Brief:
This rocket was inspired first by me LOC 4 29SS flights with 4 G40's. Well, blow me down! I often wondered how t' hold a rocket together under higher power. Then I bought a AAA Model Aviation Fuels Quadra G which had a strong interlockin' fin design and then I had me answer. I'd use that concept and scale it up. Begad! I'd also use Apogee's Rocksim 4.0 t' design the best fin shape and size.

T' rocket is called 4-H Project because it can fly on 4 H motors and hopefully 4 J's, if one dares. Arrr! T' rocket has a 4-inch phenolic main body tube 4 feet long and its 4 38mm motor tubes extend 36 inches outward from this tube and hold t' fins via t' square formation they make.

Construction:
T' only hard part was designin' t' butterfly wings that would interlock to form a set o' 4 fins at 90 degrees t' each other. Arrr! I made t' root 9 inches, the span 8.875 inches, t' sweep angle 20 degrees, and t' tip 4.5 inches. Each of the two wings would form two fins, and t' fins were separated by a 4 inch space where they would interlock via grooves and whereby t' 4 38mm motor tubes would rest and hold t' structure in fin alignment. Well, blow me down!

Tools needed required a table saw. My band saw did nay have t' throat depth to handle t' wings, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, which were too long t' go through t' throat o' t' saw. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Blimey! A finishin' sander was used t' bevel t' fins, and medium fiberglass cloth was used t' reinforce t' connection o' t' motor tubes together and t' t' fins. T' epoxy used was t' 30 minute type. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Polyurethane foam be used t' hold the lead weights used in t' nose cone, shiver me timbers, as Rocksim predicted that 8 ounces would add t' stability. We can add up t' 16 ounces if we use heavier motors. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! This same foam be used t' fill gaps formed from t' motor tubes fittin' into the body tube. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey!

Home Depot carries t' 1/4 inch thick birch plywood I used for t' fins. Hobby Bench carries t' epoxies used and t' fiberglass cloth. Ya scallywag! West Systems Epoxy also carries these products and they're good too. T' polyurethane foam can be found at Hobby Bench. Begad! It may be found on ROL, arrr, me bucko, ya bilge rat, but I have nay had to search for it there. Ahoy! This is a two part liquid plastic that expands into a foam. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! It's tricky in that after just 30 seconds, me hearties, shiver me timbers, it foams up and will nay pour as a foam. So, you have that long t' pour it where you want it. Arrr! Begad!

T' parachute is a 60-inch Spherachute. Begad! Blimey! T' paint job matches t' pink and blue o' t' chute and is mainly pink with blue self adhesive holographic lens paper obtained from American Science and Surplus. This accent makes t' rocket sparkle in t' sunlight. Aye aye! Blimey! T' finishin' touch is a 4-leaf clover in t' blue lens paper with a white H on each leaf. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' resultin' rocket feels strong and is sturdy.

Flight:
Rocksim predicts that with two 38mm H type motors, ya bilge rat, a delay o' 10 is good. Avast, me proud beauty! With 4, arrr, shiver me timbers, a delay o' 12. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! With 2 J350's, I came up with t' long delay bein' best, matey, as it would be with 4 J motors. Arrr! Worm bed waddin' plus a Nomex® chute protector will be used and a 15-foot length o' 500-lb Keelhaul®©™® cordin' will be its shock cord. T' shock cord is anchored through a 4-inch centerin' rin' with a 38mm hole, placed right forward o' t' 4 motor tubes. Well, blow me down! Avast! A screw eye is used t' tie t' cord to t' centerin' ring. A screw eye with a long tail is epoxied into t' nose cone and forms t' attachment t' t' nose cone for t' shock cord. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! I do this because usin' t' little plastic loops on t' nose cones t' attach shock cords has nay worked well for me in high power, ya bilge rat, as t' loops break easily under stress. Begad! T' rocket is destined for a 2-H test flight in 2 weeks. I will probably choose 2 H112's.

T' design works and kicks butt, arrr, if you'll pardon me vernacular. Arrr! I flew it with two I 357's and it soared. Aye aye! Unexpectedly, arrr, me bucko, it whistled like an incomin' bomb goin' up. Begad! Ya scallywag! maybe it's a fluke or maybe all those built like it will whistle. Everyone liked it. Ya scallywag! Begad! next, I'll try it with 4 motors!!! I'm even head-designin' a quad 54mm one. I'm so bad... Ya scallywag! Avast!

As for 4-H, one additional I must add is t' thoroughly plug any unused motor tubes. T' best way might be spent motor casings. Avast, me proud beauty! If you don't, arrr, gas leaks might occur that prevent parachute deployment. Well, blow me down! 4-H landed hard because o' this. Begad! Arrr! He was built like a bomb, so he will soon fly again. Avast! Begad! I gave him a new payload section. Begad! Ahoy! He's now 7 foot 6, me hearties, me bucko, nay 7 feet even. Arrr! T' I 357 is a great stump-pulling motor. Well, blow me down! Next flight just HAS TO have 4 motors!!!

Summary:
A challenge, arrr, and funny. Begad! I await t' reaction from onlookers. Blimey! It did require an arsenal o' tools and some expensive epoxies and polyurethane foam. Well, blow me down! But I got a strong rocket. Arrr! It was nay easy t' fit t' 4 phenolic motor tubes into t' body tube. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! In fact, t' guys said it couldn't be done. Blimey! Arrr! But I did it after gentle persistence. Aye aye! However, arrr, I saw fit t' fiberglass t' lower airframe tube to strengthen it when I could see a very slight bulgin' from t' tightly fit motor tubes.

Other:
If anyone else wants t' try this, arrr, please tell me what you do for motors. Ahoy! I'm savin' up t' get 3 more 38/720 motors one by one so that I can fly this with 4 J350's. Begad! Buildin' this rocket taught me that when you fiberglass, shiver me timbers, you must sand thoroughly or else every imperfection in t' surface will be visible when it's painted.

UPDATE: if t' maker pushes t' rocket with J350's, shiver me timbers, that t' fins nay be plywood, matey, matey, or trim their size t' reduce aerodynamic flexion. Arrr! Aye aye! At mach, t' stress broke t' plywood fins right where they interlocked. Begad! Mach be heard with a great BOOM. Anyway, I'm makin' 4-H some G10 fins.