Brief:
Estes Endurin' Freedom M-104 Patriot Missile. Ahoy! Modified recovery system and motor mount.

Modifications:
I modified t' stock kit t' accept a 24MM motor tube. Ahoy! This was accomplished usin' a rotary tool and 50-grit sandin' drum t' open up t' stock centerin' rin' t' accept t' 24MM tube. Ahoy! Once t' centerin' rings were fitted t' t' motor tube, matey, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I also modified t' motor hook. Blimey! I never much cared for t' 'new-style' Estes motor hook. Arrr! I cut t' extra hook part off with a cuttin' disk, and mounted t' cut end in t' forward position. Begad! This modification is nay necessary, but I think it just makes for a cleaner-lookin' finished model.

T' stock shock cord supplied by Estes is too short and too thin. Arrr! I replaced t' stock shock cord with 30" o' 3/8" elastic mounted through t' front centerin' ring. Well, blow me down! T' mount it through t' centerin' ring, a small slot needs t' cut; pull t' shock cord through t' slot, and tie it in a knot.

Construction:
T' basic components o' t' kit include:

• Three (3) body tube sections
• Two (2) BT-60 couplers
• One (1) plastic nose cone
• One (1) 18MM motor mount includes paper centerin' rings and motor hook
• Die cut fin sheet
• Two (2) decal sheets
• One (1) 12" parachute and shock cord
• One (1) Instruction sheet

Other than t' few modifications that I made t' t' kit, me hearties, it is pretty much stock. Arrr! T' body tubes were joined with t' supplied couplers and 30-minute epoxy. Blimey! T' motor mount was also epoxied in. Once t' tubes were joined, arrr, but before t' fins or lugs went on, I skim-coated t' entire bodytube with thinned Elmers fill 'n' finish. This step fills all t' tube spirals and junctions betwixt tubes.

After sandin' smooth, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' rocket was ready t' receive fins. Begad! Blimey! This is where I ran into a problem. Arrr! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! After carefully cuttin' t' fins out o' t' die-cut sheet, ya bilge rat, me hearties, me bucko, I discovered that one o' t' fins be .100" shorter than t' other three. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Nay havin' any 3/32" balsa on hand t' make a new fin, matey, I had t' shorten t' other three fins t' match t' short one. Aye aye! Blimey! T' grain on t' fins was filled usin' Fill 'n' Finish. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' fins were glued t' t' body tube usin' woodglue. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I do three fillets per fin. Last, t' launch lug was cut in t' two 1" long sections, and mounted t' t' bodytube usin' gel superglue.

Finishin' this rocket takes some skill. First, two coats o' sandin' primer were applied. After sandin' t' primer smooth with 400-grit sandpaper, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' entire rocket received two coats o' Krylon white. Begad! Once dry, t' bodytube be masked off so that t' fin section could be painted with 2 coats o' Krylon Banner Red gloss. Avast! After that was dry, arrr, t' bodytube and fins were masked off so t' yellow section around t' top could be painted. Avast! Avast! Last, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' red 1" rin' around t' top was masked and painted. Ahoy! T' finish, 2 coats o' high-gloss clear were sprayed on. T' decals were applied once t' clear coat be dry. Begad! Estes self-adhesive decals can be a real pain t' work with, so take your time with these. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' finished rocket looks excellent!

Flight:
I prepped t' Patriot for her maiden flight on a D12-5. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' stock 12" chute was packed in with six squares o' recovery wadding. Avast, me proud beauty! My daughter be with me, matey, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and did t' honors o' sendin' it up. T' Patriot leaped off t' pad so quick, me hearties, that we did nay see much o' it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Much t' me dismay, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, t' motor failed t' eject, shiver me timbers, so it was R.I.P. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! for t' Patriot. Arrr! What a bummer, ya bilge rat, matey, me hearties, such a pretty rocket.

Summary:

Pros:

• Low cost
• Finished rocket looks very cool

Cons:

• Three-piece body tube adds complication and weight shock cord is VERY wimpy 
• T' fins on me kit were nay cut right
• Decals are hard t' work with