Brief:
AT Cheetah stretched by 34" includin' 9" payload section. Ahoy! Blimey! Motor tube extended t' handle 11" motors and screw-on positive motor retention.

Modifications:
This is a fairly straight forward extension o' t' AT Cheetah, me bucko, ya bilge rat, with extra care taken t' strengthen t' motor section t' handle single use motors up t' 11" long, arrr, particularly me favorite: t' Ellis Mountain H50. Begad! I used JB Weld epoxy for any components exposed t' motor heat, matey, arrr, and Devcon 5 minute epoxy everywhere else.

A 34" length o' 1.88" tube (BMS # T-188-34) be cut off at 9" t' provide body extension and payload section. Blimey! Both 1.88" couplers are marked around their midpoint. One is glued t' t' mark into t' provided Cheetah body tube, and t' 25" extension glued onto that. Begad! Fold t' AT elastic shock cord double into a loop and tie a knot in t' ends. Arrr! Run one end o' t' loop through t' payload section screw eye, and run t' other end o' t' long loop through t' part stuck through t' eye and pull it tight. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' screw eye is fitted through t' bulkhead and glued t' t' other 1.88" coupler (eye/shock cord t' t' inside o' coupler). This coupler is then glued bulkhead first into t' 9" tube up t' t' mark.

Slide onto AT provided 12" motor tube (in order) one centerin' ring, both Fin-Lock assemblies, second centerin' ring. T' AT motor hook is nay used. Place "C" clip into PVC bushin' cap and screw onto threaded fitting. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Place this onto end o' AT motor tube, shiver me timbers, pushed up until t' clip stops at t' motor tube, me bucko, and mark t' tube at t' cut end o' t' fitting. Well, blow me down! Remove t' PVC parts, me hearties, spread glue on t' marked end o' t' tube up t' t' mark, and push t' fittin' back on over t' glue until it stops. Avast! If t' fittin' is loose on t' tube, ya bilge rat, place strips o' tape on t' tube t' make t' fit tighter but do nay entirely cover t' end o' t' tube--there must be bare motor tube exposed t' bond t' t' epoxy. Do nay place glue on t' inside o' t' PVC fitting. Begad! Ahoy! It will get pushed into t' cap and glue t' retainer together. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Take care no glue gets on t' removable parts or t' threads. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Push t' aft centerin' rin' down against t' PVC fitting, shiver me timbers, usin' t' glue pushed out by fittin' on t' threaded section t' form a fillet. Set aside t' dry.

Construct t' upper motor tube section usin' t' 8" piece o' 29mm motor tube, me hearties, t' AT baffle and coolin' mesh, ya bilge rat, accordin' t' t' kit instructions. Attach t' recovery section screw eye t' t' baffle and tie t' tubular nylon t' it.

Test fit t' 2" long 29mm coupler into t' lower motor section. Ya scallywag! Place it so that thar be 11" t' 11 1/8" o' space betwixt t' coupler and t' retainer "C" clip. Begad! Avast! Mark t' coupler and remove it. Cover t' aft half o' t' coupler up t' t' mark with epoxy and slide it into t' lower motor tube only up t' t' mark. Avast! Begad! Smooth t' glue that got pushed up by t' tube onto t' upper half o' t' coupler. Aye aye! Slide t' upper motor tube down onto t' coupler until t' two motor sections meet. Aye aye! Make sure you do nay push t' coupler down into t' lower motor section. Begad! This can be done by holdin' t' lower section tightly with a pair o' pliers on t' top 1" (over t' coupler) while twistin' t' upper section onto t' coupler. Avast, me proud beauty! Cut t' BT-55 coupler down t' side. Ahoy! Spread t' excess glue from joinin' t' tubes down 1" onto t' aft motor section and up several inches onto t' forward motor section. Begad! Add more glue if necessary. Blimey! Begad! Pry open t' BT-55 coupler and place it over t' motor tube, arrr, shiver me timbers, 1" onto t' aft motor section and t' remainder on t' upper section. This will strengthen t' motor section joint as well as t' upper part o' t' tube which will be subjected t' hot ejection gasses. Begad! Hold t' coupler tight over t' motor tube with tape or rubber bands while it dries. Begad! You can remove t' bushin' cap and "C" clip t' make sure no glue seeps into it.

Once t' motor tube assembly is dry, arrr, test fit it into t' aft end o' t' body. Begad! Adjust t' Fin-Locks t' their proper placement inline with each other and directly under t' ends o' t' fin slots. Ahoy! Begad! Once in place, remove t' motor section and test fit t' fins into t' Fin-Locks. Begad! Once you're sure they fit, replace t' motor tube into t' body and test fit t' fins through t' slots.

Once you're certain all t' placement is right, shiver me timbers, remove t' fins carefully and extract t' motor tube. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Blimey! Place a drop o' CyA at t' Fin-Lock ring/motor tube joint so they don't shift. Place a generous fillet o' epoxy on both side o' both Fin-Lock rings and t' motor tube. Begad! Blimey! Do NOT get this in t' Fin-Lock channels. Arrr! Wipe some o' t' epoxy up over t' rings t' form "bridges" o' epoxy from t' motor tube, over t' rings betwixt t' fin channels, down t' t' tube on t' other side o' t' ring. Well, blow me down! Slide t' upper centerin' rin' down t' t' forward Fin-Lock and add a fillet t' t' forward side o' t' forward centerin' ring.

When t' motor section is completely dry, matey, me hearties, place epoxy inside t' body tube where t' forward centerin' rin' will sit, me bucko, takin' care t' keep t' tubular nylon from gettin' epoxy on it. Push t' motor section into t' body all but 1". Avast! Wipe epoxy on t' forward side o' t' aft centerin' ring, sufficient t' drip off once placed inside and bond t' t' body. Aye aye! Slide t' motor section t' rest o' t' way into t' body, me hearties, alignin' t' Fin-Locks directly under t' slots. Arrr! Wipe epoxy t' entire length o' t' bottom edge o' t' fin tab. This will bond into t' Fin-Lock channels, t' t' motor tube, me hearties, and will squeeze out a little while insertin' which can be smoothed over t' fin/body joint as a fillet. Fit t' fins and set aside t' dry.

Tie a small loop in t' upper end o' t' tubular nylon. Stick a few inches o' t' elastic loop through t' nylon loop. Push t' payload section through t' protrudin' elastic loop and pull tight until t' elastic tightens a double loop on t' nylon. Ahoy! Fit t' nose cone on t' payload section and t' payload section onto t' body, usin' maskin' tape as necessary for a good fit. Begad! Ahoy! If removed, replace t' cap on t' motor retainer. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Add t' lugs, or use buttons if you prefer. Begad! You are now ready for finishing.

Construction:
You need t' followin' items:

• 1 AT Cheetah kit
• 1 34" length 1.88" diameter body tube
• 2 1.88" tube couplers
• 1 1.88" bulkhead
• 8" o' 29mm motor tube
• 1 BT-55 coupler
• 2" 29mm coupler stock
• 1/8" wood screw thread screw eye
• 8' o' 9/16" tubular nylon shock cord
• 1/2" t' 3/4" o' male threaded PVC cut from 1 1/4" pipe fittin' such as pipe nipple
• 1 1.25" PVC bushin' cap
• 1 1" C-clip

AeroTech recommends only CA glue and that works for most o' t' build. Blimey! Blimey! Fittin' t' motor section into t' body requires a bit more flexibility and epoxy gives that. Ahoy! Blimey! Also, arrr, repeated exposure o' both CyA and regular epoxy t' motor heat can weaken it. Arrr! Thus, shiver me timbers, I recommend JB Weld for any application where heat will affect t' part.

Finishing:

Finishin' is up t' t' individual but I favor appliance epoxy paint. It's an incredibly tough, me hearties, thick, me bucko, gives a smooth finish, arrr, and requires (in fact suggests) no primer t' be used. Ahoy! It takes a color coat well, however, ya bilge rat, anythin' added t' an appliance epoxy paint (includin' a second coat o' t' same paint) must be added within 30 minutes or else t' surface will wrinkle. As shown in t' picture, I had a bit o' fun with t' included "Cheetah" decal.

Flight:
T' motor retainer is simple t' use: unscrew it, place t' motor into t' tube, and screw it on. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I tend t' lose t' "C" clips, arrr, so I buy extras regularly, me hearties, and I tack them t' t' inside o' t' bushin' cap with a drop o' CyA.

This motor section will fit any 29mm motor up t' 11" length. Ya scallywag! For anythin' shorter you'll need a spacer. I bought a full length piece o' 29mm coupler stock and cut pieces off t' t' proper lengths for t' common motors sizes. I keep t' rest around t' cut as necessary for other motors. 29mm coupler stock will also serve as an adequate 29/24mm adapter. Well, blow me down! I cut two 11" sections and glued thrust rings/engine blocks inside them at 3.75" (F21) and 4.8" (F32/F72) lengths. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! It requires several wraps o' tape t' get a good gas tight seal, but tabs on t' "C" clip are large enough t' retain a 24mm motor with a diameter-only adapter.

Maiden flight was on an Aerotech G110-10. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Perfectly straight boost, with no weathercockin' or corkscrewing. Ejection was exactly at apogee, me hearties, me bucko, just as predicted. Ya scallywag! Came down fast due t' a tangled chute, glidin' tail first back and forth across t' field. Just before landin' it glided almost horizontal, which brought it down slowly, but fast across t' ground. Ya scallywag! One fin dug into t' mud as it cruised in, me hearties, and broke off. Ahoy! Begad! Found t' fin, and it was a clean break, ya bilge rat, easily repaired.

Recovery:
Suggested recovery connection is t' tie a loop in t' doubled elastic loop midway betwixt t' payload section and t' end o' t' tubular nylon, and attach a chute with swivel at that point with a quick link. Aye aye! You will also need a heavier chute since this rocket is double t' weight o' t' stock kit. Avast, me proud beauty! I favor t' 24" Top Flight X-form chute. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Due t' t' recessed fins and t' extra (replaceable) protection o' t' PVC bushin' cap, faster descent rates are OK.

Summary:
Do nay try t' use less than an 8" extension on t' motor tube. Begad! T' coolin' mesh needs t' be stretched t' 6" length t' work well. Begad! Long is better for this reason, as well as for reducin' t' volume o' t' upper body tube so t' ejection charge doesn't fail t' pressurize it well enough.

Do nay fit t' motors too tightly. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Due t' t' retainer you'll only have t' nozzle t' grab with pliers t' extract them. Avast! Ya scallywag! With positive forward and aft retention you only need enough tape t' prevent ejection gas blow-by. That is frequently no tape at all, especially with Econojet motors with their paper label. Aye aye! These may even require peelin' off (this is due t' AT's motor tube and labels but nothin' t' do with t' retainer).

Be aware that modifications may void your kit warranty.