Brief:
I have wanted t' build a rocket out o' a Pringles can for a long time now and I finally got t' opportunity with this recycle contest.

Construction:
Materials:

• Pringles can for body tube
• Pringles lid and snow cone paper cup for nose cone
• Garcia & Vega plastic cigar case for t' body tube
• A slice o' a used Estes C motor casin' for a motor block
• USPS Priority Mail box for fins and centerin' rings
• Dental floss for parachute lines
• Plastic Garbage bag for parachute
• Priority mail label t' attach lines t' parachute
• Elastic from old “Fruit o' t' Loom” underwear for t' shock cord
• Two 1.25” pieces o' a Bic plastic pen case for t' launch lug
• 1.25 oz o' nose weight. I used a crushed up rock

Additional materials:

• Two-part 5 minute epoxy for assembly
• CA t' attach nose cone t' Pringles lid
• X-acto with #11 blade
• Scissors t' cut out parachute and stickers for attachin' parachute lines.

I first started by cuttin' out t' centerin' rings and fins out o' a USPS Priority Mail box that I received via an eBay auction. Well, blow me down! I then attached t' two centerin' rings t' a Garcia & Vega plastic cigar case usin' two-part epoxy. Begad! I decided t' use t' two-part epoxy since thar are many different materials bein' used and didn't figure t' plastic cement or white glue would have t' bondin' strength that I was lookin' for. I then applied some epoxy approximately 2-1/2 inches into t' motor tube t' secure t' motor block. Avast, me proud beauty! I then inserted t' slice o' a used Estes C motor casin' into t' cigar case and then used an Estes 18mm motor t' push t' slice t' t' correct depth. Blimey! This is pretty much a standard motor tube buildin' practice when thar be no metal engine hook bein' used.

I then modified t' Pringles can by drillin' a hole in t' metal end t' accept t' plastic cigar case/motor tube. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! This didn't have t' be perfect since I be nay usin' this hole t' center t' motor tube. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' centerin' o' t' motor tube is attained by t' two centerin' rings that have already been attached t' t' motor tube. Well, blow me down! I then glued t' motor assembly into t' Pringles can usin' two-part epoxy.

Next, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I scratched off some o' t' Pringles label so as t' make a suitable surface t' attach t' cardboard fins. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I then attached t' four USPS cardboard fins t' t' Pringles can with two-part epoxy. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' fin dimensions are a 2” root edge, shiver me timbers, me hearties, a 1” tip, and 3” wide. Aye aye! Begad! They were also cut from t' folded edge o' t' box so they are double thick.

I made a slit in t' Pringles plastic lid and fed one end o' t' “Fruit o' t' Loom” elastic through t' slit and epoxied it in place.

I then added epoxy t' t' bottom o' t' snow cone cup and poured in t' 1.25 oz o' rock weight. Begad! After t' epoxy cured, arrr, I then placed t' snow cone paper cup over t' Pringles plastic lid and applied a generous amount o' CA. I also applied CA t' t' snow cone paper cup so as t' stiffen it up.

I then secured t' launch lug assembly t' t' Pringles can usin' two-part epoxy and scratchin' off some o' t' finish on t' can so that a good bond could be made. Begad! I ended up cuttin' two 1.25” pieces o' a Bic pen t' be used for t' launch lug. Avast! I stacked one on top o' t' other so that t' launch rod would clear t' overhang o' t' nose cone. Aye aye! T' launch lug is located approximately 4 inches from t' bottom o' t' can. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This location roughly straddles t' CG o' t' rocket.

Next, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I attached t' other end o' t' “Fruit o' t' Loom” elastic shock cord t' t' inside o' t' Pringles can usin' t' typical Estes technique o' foldin' paper over t' end o' t' elastic and then gluin' it t' t' inside o' t' can.

Finally, I made t' parachute usin' an Estes 24” parachute as a pattern on t' black plastic garbage bag. Avast! I then attached t' Priority mail label stickers that were cut down into approximately ½” squares so that I would have a place t' attach t' lines. Avast! I poked a hole through t' stickers and fed t' dental floss through t' hole and tied it off. Blimey! This be t' same procedure that Estes recommends. Avast! I then attached t' parachute about 2” down from t' plastic lid.

Finishing:
There be no finishin' done t' t' rocket so as t' specifically show off t' recycled parts.

T' entire assembly took about 5 hours once all o' t' materials were cut and gathered. Well, blow me down! T' main amount o' time spent on assembly was on waitin' for t' epoxy t' cure.

Flight and Recovery:
T' first flight was on a C5-3 and was a perfect flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Since t' diameter o' t' rocket is fairly large, me hearties, I ended up usin' 10 pieces o' Estes waddin' t' protect t' parachute. Avast! I also added tape around t' bottom part o' t' motor tube t' securely fasten t' motor. Ya scallywag! T' rocket deployed its parachute right at apogee.

T' second and third flights were also on t' same C5-3 motors and worked perfectly. Aye aye! I didn't get a good launch picture until t' third flight. Begad! Blimey! T' previous two launches were just pictures o' smoke trails.

T' fourth flight was nay so perfect. Aye aye! I ended up usin' a single-use Aerotech D21-7 motor. Begad! I thought that t' delay might be a little long but decided t' try it anyway. Avast! Blimey! I should have used me better judgment. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! It was beginnin' t' be quite windy and t' rocket zipped off t' pad and right into t' wind. Begad! At this point it was more like an artillery round than a rocket. Ahoy! As it was descendin' I thought that t' parachute would be deployed but alas it hit t' ground like a lawn dart. Avast! Upon recovery I was surprised t' find that t' only thin' really damaged was t' nose cone. Avast! Since thar was so much space betwixt t' nose cone tip and t' cap o' t' Pringles can, it softened t' impact. Avast! Aye aye! T' booster section o' t' rocket just flew off t' t' side with very minor damage. Blimey! In order for it t' fly again I just need t' get another Pringles lid, arrr, snow cone cup, and nose weight and I'll be good t' go.

Summary:
T' PRRP flies great! I don't think t' nose cone configuration will hold up for numerous flights but initial flights seem t' suggest otherwise.