Presented with written permission from RocketyPlanet:

Introduction

Back at t' end o' 2006, me bucko, Giant Leap Rocketry o' Baton Rouge, shiver me timbers, arrr, Louisiana, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, released t' latest addition t' their family o' high power kits named t' Elipse. Well, blow me down! 3" in diameter and 78" long, me hearties, t' Elipse comes with a 38mm motor mount and stands apart from t' rest o' t' crowd with a set o' beautiful elliptical fins and a rounded aluminum tailcone.

Accordin' t' Ed at Giant Leap, "this design was inspired by t' lines o' t' famous Jaguar XKE. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I wanted t' create a kit with curves that depart from t' same old straight lines found in other rockets."

T' package that contained t' Elipse kit has everythin' you need & then some.

But that is just what is visible from t' outside - t' Elipse has a couple o' other innovations hidden inside that can't be seen.

T' first is a new fin attachin' system called t' GROOVE-LOK, matey, an extruded aluminum sleeve that surrounds t' motor mount tube and provides precisely-positioned channels t' place your fins at t' exact, me bucko, precise point o' perfect alignment. Begad! It works nay only on four finned rockets, but also for your three finned rockets as well, and in two distinctly different thicknesses o' fins: 0.062" and 0.093". Well, blow me down! No need t' measure t' tube, arrr, tryin' t' mark it at t' right place. Begad! No cobblin' fin alignment jigs. Well, blow me down! Just glue it and go.

T' second internal innovation be t' HARDPOINT ANCHOR, shiver me timbers, another use o' extruded aluminum that provides a solid forward attachment point for your booster recovery system that is strong, lightweight and still allows you t' use motor ejection. Aye aye! This is one tough piece o' rocket science. Avast! Blimey! T' Giant Leap website states that they dare you t' break it, and believe me, matey, if you break this product, me hearties, arrr, you've got far more problems!

Birth o' a Project

Giant Leap offered t' send me one o' t' early production Elipse kits t' get an objective product review and I jumped at t' opportunity. Ahoy! I had just about completed a smaller Giant Leap kit, t' Escape Velocity, which was me first Giant Leap kit, but nay me first experience with Giant Leap products. In me opinion, arrr, Giant Leap has t' best rocket components in t' hobby and after workin' with t' Escape Velocity kit, t' Elipse would be a wonderful point o' comparison for me.

Giant Leap's new GROOVE-LOK fin attachment. Another view o' t' GROOVE-LOK system. Arrr! T' GROOVE-LOK set for a 3 fin configuration. Arrr! T' Slimline ogive tailcone is simply beautiful. Components o' t' Giant Leap avionics bay kit. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey!

When t' package arrived, me bucko, I immediately dove into it like at kid at Christmas time because, me hearties, well, me hearties, it was around Christmas time. Ya scallywag! Blimey! For anyone who hasn't yet had t' opportunity t' purchase a Giant Leap kit, their kits are more than just a rocket kit - it's more like a rocket system. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Giant Leap puts just about everythin' you need in t' kit except t' epoxy, paint and motors. They truly include more o' t' necessities than any other kit manufacturer out there, matey, ya bilge rat, and when it comes down t' t' small parts like nuts, me bucko, washers, matey, me bucko, etc., they really go t' extra mile. Ya scallywag! Blimey! True t' form, t' Elipse kit had more included components than anyone can imagine.

In t' pictures, arrr, arrr, me hearties, you will see a photo displayin' all o' t' contents o' t' Elipse kit's packaging. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! These include:

• 36" 3-inch diameter pre-slotted phenolic airframe tubin' (fiberglass version available)
• 24" 3-inch diameter phenolic payload airframe tubing
• 3" phenolic avionics bay, includes coupler, matey, bulkhead plates, ya bilge rat, electronics sled, and all hardware
• 3" Pinnacle 5-to-1 ogive plastic nosecone
• 38mm motor mount tube
• Two 3/16" birch plywood centerin' rings
• HARDPOINT anchor extruded aluminum recovery attachment point
• GROOVE-LOK extruded aluminum fin attachin' system
• Three .093" G10 curved fiberglass fins
• 3" t' 38mm aluminum ogive tail cone with internal Slimline retainer
• KEVLAR FIREBALL recovery zipper prevention device
• Two ACME aluminum rail guides
• Pre-sewn KEVLAR and tubular nylon shockcords
• KEVLAR chute protectors
• 48" main and 18" drogue ripstop nylon parachutes
• ELIPSE decal (not shown in t' photo)

As you can see, arrr, ya bilge rat, this is one ultra-complete kit. Arrr! Blimey! Standin' over six feet tall complete, t' dry weight is 4.8 pounds for t' phenolic version and 6.5 pounds for t' fiberglass version, ya bilge rat, so this rocket should be well suited for flights on high impulse H, I and J motors. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Due t' t' elegance o' this kit, I wouldn't be surprised t' see a 4" version with a 54mm motor mount in t' future.

Initial Impressions

I started t' assembly by reviewin' t' illustrated 16 page instruction book, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, makin' mental notes o' things I wanted t' pay special attention to, matey, me bucko, things I might deviate from and generally t' see if t' instructions were written so that an average flier could follow them without gettin' lost. I was pleased t' see t' instructions were clear and easy t' follow, and that any time t' accompanyin' photos were o' another rocket than t' Elipse, it pointed this out t' t' reader.

After reviewin' t' instructions, arrr, I went through t' kit components, matey, dry-fittin' them together t' get a feel for t' assembly steps. Avast, me proud beauty! This also allows you an opportunity t' see if thar are any unforeseen problems with t' clearances or fit o' t' various parts as a result o' t' manufacturin' process.

Intrigued with t' GROOVE-LOK, me bucko, that be exactly what I started with. I slid t' GROOVE-LOK onto t' 38mm motor mount tube along with t' centerin' rings and test-fitted t' G10 fins into t' fin slots. Avast! Giant Leap's cuttin' on t' G10 was very good, with nice square ends where t' fins would butt up against t' centerin' rings. Arrr! Begad! I have t' imagine cuttin' smooth curves in G10 is harder than it appears.

As I have come t' expect from Giant Leap, shiver me timbers, their centerin' rings have t' perfect fit and a little pass with a piece o' 80 grit sandpaper makes them have just t' right amount o' snugness on t' motor mount. Their airframe tubin' end cuts and fin slots are always straight and square. Ahoy! Blimey! And their phenolic tubin' be t' best kraft cardboard airframe tubin' in t' hobby. Arrr! Blimey! It has just t' right amount o' firmness without shattering, me bucko, just t' right thickness and strength and is me choice for any non-composite bodied rocket.

This would be me first Giant Leap phenolic-bodied project that wasn't fiberglassed, me bucko, so I was interested in seein' how t' tubes finished. Ya scallywag! My primary concern would be t' see how t' fin fillets worked and how well t' spiral groove filled. I was comfortable that t' phenolic tubin' would have sufficient strength, arrr, as Giant Leap's phenolic airframe products have that built in - me mind was on how well t' tube would accept t' final finish.

Speakin' o' final finish, arrr, traditionally I have used automotive-grade spray equipment t' finish me rockets, me hearties, as I enjoy buildin' and flyin' rockets, me hearties, nay repairin' them. Ya scallywag! I have found that urethane-hardened automotive acrylic enamels have a much better ability t' withstand t' normal wear-and-tear o' flyin' rockets. Aye aye! For even t' smallest shops, me hearties, ya bilge rat, a $200 5HP air compressor and a knock-off automotive spray cannon from Harbor Freight is more than sufficient t' paint rockets with - t' real cost will come in paint, matey, primer, ya bilge rat, thinners and additives.

For this project, I decided I be goin' t' take a more traditional hobbyist's approach and relegate myself t' usin' spray cans t' prep and finish t' kit. This would allow me t' offer some finishin' tips that more people could benefit from that didn't have t' luxury or desire t' go in t' automotive-type direction for finishing. Aye aye! And I think I found some beneficial things from that decision that can help some o' t' readers who may be usin' t' spray can approach.

T' first step was attachin' t' aft centerin' ring.

But we've got t' assemble this thin' before we can paint it, me bucko, so let's get back t' where we left off, t' dry-fit test o' t' components. Aye aye! Aye aye! As you can see from t' photos I wanted you t' be able t' see how t' GROOVE-LOK could be used in either a 3 fin or a 4 fin configuration. Blimey! You might want t' mark on t' GROOVE-LOK with a black permanent marker which set o' grooves you will be usin' on your projects. Blimey! That way, when you go t' puttin' t' epoxy in t' grooves for t' fins, me bucko, you get it in t' right grooves. Ahoy! With so many t' choose from, that is a small effort t' make sure you don't slather up t' wrong groove!

T' rounded ogive tail cone is truly a beautiful piece o' work. Blimey! Arrr! Designed t' fit a 38mm motor mount in a 3" diameter airframe tube, arrr, black anodized for that perfect look and with a Slimline retainer built in, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, me hearties, it's just a piece o' art. Begad! Ahoy! I loved that finish so much, arrr, I decided I wanted t' retain t' black anodized look, shiver me timbers, so I decide nay t' paint t' tail cone. Arrr! As such, me hearties, I planned t' leave t' tailcone off until after it was painted, and would need t' make adjustments t' t' instructions so I could accomplish this.

Giant Leap really does a hobbyist good with their avionics bays, me bucko, includin' everythin' you need except t' electronics t' build your electronics bay. Arrr! I liked t' use o' G10 as t' electronics sled in t' Elipse kit, ya bilge rat, me bucko, since me Escape Velocity kit had come with a piece o' NOMEX® honeycomb board, ya bilge rat, which is strong but still has t' look o' a piece o' a cardboard box. Well, blow me down! Apparently aesthetics and form over function are important t' me. Ahoy! Begad! And thar be plenty o' hardware in t' avionics bay kit so you don't have t' try and run it all down.

I assemble t' motor mount usin' J-B Weld and regular 12 minute hobby shop epoxy. Begad!

I want t' point out that t' avionics bay kit comes with four bulkhead plates: two that will fit inside t' coupler and two that will fit inside t' airframe. Avast! Begad! By combinin' one o' each size for use on each end, you form a cap that seats inside t' coupler tube snuggly. Begad! In me kit, t' pre-drilled holes in t' bulkhead plates for t' allthread attachment rods didn't line up, requirin' that I re-drill t' holes. Avast, me proud beauty! Nay a problem, really, as I had some other ideas for t' avionics bay, shiver me timbers, and I would end up cuttin' new coupler end cap bulkhead plates anyway.

Under Construction

I started construction by thinkin' about t' fact that I wanted t' leave t' tailcone off until after I painted it. Avast, me proud beauty! That would require me t' accurately locate all t' centerin' rings beforehand. In takin' t' time t' consider this, ya bilge rat, I focused on t' GROOVE-LOK and t' G10 fins. Begad! T' fins are about an inch longer than t' GROOVE-LOK cylinder, which when followin' t' instructions, shouldn't present any problem whatsoever. Begad! But because I can't leave well enough alone, I started considerin' some small minute changes t' t' motor mount/fin assembly.

In this photo, t' fins are bein' attached. I use J-B Weld here because o' t' proximiy o' motor heat.

In t' end, shiver me timbers, because I wanted t' centerin' rings t' mount flush with t' end o' t' GROOVE-LOk cylinder, and I wanted t' fins t' be flush with t' end o' t' airframe tubing, I decided t' notch t' fins on each end t' clear t' centerin' rings. Ya scallywag! Avast! You can see t' notches in t' picture t' t' left. Ahoy! Begad! I notched t' front o' t' fin t' clear t' forward centerin' rin' and t' back o' t' fin t' clear t' aft centerin' rin' and allow me t' get a 3" hose clamp over t' end o' t' air frame t' clamp it down when I glue it up for t' final assembly. I wanted t' make sure t' back o' t' airframe was snuggly attached so t' airframe-to-tailcone fit was precise.

Once these considerations were made and t' final position o' t' aft centerin' rin' be calculated, I marked t' 38mm motor mount tube and then sanded t' tube with 80 grit sandpaper t' give me epoxy plenty o' bite. I used regular 12 minute hobby shop 2-part epoxy t' attach t' centerin' ring, me hearties, me hearties, makin' a smooth fillet on t' aft side o' t' centerin' ring-to-motor mount tube joint.

When t' epoxy for t' centerin' rin' had set, I then sanded t' next 6" o' motor mount tube with 80 grit sandpaper in preparation t' mount t' GROOVE-LOK. Begad! I also wrapped some 80 grit around a dowel and sanded t' inside o' t' GROOVE-LOK, t' roughen up t' surface a little. Well, blow me down! T' instructions say you can use regular epoxy, matey, matey, but I like t' use J-B Weld on any joint that includes aluminum where heat is involved, matey, and on a motor mount tube, arrr, shiver me timbers, heat is always a consideration. Blimey! For those who want a slightly larger size than t' conventionally small 1.0 ounce tubes o' J-B Weld, arrr, I found a supplier on eBay what had 5.0 ounce tubes.

With t' fins attached, I slid t' motor mount assembly back into t' airframe t' align t' fins. Once t' J-B Weld has cured, t' motor mount is removed again. Well, blow me down!

I got out me J-B Weld and put what I thought was an amount that would cover t' necessary area on t' motor mount tube, and then carefully mixin' t' two parts together, I applied it with a craft stick t' t' motor mount tube. Blimey! Don't apply it inside t' GROOVE-LOK or you will get it all over t' motor mount tube and end up with a mess.

Slide t' GROOVE-LOK into place over t' motor mount tube, ya bilge rat, twistin' it several times t' spread t' J-B Weld around and evenly apply t' epoxy t' get a smooth, ya bilge rat, consistent epoxy joint. Avast! After you get it seated, go back t' make sure you don't have excess epoxy in t' slots that will hold your fins. Begad! This is another good reason t' mark t' appropriate slots on t' GROOVE-LOK so you know which ones will need checkin' for excess epoxy.

When t' J-B Weld had set, ya bilge rat, I applied t' upper centerin' rin' with t' 12 minute epoxy, shiver me timbers, matey, and I then added an epoxy fillet t' t' forward side o' t' centerin' ring-to-motor mount tube joint. Aye aye! Afterward, me hearties, I set t' motor mount tube/GROOVE-LOK assembly aside t' allow t' epoxy and J-B Weld time t' fully cure overnight. Blimey! I didn't want t' disturb t' J-B Weld before it had fully cured.

In this photo, ya bilge rat, you can see t' fin slot difference at t' front o' t' fins, me bucko, t' result o' movin' t' fins rearward as well as t' notch at t' aft t' allow for t' use o' a hose clamp durin' glue-up t' insure a good bond. Aye aye!

T' next day, ya bilge rat, it was time t' attach me G10 fins t' t' motor mount tube/GROOVE-LOK assembly. Again, shiver me timbers, I chose t' use J-B Weld at t' fin root because o' t' characteristics o' heat transfer when used with aluminum and ordinary hobby shop epoxy. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! After makin' sure me fins fit each o' their coordinatin' slots in t' GROOVE-LOK, I mixed an appropriate amount o' J-B Weld and applied it t' t' fin root o' each fin and slid them into place in t' GROOVE-LOK assembly.

When each fin was seated in t' GROOVE-LOK, a slid t' motor mount assembly into t' aft o' t' pre-slotted phenolic airframe tubin' t' use it t' help make sure t' fins were in perfect alignment. There is no epoxy on t' centerin' rings, only t' fin root, matey, because I will take t' motor mount tube/fin assembly back out t' fillet t' fin roots once t' J-B Weld has cured.

You can see in t' series o' photos t' amount o' distance t' fins ended up bein' moved aft t' make them line up flush with t' airframe and t' size o' t' notches I cut into t' fins t' allow me t' fit a hose clamp on t' aft end o' t' airframe t' clamp it durin' final assembly. Ahoy! T' fin slot openings and t' fin notches all get filled durin' t' external fin filletin' so this is nay a problem.

I coat t' coupler with CA t' strengthen it.Once dry, I sand it smooth with 80 grit sandpaper. Begad! It works well. Begad!

Gettin' Coupled

While t' fin roots were curing, me bucko, I decided t' coat t' coupler tube's external surface with cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesive. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! I don't know if t' coupler tubin' is made with a different ratio o' phenolic impregnation than t' regular airframe tubin' or if it simply t' difference in thickness, but it just seemed a little less stiff than t' airframe tubing. It wasn't flimsy, it just seemed less stiff.

Couplers can take a beating, me bucko, and I have found out that impregnatin' them with CA can stiffen them significantly. Well, blow me down! So, be sure you get a big bottle if you want t' do this, me hearties, and make sure you do it in a well ventilated place. T' fumes can be overpowering. I coat t' coupler tubin' evenly and then once if has fully dried, sand it with 80-120 grit sandpaper t' make is perfectly smooth.

Once t' J-B Weld had cured on t' fin roots, ya bilge rat, I took t' motor mount assembly back out o' t' airframe and placed it in a level, arrr, horizontal position with t' fin roots at 45 degree angles t' t' horizontal and vertical. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I mix appropriate amount o' 12 minute epoxy and apply this t' t' fin roots, smoothin' t' fillets out with a craft stick. You might notice in t' accompanyin' photo that t' paper ketchup cups from Wendy's make great epoxy mixin' cups.

Durin' t' filletin' o' t' fin roots, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I apply 12 minute epoxy, which I then cover with 3/4" maskin' tape. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! This allows me t' do all four fin roots at t' same time and produces a nice smooth fillet. Note me ultra top secret epoxy mixin' cups on t' right hand side o' t' photo.

When t' epoxy begins t' gel, me bucko, me hearties, I take 3/4" maskin' tape and cover t' length o' t' fillet and smooth t' tape down. Avast! Ya scallywag! By doin' this, I can insure a smooth, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me bucko, uniform fin fillet and I can turn t' motor mount assembly 90 degrees and do all four sides o' t' motor mount assembly one right after t' other. Aye aye! By t' time I get finished with t' last one, t' first one is almost ready t' have t' maskin' tape removed.

Before I do that though, matey, matey, I attach t' HARDPOINT ANCHOR. Ya scallywag! This extruded aluminum device is assembled by placin' t' eye-bolt through t' anchor, followed by a washer and a nylon-insert lockin' nut on t' other end. Just t' be safe, I wick CA adhesive into t' threads in case t' lockin' nut ever thinks about backin' off.

I sand t' outside o' t' HARDPOINT ANCHOR and t' inside o' t' motor mount tube where it will bond with 80 grit sandpaper. I suppose if I were really anal and I thought t' J-B Weld wouldn't hold it, I could have drilled holes through t' motor mount tube and into t' HARDPOINT anchor for self-tappin' sheet metal screws. Even without t' screws, t' holes would have given t' J-B Weld somethin' t' ooze into and increase t' strength o' t' bond, ya bilge rat, but I wasn't that anal and just attached t' anchor with J-B Weld. Blimey! I rotated t' anchor as I seated it t' evenly distribute t' J-B Weld around t' joint and then formed a small fillet on t' forward end. Begad! Believe me, it's nay comin' out.

Here's t' motor mount/fin assembly with t' HARDPOINT ANCHOR installed. Ahoy! Arrr! Here, external fin fillets are bein' added. Arrr! Maskin' tape dams hold epoxy fillets in place. Ya scallywag! Another shot o' t' maskin' tape/fin fillet process. Avast! Avast! After minor shapin' and light sanding, t' fillets get a coat o' KILZ primer. T' light "fuzzies" produced from sandin' t' phenolic tubin' will sand right off t' first time. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

T' final motor mount tube/fin assembly is one strong piece o' hardware, shiver me timbers, matey, much stronger than a comparable motor mount/fin assembly o' any other manufacturer in t' same price range. And t' show you that Giant Leap listens t' feedback, matey, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' original motor mount assembly planned for production in t' Elipse wasn't long enough for t' AeroTech 38/1080 motor, and when this was pointed out, me hearties, Giant Leap immediately changed their plans and now includes a motor mount tube that is long enough for that motor in all production kits.

T' only consideration a flier might have with t' Elipse as designed is that t' use o' t' HARDPOINT ANCHOR would preclude t' use o' hybrid motors whose length would cause t' motor t' hit t' bottom o' t' anchor. Avast, me proud beauty! But that one point hardly overshadows t' rest o' t' excellence built into this kit.

I left t' motor mount/fin assembly t' cure overnight. T' next day, shiver me timbers, I followed t' instructions for attachin' t' FIREBALL anti-zipper device t' t' HARDPOINT ANCHOR recovery attachment point. Arrr! This has t' go together as an assembly because t' FIREBALL has t' be attached at t' right distance from t' end o' t' motor mount tube t' end up at t' correct spot at t' top o' t' airframe tubing.

Final Airframe Assembly

T' next step is t' mount t' motor mount/fin assembly in t' airframe tubin' for t' final time. As unusual as it is when it happens, ya bilge rat, t' additional distance o' t' fin slots at t' forward end o' t' fins will work out in me favor. Aye aye! Well, sort of.

I fed t' FIREBALL into t' aft end o' t' airframe tube, arrr, insertin' t' motor mount part o' t' way. Well, blow me down! Usin' a long stick, I painted epoxy on t' inside o' t' airframe where t' forward centerin' rin' would go, shiver me timbers, and then repeated t' process for t' aft centerin' ring. I then slid t' motor mount tube/fin assembly into its final restin' place and clamped t' aft o' t' airframe tube t' t' aft centerin' rin' with an automotive 3" stainless steel hose clamp t' dry.

While it was drying, me hearties, I taped up t' forward excess fin slots and usin' t' last one, arrr, poured in about an ounce o' epoxy into t' slot. I then taped up this final fin slot and held t' airframe vertical while slowly rollin' it around slightly off axis t' allow t' wet epoxy t' flow evenly around t' top end o' t' forward centerin' rin' and make a solid bond and internal fillet. Blimey! I then left it for t' night in t' vertical position.

T' next day, shiver me timbers, I took off t' hose clamp and peeled off t' maskin' tape from t' forward fin slots, lookin' at a solid, ya bilge rat, one-piece assembly that was light and strong with t' fins perfectly aligned. And nay a fin jig in sight. It be enough t' make a grown man cry.

Instead, matey, though, I positioned t' airframe horizontally on me wooden construction supports t' apply t' external fin fillets. Well, blow me down! Avast! I am extremely demandin' that fin fillets be easy t' apply but that t' result be smooth and uniform. Begad! Well, arrr, blow me down! A rocket with clumpy, shiver me timbers, me hearties, inconsistent fin fillets be t' signature o' a poor artist t' me.

So I positioned t' airframe where t' fin roots were at 45 degree angles from t' horizontal and vertical, ya bilge rat, matey, where two opposin' fin roots were able t' have their fillets applied at t' same time. Ya scallywag! I made maskin' tape dams at each end o' t' upper surface and then mixed enough 12 minute epoxy t' do two fillets at one time. Begad! Did I mention that t' paper ketchup cups from Wendy's make great epoxy mixin' cups?

You have t' work smartly if usin' 12 minute epoxy. I prefer 15 minute epoxy, arrr, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but me hobby shop doesn't carry it. T' 12 minute epoxy can gel very quickly, so you have t' work this quickly. Blimey! Usin' a craft stick, me hearties, me hearties, ya bilge rat, pour and spread out t' epoxy from one end o' t' fillet t' t' other and then smooth t' fillet with t' curved end o' t' stick t' form t' fillet. Avast! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Transfer epoxy t' t' other side if needed.

Right when it begins t' thicken, matey, take a finger dipped in acetone and smooth t' fillet from end t' end, takin' care t' get t' centers as perfectly as you can and less about t' ends. You should be smoothin' t' fillet about 3/4" beyond t' end o' t' actual fin edge and wrappin' it around t' fin edge into t' maskin' tape dam. Arrr! Ahoy! Use enough acetone on your finger t' keep t' gellin' epoxy wet and use t' liquid as lubrication t' shape t' fillet.

Some people may be sensitive t' solvents, so you may want t' use a latex glove for this, me hearties, but I prefer t' do it without one so I can judge by feel how far along t' epoxy is from settin' up. Avast! Blimey! This technique, ya bilge rat, done right, will produce fillets that need virtually zero sandin' except t' smooth in t' transition betwixt t' fin and airframe at t' top and bottom. Avast! Blimey! You can see from t' accompanyin' photographs that me fillets are smooth, matey, shiver me timbers, spartan, with very little excess epoxy or acetone-thinned residue left over. Blimey! T' desired result is less work nay more, arrr, so payin' attention t' details goes a long way here.

Because o' how smartly t' fillets set, me hearties, me hearties, you can do all four sets o' fillets in less than an hour. Begad! Avast! I allowed them t' set up over night, me hearties, arrr, shiver me timbers, pulled off t' maskin' tape dams, and then used a rat-tailed file t' shape t' front edges, me bucko, transitionin' t' fillet smoothly into t' airframe. T' aft edges should remain sharp and square. Aye aye! Combined with some 80 grit sandpaper, me bucko, t' fillets were ready for primer with little work at all. Begad! Note: when maskin' a 38mm motor mount tube for priming, me bucko, an old toilet paper tube be t' perfect size! Cut, slip on and prime!

Electronics Bay Assembly

Once t' airframe was completed, matey, with t' exception o' primin' and paintin' (and o' course, attachin' t' tailcone), I turned me attention t' t' electronics bay. Well, blow me down! Begad! I had already discovered that t' bulkhead plate end caps had very slightly mismatched holes for t' allthread that passed through each end o' t' electronics bay and held it together, but I was plannin' on alterin' me electronics bay anyway.

Front side o' t' electronics bay showin' t' ARTS. Back side o' t' electronics bay with charge holder. Arrr! Well, blow me down! This photo shows t' Newton's 3rd power switch mounted in a riser tube that is screwed t' t' G10 board. Begad! Leads for power are routed through a hole in t' side over t' t' wirin' harness. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Newton's 3rd Rocketry 9v battery holders. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' red circles on t' right hand holder illustrate t' standoffs that allow you t' get a wire tie strip under t' holder t' positively retain t' battery. In this photo, matey, you can see t' bulkhead that is epoxied in t' payload tube. Begad! It has t-nuts on t' backside t' accept t' allthread, shiver me timbers, as well as a clearance hole for t' main ejection charge and t' main recovery harness. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Here be t' electronics bay installed in t' payload compartment, with t' wingnuts holdin' t' assembly in place with t' allthreads. Ahoy!

For starters, t' standard hole pattern that Giant Leap put in t' bulkhead end caps would have placed t' brass tubes that mounted t' t' G10 plate and t' allthread too close together t' allow me t' use t' four corner mountin' method on me ARTS flight computer. Blimey! I wanted t' ARTS t' be on t' side o' t' electronics sled with t' mountin' tubes so that t' 9V battery holder could be mounted on t' open, unobstructed backside o' t' G10 plate. Begad! Ahoy! That way I could get a wire tie strap under and around t' battery holder t' secure t' battery in place. Blimey! This would be more difficult t' do if t' battery holder be mounted on t' other side betwixt t' electronics sled mountin' tubes.

So I decided t' make new bulkhead end plates, four in total: two sized t' fit t' inside o' t' airframe tube and two sized t' fit inside o' t' coupler tube. When one o' each size is epoxied together, matey, they form a solid, stepped end cap that totally encloses t' electronics bay. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! My design adds one additional plywood bulkhead plate as t' forward mountin' point, shiver me timbers, epoxied into t' payload tube, makin' t' electronics bay completely removable, retained securely by t' allthreads, but requirin' no screws through t' airframe t' secure it in place.

In t' accompanyin' photographs, you can see t' assembled electronics bay, sans t' coupler tube for ease o' explanation. Aye aye! I replaced t' supplied brass electronics sled attachment tubes supplied with t' kit with longer ones made o' aluminum. Aye aye! T' electronics sled is permanently attached t' t' forward end cap only for rigidity, arrr, but could have been left separate just as easily. Avast, me proud beauty! T' aft end cap is removable t' allow for assembly.

T' ARTS is attached via four #4 by 1/2" aluminum electronics standoffs and #4 socket head screws purchased off eBay. Avast! Aye aye! T' power switch is one o' t' screw-based power switches from Newton's 3rd Rocketry, epoxied in a 3/8" tube that is screwed t' t' G10 board. Aye aye! T' switch is mounted so that it lines up with t' barometric vent hole in t' payload airframe for easy arming.

On t' back side, me bucko, t' 9v battery holder is also from Newton's 3rd Rocketry, me bucko, shiver me timbers, secured with stainless steel flathead screws. Above that is an electronics terminal block epoxied t' t' G10 board, arrr, followed by a section o' 1/2" cardboard launch lug configured t' be used as a main chute ejection charge holder. Ahoy! A similar electronics terminal block is epoxied t' t' aft end cap connected with a Dean's connector, ya bilge rat, for connection o' t' drogue chute ejection charge.

Assembly is easy and straight-forward: install a new battery in t' battery holder, wire t' main chute ejection charge. Slide t' coupler tube in place, attach t' aft end cap. Begad! Attach t' main chute recovery harness, matey, slide electronics bay over t' allthreads and secure it with t' two supplied win' nuts. Attach t' drogue recovery harness and put t' payload section in t' airframe, after attachin' t' drogue chute ejection charge. Ahoy! Proceed t' pad, shiver me timbers, arm t' power switch and launch.

I be very satisfied with t' products I got from Newton's 3rd Rocketry. Ahoy! Avast! Blimey! T' 9v battery holder met me requirements o' bein' strong, light, yet had risers under t' mountin' pads t' allow room for a wire tie strap t' fit underneath for battery retention. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! T' power switch is a simple design which combines a nylon bushin' as t' housing, ya bilge rat, arrr, a brass threaded insert as t' switch housin' and a screw which contacts t' other attachment wire, completin' t' circuit. Avast! Blimey! I was able t' mount it in a very straight forward fashion where I could arm it from t' outside relatively easily.

Final Finish

With t' completion o' t' electronics bay, it was time t' prepare t' rocket for final finishing. Well, blow me down! As I mentioned earlier, this be t' first rocket I had built with Giant Leap phenolic airframe tubin' that I had nay fiberglassed, ya bilge rat, so I was interested t' see how t' spiral grooves would work out.

To begin with, I sanded t' airframe with 80 grit sandpaper. Ya scallywag! This process smartly smoothed t' airframe and knocked t' gloss off. Avast! Arrr! For primer, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I used KILZ-brand white spray primer. It goes on heavy, fills lots o' imperfections, and sands like a dream. Ya scallywag! KILZ primer will cover a multitude o' sins.

Let me say a word about sandpaper. Blimey! Blimey! Do yourself a favor and get good sandpaper. I bought some cheap sandpaper from a local dollar store. Aye aye! Blimey! This really is a waste o' money, no matter how cheap. Aye aye! Blimey! T' grit stays sharp for about 2.5 seconds, matey, or first use, which ever comes first. It still looks like it's all thar and it feels gritty, but it just doesn't cut. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I then bought some self-adhesive mid-grade sandpaper from Home Depot that be designed t' be used on orbital sanders. I bought some that was round, some that was square. They both worked wonderfully, cut well, me hearties, and lasted a long time. And t' adhesive backin' makes it a breeze: just fold t' sheet in half and sand forever. Arrr! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! If you want.

Everyone also seems t' have an opinion about wet sandin' vs. Begad! dry sanding. For most finishes, shiver me timbers, especially spray can finishes, as well as for most substances like cardboard, me bucko, you are best t' stay with dry sanding. Arrr! If you are workin' on plastic or fiberglass, wet sandin' is alright because it doesn't invade t' underlyin' material. Water and cardboard don't mix very well, and plain kraft cardboard tolerates water even worse. Ya scallywag! Nay t' mention that it is possible with some enamels that water sandin' can produce a surface that is TOO smooth for t' paint t' bite into and will peel in t' end.

Speakin' o' plastic and peelin' paint, me hearties, arrr, that also brings up t' topic o' nosecones. Avast! Aye aye! One o' t' places that most people struggle with is gettin' paint t' stick t' plastic nose cones. Blimey! Begad! Fortunately for us, t' automotive industry has made great strides in this area, me bucko, developin' primers and sealers that allow paint t' stick t' plastics very well. Begad! Ya scallywag! At me local Walmart, me bucko, me bucko, I found a Rustoleum-brand automotive plastic primer that was designed t' promote paint adhesion over plastics like these nose cones are made with. Begad! I decided t' give it a try.

Giant Leap's 3" Pinnacle 5-to-1 ogive nosecone is a piece o' art. Aye aye! It is built with a good shoulder length, matey, a strong recovery attachment area and two different methods o' recovery attachment. Avast! This is a sturdy nosecone that is much tougher than most.

Primer and paint used on t' Elipse project. You can see how t' flushed-rear fins line up with t' tailcone as well as how t' fillets turned out. T' Giant Leap Elipse stands ready for a launch.

Nose cone prep was straight forward: clean up t' partin' line seams with a razor blade, light scuffin' with 180 grit sandpaper and then a bath usin' a dish washin' detergent like Dawn. Right before priming, wipe with a clean rag dipped in clean acetone. Arrr! Well, blow me down! One or two light coats o' t' primer and then followed up with a couple coats o' KILZ primer, t' nose cone was ready for t' partin' line seams t' be filled.

For this job, and for fillin' t' spiral lines in t' airframe tubes, shiver me timbers, I chose a standard run-of-the-mill automotive grade spot putty from t' automotive department at t' local Walmart. You will find it located on t' same shelf as t' Rustoleum plastic parts primer. Red oxide in color, it dries fast and produces nasty red dust that your wife will hate. Ya scallywag! Because it's lacquer based, matey, it will shrink as it dries, so you need t' allow plenty o' time for it t' completely dry. Avast, me proud beauty! As long as a week t' be sure.

Fortunately, t' spiral lines in t' Giant Leap phenolic are small enough that two coats o' KILZ primer and one application o' t' automotive spot putty are all that you will need. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Once you have sanded t' airframe and nosecone smooth, it'll take a couple more coats o' KILZ t' completely hide t' spiral lines. Different fillers with different consistencies addlepate you into thinkin' t' spirals are gone, arrr, but t' only way t' be sure is sand it some more and prime it again.

Now, as someone who prefers automotive paint products over spray bombs, I recall all too well t' times that I have had t' repair spray can paint jobs and t' difficulty in doin' so, ya bilge rat, so I wanted t' try a spray can paint that be more durable. Avast! Blimey! I had seen some spray paint that said it was epoxy paint, me bucko, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and logic seemed t' follow that epoxy paint should be stronger than, well, Krylon. So I decided t' try it.

I purchased both white and black Rustoleum-brand appliance epoxy paint, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, as t' Elipse be goin' t' get a sporty two-toned paint job. Avast! Let me summarize (and get past me grief) that this product isn't somethin' I would recommend. Avast! It doesn't cover very well without bein' subject t' clouding, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, orange peeling, and on recoats as soon as 30 minutes apart, wantin' t' lift! I be able t' paint t' entire rocket with it satisfactorily with t' exception o' t' nose cone, which took three attempts. Begad! My recommendation is t' stick with Krylon. Ahoy! Krylon works and works well, shiver me timbers, and you can even water-sand Krylon and polish it out usin' rubbin' and polishin' compounds.

T' problems I experienced with t' appliance epoxy paint seemed contained t' t' black color that I put on t' nosecone and payload section, but since I be goin' t' be coverin' t' payload section with red monokote in a roll pattern, matey, it really didn't matter. It just meant I had t' polish t' payload section smooth with rubbin' compound before I put t' monokote on it. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! While t' epoxy paint turned out excellent, me bucko, I still can't recommend it because it took too much effort for t' desired result.

For those wishin' t' create roll patterns and other stripin' effects, me bucko, I can't say enough about self-adhesive monokote. Begad! You can cut this t' shape, peel off t' backin' and t' apply it t' t' airframe usin' Windex t' wet out t' backing. Arrr! Begad! Now I know it may sound slightly ridiculous t' peel t' backin' off a self-adhesive product and then coat it down with wet Windex. But let me tell you, me bucko, ya bilge rat, t' procedure works and allows you t' apply self-adhesive products without t' first air bubble gettin' trapped under it. Plus t' wet backin' allows you wiggle room t' move t' monokote into t' exact position you want. Begad! From there, you just smooth it out very slowly with a soft cloth t' absorb t' excess fluid that you work out toward t' edges. Aye aye! T' rest o' t' Windex evaporates, matey, leavin' a bubble-free surface.

After paintin' and application o' t' monokote roll pattern, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I installed t' tailcone usin' J-B Weld, then added t' ACME aluminum rail guides. Avast, me proud beauty! All that was left was t' "Elipse" decal, arrr, attachin' t' recovery harnesses and headin' off t' a launch site. All in all, I am very pleased with t' way t' Elipse turned out. Begad! It's a better bargain than most comparable kits price-wise, is constructed with excellent components and certain t' last a long time. Well, blow me down! As pleased as I am with t' phenolic version, I can only imagine how great t' fiberglass version is. Ahoy! I guess thar be only one way t' find out!

Flight

T' rocket RIPPED on a CTI J335 Red Lightning, arrr, ya bilge rat, me bucko, headin' way t' heck into t' sky a couple o' weeks ago at t' NEFAR launch in Bunnell, ya bilge rat, matey, FL. Begad! Blimey! My ARTS data went haywire when it landed, arrr, so I didn't get a good altitude. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! But it sure looked good goin' up, on that pretty red flame. Aye aye! Blimey! It's a great rocket, me hearties, and one that will get more o' me abuse.