Construction

Construction begins in t' normal way for a Baby Bertha with t' motor mount bein' assembled and installed per Estes instructions. Well, blow me down! T' fins are next and require you t' take one sheet o' pre-cut fins from t' Baby Bertha kit and after removin' them, arrr, use t' fin template from Excelsior Rocketry and mark t' two fins t' cut down. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' other two fins will be left stock and glued at 90 degree angles t' t' edges o' t' two fins that are cut down. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Next I covered all balsa parts with white paper for added strength and a flawless finish. Arrr! Ahoy! T' fins were then glued t' opposite sides o' t' BT after it be marked as per Excelsior's instructions. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! After t' fins are attached you again use one o' Excelsior's templates t' make t' canopy section and attach it. Next was t' most difficult step in t' build and thar are a couple o' different ways t' approach this. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' easiest and most expensive way t' build t' Headers is t' buy 8 additional launch lugs and then sand both ends o' each at an angle as per Excelsiors instructions and then glue them together on a strip o' balsa for mountin' t' t' BT. Arrr! I tried makin' me first set from a plastic straw but couldn't get them t' stay on properly at first. Avast! Blimey! T' other Con: t' that was that when I removed t' tape from t' Headers after paintin' t' body t' paint didn't stick t' t' plastic so I cut them off and re-did them. Tried t' find paper straws around town but no luck. I ended up usin' some scrap paper and me 1/8" launch rod and rollin' me own (cheapest way). Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' launch lug was he last thin' glued on and then t' NC and parachute were attached as per t' Baby Bertha instructions. Begad! Ya scallywag! After that a 1/4 oz. Begad! o' clay was added t' t' NC t' help balance things out.