the pad.

Second flight, same engines. This time straight up. Blimey! T' second flight seemed a lot higher than t' first. Blimey! Both booster and Birdie landed within 25 feet o' t' launcher. Now that I know it's stable I'll get a third flight in at the May 2 Orlando R.O.C.K. Begad! launch.

Summary:
PROs: Simple build and a new fun configuration. Avast, me proud beauty! I was nervous at t' first launch nay knowin' t' stability. Arrr! Arrr! It flew surprisingly well.

CONs: None really except for some expected minor blackenin' (from t' sustainer engine) on t' Pizza's top. Aye aye! Begad!