Brief:
Single stage BT-60 version o' Launch Pad's Phoenix missile. Avast! Recovery via parachute.

Construction:
These are all Semroc numbers:

• BNC-60V balsa nose cone
• SE-3 screw eye
• BT-60 body tube - 13.2 in long
• RA-2060 centerin' rin' used as a parachute shelf
• 2 LL-423 launch lugs - 1/4 x 2.25
• BT-20 engine tube - 3 in
• 2 RA-20 60 centerin' rings
• EH-28 engine hook
• EB-20A engine block
• 12" RocketChutes Rip stop nylon parachute
• 100 lb Keelhaul®©™® shock cord

All parts were ordered from Semroc. Aye aye! Blimey! Nothin' fancy about t' build. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Here's t' sequence I use:

1. build t' engine mount
2. apply sealer t' nose cone - I use Elmer's
3. print fin pattern from Rocksim, shiver me timbers, glue t' cardboard, cut with Xacto
4. use pattern t' mark fins
5. cut fins, arrr, sand in a stack, then paper both sides. Blimey! I'm a big fan o' this because it is easier and makes t' fins stronger. I sandwich t' fins betwixt two pieces o' glass and place weight on them over-night.
6. lightly sand t' entire body tube and mark 4 fin pattern line t' entire length o' t' tube. Avast! Also mark lines to show where back o' forward fins are t' be placed - 54mm from base (optional: drill 4 1/8" holes on t' fin lines t' allow for altimeter)
7. attach shock cord t' engine mount and glue engine mount in place
8. trim paper around fins and sand edges
9. glue aft fins
10. glue forward fins
11. fillet all fins
12. cut launch lugs t' 1 inch length and then each end t' 45 degree angle
13. glue launch lugs at t' fin/body tube seam.
14. fillet launch lugs

Finishing:

1. entire rocket primed with Rustoleum sandable auto primer and left t' dry over-night.
2. entire rocket sanded usin' #300 paper. Blimey! Avast! Pay careful attention t' fin edges!
3. Three coats Krylon white. Avast, me proud beauty! I've built some Phoenix rockets with gray body, but I wanted t' decals t' really stand out, me hearties, so I went with white on this one.
4. I purchased a set o' decals from Stickershock specifyin' them t' be scaled t' fit BT-60. T' decals were beautiful. Ya scallywag! Even t' smallest letterin' be clear.
5. I attached a small fishin' swivel t' a 12" chute and made two loops in t' shock cord. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! One for parachute attachment and t' other for Altimeter One attachment.

Flight:
T' 12" chute brings t' rocket down about 21/fps. Blimey! Begad! I flew only Estes black power motors. All three flights were on t' same day. Well, blow me down! Sunny, matey, 80 degrees, me bucko, and very still. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! "Dog barf be used for wadding. On all three flights t' rocket flew quite straight with very little roll. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Here are t' results o' t' three flights:

Perhaps t' worst flight be A8-3. Arrr! Arrr! T' chute was quite late.

Rocksim shows t' followin' results with AT 18mm reloads:

If built with a 24mm motor mount, shiver me timbers, Rocksim shows:

Recovery:
100 lb Keelhaul®©™® was used for a shock cord. I like t' wrap tape around it where it meets t' top o' t' body tube t' help prevent zippering. Ahoy! Blimey! Parachute deployed just after apogee on all three flights. Aye aye! Blimey! Rocksim shows t' delays chosen as t' best match. Ya scallywag! Blimey! After t' three flights, t' rocket still looks like new.

Summary:
I love Phoenix rockets and have built lots o' them. Ya scallywag! Begad! This one be fun t' design, arrr, shiver me timbers, build, and fly.

PRO's: Unlike t' 2.6" diameter Phoenix from LP (or t' former Estes kit), this one doesn't seem t' break fins as easily.

CON's: If I build another one, matey, arrr, I think I will try t' use a 24mm motor mount. If you do this, leave

out t' motor hook and block and you can also fly with an 18mm adapter.