This project was an extension o' me original DC20 camera rocket. I has underestimated t' finished weight o' the Initiator rocket camera, thinkin' it could be lofted on an E t' 500'. Big mistake. Ya scallywag! T' finished weight was 2.2 lbs. Arrr! An F engine would be needed t' reach t' same altitude. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I read a thread on RMR concernin' a light weight rocket camera booster. Aye aye! Blimey! It described a Estes Phoenix kitbash, ya bilge rat, usin' traditional white glue construction, ya bilge rat, that should be able t' loft a camera on a D or E engine. Avast! I thought about it and decided on another approach. I would use a minimum diameter section for t' 24mm motor tube (BT 50) and then a transition t' a 2.6" diameter payload tube (BT 80). Begad! As I was experimentin' with a BT 80 nose cone with an open bottom, I found that the electronics and about one half o' t' camera would fit inside a Fat Boy type cone. In theory, I could create a nose cone payload section out o' t' nose cone and a BT 80 transition section. Blimey! Maybe for t' next rocket... Well, blow me down!

Construction began with t' minimum diameter section. I glued (white glue) a BT 20/50 green centerin' rin' in a piece o' BT 50 body tube about 3" from one end. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! This will allow me t' use Estes and Aerotech single use and reloadable motors. When that dried, ya bilge rat, I glued a 3/32" basswood BT 50/80 centerin' ring on t' top o' t' motor tube (facin' t' front o' t' rocket). Begad! Avast! Below that, matey, I glued a 1" piece o' a BT 80 transition section, then another ring. Blimey! Aye aye! The 2" long BT 50/80 transition section (made on VCP) was printed out, me bucko, copied onto file folder material, shiver me timbers, matey, cut out and glued on with white glue. Avast! Ahoy! Glue a screw eye in t' top ring. Avast! I used scraps o' basswood t' stack on top o' one another to make a thicker joint. Ya scallywag! Avast! This completes t' lower section except for t' fins (which I still have t' do). Well, blow me down!

I made a basswood bulkhead and glued a screw eye into it (in t' same way as before). Blimey! This be glued 2" into a BT 80 section. Avast! I then rolled some corrugated cardboard (with one flat side pealed off) into t' section o' BT 80. Well, blow me down! Where it overlapped, I made a cut and glued the edges together t' form a custom tube coupler. When it dried, I cut off a thin strip and glued it into a t' BT 80, shiver me timbers, usin' t' lower section as a guide t' push it in t' appropriate length. Blimey! This will act as a thrust ring. Avast, me proud beauty! I then took the nose and cut t' base off so that thar was a 1" base. Aye aye! This will contain the electronics and possibly some o' t' camera. Aye aye!

T' fins follow G Harry Stine's "high performance" clipped delta shape. Blimey! Root chord is 48mm, ya bilge rat, tip is 24mm, and span is about 3" from root to tip. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I cut them from 3/32" basswood and rounded them t' a streamlined shape. Begad! Blimey! They were then coated with thin CA and sanded smooth. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! They are VERY smooth. Begad! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I have t' say t' first fin turned out t' be one o' t' best I've ever made. T' streamline t' fin, I masked off t' area 1/2" from t' base of the fin with duct tape and sanded t' a point on both sides. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! I then rounded the leadin' edge o' t' fin and smoothed t' round leadin' edge into t' sharp trailin' edge. Blimey! Blimey! Nay too hard. Begad!

I used t' Estes fin alignment guide t' hold t' three fins on while the white glue dried. Arrr! Ahoy! I then filleted t' fins. All I have t' do is add a shock cord and chute. Well, blow me down!

T' predicted altitudes are (if t' model is 10 oz. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! or less) 260' on a D12, 1000' on an Aerotech E15. Avast, me proud beauty! And you don't even have t' call air traffic control to launch!