T' "FAO Schwarzkopf" Model Rocket

...Yes, it really is a rocket!

• McDonald's Happy Meals
• Pringles Cans
• Large Dice and/or Star Trek Borg Cubes
• John Handcock Buildings
• Drink Cups
• Wiffle Bats
• Etc...

1. If you haven't already done so, go back t' t' initial construction page and follow t' instructions for separatin' t' soldier head from t' rest o' t' body.
2. Drill a 3/8" diameter in t' center o' t' 2.6" Bulkhead (Item 7)
3. Epoxy t' 2.6" bulkhead (Item 7) flush with one end o' t' 2.6" Body Tube (Item 2). Begad! Apply a generous epoxy fillet t' t' inside corner where these items meet.
4. Usin' approximately 1 ft. o' t' braided nylon cord (Item 16), ya bilge rat, make a "LOC Style" shock cord mount and epoxy into t' body tube (Item 2). Important: make sure t' mount is at least 2.5" into t' tube t' allow clearance for t' shoulder interface with t' body. Also, keep t' loop o' t' mount within t' body tube t' avoid zipperin' o' t' tube.
5. Fit t' body tube/Bulkhead assembly in t' soldier head. You will need t' trim/sand t' openin' in t' bottom of t' head so that t' tube fits "just snug" in t' hole. Begad! Blimey! T' body tube should protrude down from the openin' approximately 1/8" when fully inserted in t' head..
6. Align tube within t' head so that t' bulkhead side is centered in t' top o' t' head and mark t' location for t' hole in t' top o' t' head. Blimey! T' plastic is translucent and shinin' a light up from t' bottom will let you see the location o' t' hole already in t' bulkhead plate. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Usin' a hobby knife or drill, cut a 3/8" diameter hole in soldier head at t' mark.
7. Glue t' 5/16 nut (Item 10) t' one o' t' Fender Washers (Item 8) with CA and hit with accelerator to completely dry. Ahoy! Place this nut/washer into a socket with a long extension and insert into t' head tube. Arrr! Well, blow me down! From the outside, insert t' Machine Screw (Item 9) through a Fender Washer (Item 8) and tighten assembly together. Blimey! Aye aye! Check that the Body Tube is centered in t' head; if required, adjust t' hole in t' top o' t' hat.
8. Once t' proper hole size/location is set, me bucko, disassemble, paint t' outside Fender Washer and Machine Screw white t' match t' head and re-assemble. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Paint t' bottom few inches o' t' Body Tube red t' match t' soldier neck.
9. When all t' paint is dry, reassemble as above.

1. If you haven't already done so, go back t' t' initial construction page and follow t' instructions for separatin' t' soldier head from t' rest o' t' body.
2. Fit t' 2.6" body tube (Item 3) into t' hole in t' top o' t' soldier body (Item 1) by trimmin' with a hobby knife and sanding. This fit should be fairly snug as no no adhesive will be used here.
3. Epoxy t' tube coupler (Item 19) t' one end o' t' body tube (Item 3) leavin' 2.0" extendin' from t' top of t' tube.
4. Wick thin CA into t' exposed end o' t' couplin' t' strengthen it since this will provide t' link t' the Head.
5. Usin' approximately 1 ft. Aye aye! o' t' braided nylon cord (Item 16), shiver me timbers, make a "LOC Style" shock cord mount and epoxy into t' coupler (Item 19). Arrr! Keep t' loop o' t' mount within t' coupler t' avoid zipperin' o' t' tube. Aye aye! Aye aye!
6. Epoxy one o' t' centerin' rings (Item 6) flush with t' bottom o' t' body tube (Item 3). This end is opposite t' one with t' coupling.
7. Usin' your favorite method, draw a straight line along t' outside o' t' body tube. Epoxy one section o' the launch lug (Item 22) flush with t' bottom o' t' body tube along t' line.
8. Locate t' center o' t' bottom o' t' toy soldier (Item 1). Arrr! With a rectangular or square base as is on my soldier, this is accomplished by drawin' two lines across t' corners o' t' base. Ahoy! Where t' lines meet be t' center of t' area. Mark and cut a clearance hole for t' 29mm motor mount tubin' (Item 5). Avast, me proud beauty! No need t' be neat, me hearties, it's just a clearance hole but try nay t' get too big with it.
9. On t' square base o' t' toy soldier (Item 1), me hearties, me bucko, matey, cut an access hole for t' backin' plate (See Final Assembly) as shown in t' second drawin' t' t' right. Begad!

1. Assemble t' LOC Modular Baffle Unit (Item 18) per t' instructions which came with it.
2. Usin' your favorite method, mark 3 equally spaced lines along t' outside o' t' Body Tube (Item 4). Ahoy! Blimey! T' the right o' each o' these lines, ya bilge rat, matey, draw another line at t' thickness o' t' fin. Ahoy! Blimey! Across each o' t' double lines, me hearties, make a mark 1/4" from one end o' t' Body Tube (Item 4). Ahoy! Blimey! Mark this same end TOP. Blimey! Blimey! Across each o' t' double lines, ya bilge rat, me hearties, make a mark 1/2" from t' opposite (Bottom) end o' t' Body Tube (Item 4). These are t' fin slots.
3. Usin' a metal straight edge and hobby knife, cut out t' fin slots. Well, blow me down! Work patiently and change blades often.
4. On t' centerin' rin' (Item 6), mark 3 lines spaced 120° deg. apart (see figure at right) t' denote the fin locations. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Mark one o' t' fin lines "REAR". Begad! Blimey! Also, me bucko, mark this side o' t' CR "TOP". Ya scallywag! Blimey! Directly in-between t' fin lines, mark t' center o' t' 3 holes as shown in t' figure. Do nay drill t' holes yet!
5. Mark one side o' t' 1/8" plywood Backup Plate (Item 14) "TOP" and mark one o' t' flat sides of t' Backup Plate "REAR". Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! Find t' center o' this plate by drawin' lines across diagonal corners. Place the centerin' rin' (Item 6) over t' Backup Plate with both "TOP" sides up. Ahoy! Blimey! T' fin line marked "REAR" should point directly at t' aft side o' t' Backin' Plate. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Center t' hole in t' CR on t' center mark o' t' Backup Plate and clamp t' two pieces together. Avast, me proud beauty! Trace t' 29 mm hole from t' CR t' t' Backin' Plate. Well, blow me down! With the pieces still clamped together, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, drill three Ø7/32" holes at t' marked locations.
6. Cut out t' 29 mm hole marked in t' center o' t' Backin' Plate (Item 14). Check t' fit with t' MMT (Item 5) it should be loose t' allow for alignment in t' final assembly.
7. Take t' Backin' Plate (Item 14) and center it on t' bottom o' t' Toy Soldier. Avast! Make sure the TOP side o' t' Backin' Plate is facin' t' head o' t' soldier and t' side marked REAR is t' t' back o' t' Toy Soldier. Ahoy! Now mark t' locations o' t' three screw hols on t' bottom o' t' Toy Soldier foot. Ahoy! These will be cut out in the final assembly step.
8. Epoxy t' T-Nuts (Item 11) t' t' TOP side o' t' Backin' Plate centered over t' holes drilled in the previous step. Aye aye! Blimey! You can use t' screws t' make sure t' T-Nuts are centered over t' holes but do nay glue t' screws into t' T-Nuts.
9. With t' TOP side up, me bucko, ya bilge rat, matey, epoxy t' CR with t' holes in it flush with t' top o' t' Body Tube (Item 4). Begad! Align the fin lines on t' CR with t' slots in t' Body Tube. Begad! Avast! Allow t' fully dry before proceedin' t' t' next stop. Begad!
10. Epoxy t' MMT (Item 5) t' t' CR/BT assembly from t' previous step. T' MMT should be flush with t' bottom of t' Body Tube. Aye aye! Insert t' last Centerin' Rin' (Item 6) into t' aft o' t' Body Tube t' keep t' MMT centered durin' epoxy curin' but do nay glue t' bottom CR at this time.
11. Epoxy t' Modular Baffle Unit (Item 18) t' t' top o' t' MMT (Item 5) as described in t' Baffle Unit instructions.
12. Usin' t' Fin Pattern, ya bilge rat, matey, cut the Christmas Tree Fins (Item 15) from t' 5 Ply Mach-1 Balsa Ply stock notin' t' grain direction in t' figure. Arrr! Sand all fins together t' match t' profiles. Due t' t' strange shape, I left me leadin' edges square. Avast, me proud beauty! Test fit t' Fins in the slots and trim t' fin tabs so t' shoulders but up against t' outside o' t' Body Tube and t' tabs just touch the MMT.
13. Epoxy t' Christmas Tree Fins (Item 15) t' t' BT/MMT assembly. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Insert t' last Centerin' Rin' (Item 6) into the aft o' t' Body Tube t' keep t' MMT centered durin' epoxy curin' but do nay glue t' bottom CR at this time. Apply epoxy fillets inside and out at all fin/tube junctions.
14. If you will be usin' a positive motor retention system, ya bilge rat, make provisions in t' aft Centerin' Rin' (Item 6) but do nay glue t' bottom CR at this time! (That will be done in t' final step.
15. Epoxy one o' t' launch lugs (Item 22) t' t' REAR Fin/Body Tube joint and fillet well.

1. Double check t' Alignment o' t' CR t' Backin' Plate: Use a T-Handle allen wrench (if Item 12 is a socket head cap screw) or socket wrench with extension (if Item 12 is a hex head screw) t' insert t' Screws and washers into t' bottom o' t' fin can and t' t' T-Nuts in t' backin' plate (Make sure t' fin marked REAR is in alignment with t' side o' t' Backin' Plate marked REAR). If t' screws don't line up with t' T-nuts well, shiver me timbers, increase the size o' t' holes in t' CR with t' next larger size drill (1/4"). Begad! Begad! Check again and if required open one or more o' t' holes t' accommodate.
2. Backin' Plate Launch Rod Clearance: With t' Backin' Plate still assembled t' t' Fin Assembly, place a 1/4" rod up t' launch lug and mark its outline on t' Backin' Plate. Aye aye! Cut out a clearance slot for t' launch rod in t' Backin' Plate. Ahoy! Begad! Cut this hole oversized for clearance.
3. Slot t' Toy Soldier Bottom for t' Screws: Usin' t' markings from Step 7 o' t' Fin Unit Construction, cut slots out from t' center 29mm openin' around t' markings as seen in Fig. Begad! A at t' right. Avast, me proud beauty! Due t' the un-even nature o' t' bottom o' t' Toy Soldier plastic mold, me hearties, you may need t' make these slots larger in a later step.
4. Backin' Plate Installation: Insert t' backin' plate (made in t' Fin Unit Construction section) into the slot in t' bottom o' t' Toy Soldier foot. Avast! Make sure t' side marked aft is point back as it will be hard t' turn once it is inside.
5. Fin Assy. Arrr! Begad! t' Body Alignment: Slide t' Toy Soldier Over t' MMT o' t' Fin Assembly until it rests on the top o' t' fin can. Startin' with t' hole at t' front (the one you can't see) use a T-Handle allen wrench (if Item 12 is a socket head cap screw) or socket wrench with extension (if Item 12 is a hex head screw) t' insert the Screws and washers into t' bottom o' t' fin can, me bucko, through t' Toy Soldier bottom and into t' T-Nuts in t' backing plate. If you cannot make t' screws fit, you will need t' expand t' slots made in t' previous step. Do nay fully tighten t' screws yet.
6. Fin Assy. Centering: Next, check that t' Fin Assembly is centered on t' bottom square o' t' Toy Soldier. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Again if you can't get t' Fin Assembly t' center, you will need t' expand t' slots made in step 1 above. Well, blow me down! Blimey!
7. Body Bottom Launch Rod Clearance: Insert a piece o' 1/4" rod in t' launch lug attached t' the rear fin until it touches t' bottom o' t' Toy Soldier. Mark t' outline o' t' rod on t' Toy Soldier bottom. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Cut out the plastic for clearance around this mark.
8. Top Body Launch Rod Clearance: Now from t' top o' t' body, shiver me timbers, sight t' openin' in t' bottom and create a cutout at t' top for t' launch rod as seen in Figure B.
9. Launch Rod Clearance Lug Alignment: Now slide t' body tube (Item 3) into t' top o' t' Toy Soldier Body until t' top o' t' tube is flush with t' top o' t' Toy Soldier Body as seen in Figure B. Begad! (T' bottom CR should go over t' 29mm MMT o' t' Fin Assy. Insert a 1/4" launch rod through t' bottom launch lug on t' fin assembly and t' internal body launch lug. Arrr! This rod will bind on t' Toy Soldier's legs which must be trimmed as seen in Figure C. Ya scallywag! Do not epoxy t' Toy Soldier Body Tube in place yet!
10. Launch Lug Alignment: Check that t' launch rod inserted in t' previous step moves freely through both launch lugs. If not, t' Fin Assembly is angled and needs t' be shimmed into position as shown in Figure D at right. Use scrap pieces o' t' aircraft plywood betwixt t' fin tops and Toy Soldier Bottom t' pull t' Fin Assembly into allignment with t' Body Tube.
11. Soldier/Fin Attacment: With Everythin' aligned so t' launch rod moves freely through both launch lugs, Tighten t' screws which go into t' Backin' Plate T-Nuts. Arrr! Begad! From t' open end o' t' Toy Soldier Body, arrr, drop some epoxy or CyA adhesive onto t' exposed threads o' t' capscrews t' lock them in place. Ahoy! Next, arrr, with t' launch rod in place, epoxy t' Toy Soldier Body Tube t' t' Fin Assembly MMT. Apply a generous fillet t' this joint. Aye aye! Ya scallywag!
12. Head Launch Rod Clearance: Place t' Soldier Head on t' Body Tube and mark and cut openings for the launch rod as in previous steps.
13. Shock Cord/'Chute: Tie t' ends o' t' shock cord t' t' mounts in t' Head and Body. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Tie a loop in the shock cord about 1.5 ft. Begad! from t' head and attach t' parachute t' t' loop with t' heavy duty snap swivel.
14. Balance: With t' parachute installed but without a motor, t' FAO Schwartzkopf balances at 18" down from t' flat o' t' head. This position works fine for t' F62 Darkstar and G80 motors. Begad! For other motors, weight may be required in t' head. Begad! Ahoy! This can easily be accomplished by addin' more fender washers under t' hat.

April 02, me hearties, 2000

N.I.R.A. Special Launch (To beat t' then impendin' insurance lapse date of 4/5/00)

T' first flight o' t' FAO Schwartzkopf be on an F62-4 Darkstar motor with a simmed altitude of 355ft. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Boy was I nervous with t' rocket on t' pad and all t' still shots taken t' LCO called for a head's up. Begad! He gave t' countdown and... Ahoy! major disappointment... Ya scallywag! Begad! nothing. Avast! Begad! One o' t' spectators had seen a clip fall off an igniter lead so that was an easy recycle and away we went again.....

5 ... 4 ... Ya scallywag! Begad! 3 ... Aye aye! 2 ... 1 ... Begad! Launch and t' Laser Fire igniter immediately sent t' Darkstar into overdrive! Blimey! A roar hit t' spectators as t' pad was engulfed in thick black smoke. Blimey! It had t' have been t' straightest flight o' t' day and t' crowd showed their appreciation with a few cheers as t' parachute unfulred right at apogee t' brin' t' FAO Schwartzkopf safely back t' earth.

T' launch was a little too quick for me camerman but he did get t' very impressive Darkstar smoke trail from t' maiden flight which is shown at right.

April 02, me hearties, 2000 (at Same Launch as Above)

N.I.R.A. Special Launch (To beat t' then impendin' insurance lapse date of 4/5/00)

With all t' first flight gitters out o' t' way, shiver me timbers, I loaded t' FAO Schwartzkopf with a G80-4 Fast White Lightnin' t' really wake up t' neighbors. Ahoy! I had never seen one o' these Fast White Lightnin' motors burn and all I can say is WOW!

I ditched t' Copperhead that came with t' G80 and opted for another Laser Fire t' fire t' FAO Schwartzkopf again and was nay disappointed. This thin' is like a White Lightnin' motor on steroids. Aye aye!

This flight simmed out t' around 525ft. Well, matey, blow me down! It didn't seem 175ft. higher than t' first flight but deployment again occured very near apogee for a textbook flight. Ahoy! Ya scallywag!

This time, me hearties, t' camerman would nay loose t' race and t' results are seen in t' photo at t' left. Click image for Higher Resolution.