First off thank you for t' humongous box of parts. Begad! Well, matey, blow me down! T' only thin' was/is that with that many parts t' use, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I would still be building. Arrr! I just used me inspiration and picked t' best parts that would build a rocket that could fly on a single use AeroTech F or G motor. Ahoy!

I ended up selectin' (naturally) t' strongest "huskiest" tubes. Avast, me proud beauty! I was intrigued that I had been given so many (6) different nose cones that fit me "D"motor size body tubes. I used t' slightly larger tube (too big for a 29mm motor) for t' core body tube. Well, blow me down!

I stacked t' size tubes around t' core in ascendin' length, glued all with Superglue. Arrr! Blimey! And built a payload nosecone section out o' extra core tubing.

Notice in this photo that a 29mm motor would be too loose in t' core tube, so I took a couple o' core tube scraps and cut them down t' middle vertically with a pair o' scissors. Avast! Begad! Then I glued them (5 minute epoxy) into t' tail end of t' core tube. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! This in effect built a real cheap motor mount. Ya scallywag! I will friction fit t' AeroTech motor at t' field. Avast, me proud beauty!

For t' recovery "harness" I doubled up t' cheapo elastic shock cord, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and knotted it every 2 inches. This made a surprisingly stronger shock cord. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I mounted t' shock cord t' t' core tube by usin' an old (very old) Estes method by slittin' t' body tube near t' top (but below t' nose section coupler) and snaked t' elastic in and out in a very simple weave. Begad! Well, blow me down!

A very quick paint job on t' body tube section with some Rustoleum Lime green. Ya scallywag! And I paint only some o' t' nose cones and transitional nose cones. Aye aye! T' keep that "kit bashed" appearance. Blimey! Well, blow me down!

Notice that I constructed only 3 fins (prepainted them black) from t' lightweight balsa, but I enhanced their strength by gluin' (5-minute epoxy) 2 sheets together with t' wood grains at a 90-degree angle t' each other. Avast!

My flights o' t' "Box O' Parts Contest" rocket took place on Sunday May 18th, ya bilge rat, 2008. Arrr! This be at Tripoli Central Cal's "Ninth annual Dairy Air" In Helm Ca. (near Fresno). Blimey! I could only make it t' one day o' this launch due t' work commitments. Ahoy! So I had t' make both flights back t' back with t' conditions bein' very hot at 105 degrees. Begad!

I chucked t' intended motor I had brought as too wimpy and bought 2 AeroTech single use F-25 motors, me bucko, with 4 and 7-second delays, respectively, from a real great vendor. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! WHAT'S UP HOBBIES?

Yikes, ya bilge rat, due t' camera trouble (low batteries) I HAVE NO LAUNCH PHOTO, me bucko, sorry. Ahoy!

At t' field I found that me launch lug set up was too small for t' high-powered rods. Begad! Blimey! So I took a low powered rail and stuck it in t' dirt by t' HP pads. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! It worked ok. Aye aye! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! With t' rod passin' through t' lug and a single outer tube that I had left vacant (no nose cone). This single empty tube enhanced stability due t' cockeyed arraignment of the three fins.

T' LCO announces this as an Essence Box o' Parts contest rocket. Well, blow me down! Then mentions that it's Paul Lane's rocket so heads up. Boy it's nice t' have a legend.

5,4,3,2,1 blastoff. It be quick t' leave t' pad on t' shorty launch rod. It flew really well (surprise!). Well, blow me down! The motor I picked (F-25-4) was perfect and deployment was optimal. I would guess it flew t' about 1500 feet. Recovery was by multi plastic streamers, since NO PARACHUTE was included in t' Box O' Parts. Aye aye! Arrr! T' recovery was nominal, with no fin breakage. Well, me hearties, blow me down!

I smartly prepared it for a second flight usin' t' AeroTech F-25-7. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Another tremendous flight, ya bilge rat, very straight. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I would say t' 1800 feet this time. Blimey! Blimey! Recovery was only so so, arrr, shiver me timbers, with 2 out o' 3 fins snappin' off. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! All is reparable though. And I have included some post flight photos

So overall this was a successful project. Aye aye! I will donate t' unused parts t' me NARRRRR section; they will probably use them for an outreach o' some kind.

WHAT A FABULOUS AND FUN CONTEST AND IT WAS GREAT PARTICIPATING. Avast! Ahoy! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR FOR THE BOX O' PARTS ROUND 2 CONTEST.