Brief:
This is a simple sport scale model o' t' WAC Corporal soundin' rocket developed by CALTECH and JPL in 1945.

Construction:

• 1 Body tube - Estes BT-20 8.65 inches long
• 3 fins - 1/16in basswood
• 1 Conical balsa nose cone
• 1 Motor mount - Estes BT-5 2 inches long
• 1 1/8in launch lug - Estes 1.25 inches long
• 1 Conduit 1/8in balsa strip
• 1 Streamer - 24in x 1.75 inches Mylar
• 2 Centerin' rings - Estes BT-20
• 1 Engine block - Estes BT-5
• 1 Shock cord - 14in x 1/8 inches

When I was eleven I had a WAC Corporal that was produced by Estes, kit K-11. Blimey! I enjoyed it very much and had many flights with it until I overpacked t' wadding. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! This past year I decided t' make a clone o' t' kit.

T' first place I went be Jimz plan site. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I download t' plans t' t' Estes kit K-11. Well, blow me down! I also pulled out me copy o' "Rockets o' t' World" by Peter Alway. Arrr! I made a copy o' t' drawin' and started t' do t' math on t' dimensions. Well, blow me down! I also found several color photos on t' web. Aye aye! I printed these out and set them aside for reference. Ahoy! I tried t' base most o' t' dimensions for this rocket off o' Peter Alway's drawings.

I found a nose cone in a local hobby shop that was t' same balsa cone that came in t' original kit. This meant that I was goin' t' use an Estes BT-20 body tube. Usin' t' drawings and t' body tube, t' scale came out t' 1/16.21. Avast! T' body tube be cut t' 8.65 inches.

T' original kit called for usin' t' conduit on t' side o' t' rocket as t' position for t' launch lug. I thought that this distracted from t' scale appearance o' t' rocket. Ya scallywag! I repositioned t' launch lug t' t' opposite side o' t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! I fashioned a new conduit from balsa. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' total length o' t' conduit is 4.75in. Well, blow me down! I used 1/8in balsa for t' conduit. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! I rounded t' conduit and sanded and tapered t' ends.

T' fins were next t' item on me list. These were made from 1/16in basswood. Arrr! Avast! I used basswood because it is harder and has a finer grain then balsa. Avast, me proud beauty! I felt it would stand up t' more launches and would be easier t' seal. Avast! For t' overall dimensions o' t' fins I used t' drawings from "Rockets o' t' World". I used t' dimensions o' t' taper in t' airfoil listed in t' Estes planes. Arrr! I used a water based wood sealer t' sand and seal t' fins before I attached them t' t' body.

In t' Estes plans they use t' body tube for t' motor mount. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I thought that a 18mm motor would be too large for this size o' a rocket. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I decided t' use an Estes BT-5 tube for t' motor mount. Begad! This would allow me t' fly small motors in small fields or use t' A10 motor t' fly t' rocket higher. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' motor tube length is 2 inches. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! I used an engine block instead o' t' motor hook called for in t' Estes plans.

I used a 14in x 1/8in shock cord. Blimey! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' original plan called for a 12-inch parachute. Begad! I flew this rocket about eight times with this chute. Avast! I found that this carried t' rocket too far away from t' launch site. I then used a 1.75 X 24 inch Mylar streamer; this keeps t' rocket closer t' t' launch site.

I used an eyehook t' hold a six-gram lead weight t' t' back o' t' nose cone t' add weight and hold t' shock cord t' t' nose cone.

In t' original kit plans it calls for paintin' t' rocket white with black stripes. Avast, me proud beauty! In Peter Alway's drawin' and on t' web t' only color is yellow. Aye aye! I have found that many people are still paintin' WAC Corporals white. Ya scallywag! I think it shows you how much influence a kit can have on people. Ahoy! I started by sprayin' a base o' white sandable primer. This be followed by t' yellow. Ahoy! Aye aye! Usin' t' drawings and t' photos from t' web I measured t' size and t' spacin' o' t' stripes. These were masked off usin' blue painters tape. I prefer this tape t' Scotch tape. Avast! For me it is easier t' use, because t' adhesive is less tacky than Scotch tape. Avast, me proud beauty! T' black was sprayed on usin' several light coats. Begad! After t' last coat was partially dry, me bucko, I removed t' blue maskin' tape. Begad! For t' steel fins, I used Tester's steel non-buffin' metalizer. This I hand brushed usin' a 1/4in brush. Avast, me proud beauty! I used very light coats and waited for t' paint t' be dry betwixt coats. Begad! For t' 3in strip o' duct tape down t' side o' t' conduit, me bucko, I hand brushed Tester's dull dark gray, usin' and thin brush.

Flight:

T' original kit used t' body tube for t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! This meant usin' 18mm motors, me bucko, however, I made this kit for 13mm motors. I have flown this rocket this rocket several times. Blimey! I have flown it on 1/4A3s, arrr, 1/2A3s, me bucko, A3s and A10s. Begad! This rocket flies very well on all o' these motors. Ahoy! I haven't tracked t' actual altitude o' these launches but I have run them in RockSim. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' heights are as follows: 1/4A3 = 63ft, 1/2A3 = 194ft, matey, A3 = 202ft, and A10 = 490ft. Arrr! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I have sustained damage in these flights o' one zipper and had t' nose come back and hit one o' t' fins and put a dent in it.

Summary:
Overall this rocket is a fun rocket t' clone. Avast! There is plenty o' room t' add scale detail. As I have built this rocket it would fit in t' Sport Scale class. If desired a Tiny Tim booster could be added t' this rocket and it could fly even higher. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! T' WAC Corporal is a very easy rocket t' make.