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, me bucko, matey, kit K-11. Ya scallywag! I enjoyed it very much and had many flights with it until I overpacked t' wadding. This past year I decided t' make a clone o' t' kit.

T' first place I went was Jimz plan site. Aye aye! I download t' plans t' t' Estes kit K-11. Aye aye! I also pulled out me copy o' "Rockets o' t' World" by Peter Alway. Begad! Arrr! I made a copy o' t' drawin' and started t' do t' math on t' dimensions. I also found several color photos on t' web. I printed these out and set them aside for reference. Aye aye! 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 be goin' t' use an Estes BT-20 body tube. Usin' t' drawings and t' body tube, t' scale came out t' 1/16.21. Well, blow me down! 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. Well, blow me down! I thought that this distracted from t' scale appearance o' t' rocket. Ahoy! I repositioned t' launch lug t' t' opposite side o' t' body tube. I fashioned a new conduit from balsa. T' total length o' t' conduit is 4.75in. Avast! I used 1/8in balsa for t' conduit. Well, blow me down! Avast! I rounded t' conduit and sanded and tapered t' ends.

T' fins were next t' item on me list. Arrr! Ya scallywag! These were made from 1/16in basswood. Ya scallywag! I used basswood because it is harder and has a finer grain then balsa. I felt it would stand up t' more launches and would be easier t' seal. Blimey! 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. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! 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. I thought that a 18mm motor would be too large for this size o' a rocket. I decided t' use an Estes BT-5 tube for t' motor mount. Ahoy! This would allow me t' fly small motors in small fields or use t' A10 motor t' fly t' rocket higher. T' motor tube length is 2 inches. Ahoy! 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. Begad! T' original plan called for a 12-inch parachute. Ahoy! I flew this rocket about eight times with this chute. Blimey! Begad! I found that this carried t' rocket too far away from t' launch site. Blimey! Blimey! 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. I have found that many people are still paintin' WAC Corporals white. Begad! Blimey! I think it shows you how much influence a kit can have on people. I started by sprayin' a base o' white sandable primer. This be followed by t' yellow. Avast! Begad! Usin' t' drawings and t' photos from t' web I measured t' size and t' spacin' o' t' stripes. Ya scallywag! These were masked off usin' blue painters tape. I prefer this tape t' Scotch tape. Blimey! For me it is easier t' use, because t' adhesive is less tacky than Scotch tape. T' black be sprayed on usin' several light coats. Ya scallywag! After t' last coat was partially dry, I removed t' blue maskin' tape. For t' steel fins, matey, shiver me timbers, I used Tester's steel non-buffin' metalizer. Begad! This I hand brushed usin' a 1/4in brush. I used very light coats and waited for t' paint t' be dry betwixt coats. Aye aye! For t' 3in strip o' duct tape down t' side o' t' conduit, shiver me timbers, I hand brushed Tester's dull dark gray, usin' and thin brush.

Flight:

T' original kit used t' body tube for t' motor mount. Avast! This meant usin' 18mm motors, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, however, shiver me timbers, arrr, I made this kit for 13mm motors. I have flown this rocket this rocket several times. Aye aye! Ahoy! Blimey! I have flown it on 1/4A3s, arrr, 1/2A3s, me hearties, A3s and A10s. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! This rocket flies very well on all o' these motors. I haven't tracked t' actual altitude o' these launches but I have run them in RockSim. Ahoy! T' heights are as follows: 1/4A3 = 63ft, matey, 1/2A3 = 194ft, A3 = 202ft, and A10 = 490ft. Begad! 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. Ahoy! 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. Aye aye! T' WAC Corporal is a very easy rocket t' make.