First off thank you for t' humongous box of parts. Arrr! Blimey! T' only thin' was/is that with that many parts t' use, I would still be building. I just used me inspiration and picked t' best parts that would build a rocket that could fly on a single use AeroTech F or G motor. Avast! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

I ended up selectin' (naturally) t' strongest "huskiest" tubes. Ya scallywag! Avast! I be intrigued that I had been given so many (6) different nose cones that fit me "D"motor size body tubes. Blimey! I used t' slightly larger tube (too big for a 29mm motor) for t' core body tube.

I stacked t' size tubes around t' core in ascendin' length, me bucko, me hearties, glued all with Superglue. Well, blow me down! And built a payload nosecone section out o' extra core tubing. Well, blow me down! Begad!

Notice in this photo that a 29mm motor would be too loose in t' core tube, so I took a couple o' core tube scraps and cut them down t' middle vertically with a pair o' scissors. Aye aye! Then I glued them (5 minute epoxy) into t' tail end of t' core tube. Avast! This in effect built a real cheap motor mount. Ahoy! Aye aye! I will friction fit t' AeroTech motor at t' field. Ahoy!

For t' recovery "harness" I doubled up t' cheapo elastic shock cord, arrr, shiver me timbers, and knotted it every 2 inches. This made a surprisingly stronger shock cord. Aye aye! I mounted t' shock cord t' t' core tube by usin' an old (very old) Estes method by slittin' t' body tube near t' top (but below t' nose section coupler) and snaked t' elastic in and out in a very simple weave. Aye aye!

A very quick paint job on t' body tube section with some Rustoleum Lime green. And I paint only some o' t' nose cones and transitional nose cones. T' keep that "kit bashed" appearance. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag!

Notice that I constructed only 3 fins (prepainted them black) from t' lightweight balsa, but I enhanced their strength by gluin' (5-minute epoxy) 2 sheets together with t' wood grains at a 90-degree angle t' each other.

My flights o' t' "Box O' Parts Contest" rocket took place on Sunday May 18th, me hearties, 2008. This was at Tripoli Central Cal's "Ninth annual Dairy Air" In Helm Ca. Blimey! (near Fresno). Well, me bucko, blow me down! I could only make it t' one day o' this launch due t' work commitments. So I had t' make both flights back t' back with t' conditions bein' very hot at 105 degrees.

I chucked t' intended motor I had brought as too wimpy and bought 2 AeroTech single use F-25 motors, me bucko, with 4 and 7-second delays, respectively, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, arrr, from a real great vendor. Begad! Begad! WHAT'S UP HOBBIES?

Yikes, due t' camera trouble (low batteries) I HAVE NO LAUNCH PHOTO, shiver me timbers, sorry. Ahoy!

At t' field I found that me launch lug set up be too small for t' high-powered rods. So I took a low powered rail and stuck it in t' dirt by t' HP pads. Avast! It worked ok. Begad! With t' rod passin' through t' lug and a single outer tube that I had left vacant (no nose cone). This single empty tube enhanced stability due t' cockeyed arraignment of the three fins. Blimey!

T' LCO announces this as an Essence Box o' Parts contest rocket. Avast! Then mentions that it's Paul Lane's rocket so heads up. Boy it's nice t' have a legend. Avast!

5,4,3,2,1 blastoff. It was quick t' leave t' pad on t' shorty launch rod. Begad! Well, blow me down! It flew really well (surprise!). Aye aye! Arrr! The motor I picked (F-25-4) be perfect and deployment be optimal. Avast! I would guess it flew t' about 1500 feet. Avast, me proud beauty! Recovery was by multi plastic streamers, me bucko, since NO PARACHUTE be included in t' Box O' Parts. Arrr! T' recovery was nominal, with no fin breakage.

I smartly prepared it for a second flight usin' t' AeroTech F-25-7. Another tremendous flight, very straight. I would say t' 1800 feet this time. Aye aye! Recovery was only so so, with 2 out o' 3 fins snappin' off. Well, blow me down! Avast! All is reparable though. And I have included some post flight photos

So overall this was a successful project. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I will donate t' unused parts t' me NARRRRR section; they will probably use them for an outreach o' some kind. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

WHAT A FABULOUS AND FUN CONTEST AND IT WAS GREAT PARTICIPATING. Blimey! Ahoy! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR FOR THE BOX O' PARTS ROUND 2 CONTEST. Avast! Arrr!