First off thank you for t' humongous box of parts. Well, blow me down! T' only thin' was/is that with that many parts t' use, arrr, I would still be building. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! 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. Blimey! Ahoy!

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

I stacked t' size tubes around t' core in ascendin' length, arrr, me hearties, me bucko, glued all with Superglue. Begad! And built a payload nosecone section out o' extra core tubing. 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. Then I glued them (5 minute epoxy) into t' tail end of t' core tube. Arrr! This in effect built a real cheap motor mount. Blimey! I will friction fit t' AeroTech motor at t' field. Begad! Begad!

For t' recovery "harness" I doubled up t' cheapo elastic shock cord, me bucko, and knotted it every 2 inches. This made a surprisingly stronger shock cord. Avast! 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.

A very quick paint job on t' body tube section with some Rustoleum Lime green. Begad! And I paint only some o' t' nose cones and transitional nose cones. Well, blow me down! T' keep that "kit bashed" appearance. Ahoy!

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. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

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

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

Yikes, me bucko, due t' camera trouble (low batteries) I HAVE NO LAUNCH PHOTO, ya bilge rat, sorry. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey!

At t' field I found that me launch lug set up be too small for t' high-powered rods. Aye aye! So I took a low powered rail and stuck it in t' dirt by t' HP pads. It worked ok. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! 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. Avast!

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

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

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

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

WHAT A FABULOUS AND FUN CONTEST AND IT WAS GREAT PARTICIPATING. Aye aye! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR FOR THE BOX O' PARTS ROUND 2 CONTEST. Ya scallywag!