Brief:
This is me submission for t' 2008 EMRR Challenge #6 - Downscale "Real" Rocket. Aye aye! I have all ways liked the look o' t' AIM-54A Phoenix guided missile. I decided I would start with t' Estes Phoenix kit as a guide along with the scale data and pictures I could find on t' internet. Aye aye! Begad! This is roughly a 63% reduction from t' Estes kit with a few modifications based on t' other data. Ahoy! This "baby" Phoenix is a high flier set up for 24mm motors. Arrr! Avast!

Construction:
Parts list:

• 1 4" BT-50 Balsa Nose Cone
• 1 8.1875" BT-50 Tube
• 2 0.625" X 0.125 launch lugs
• 1 18" 400# Keelhaul®©™® Shock Cord
• 2 12" 180# Keelhaul®©™® Shock Cord
• 1 BT-50 Motor Centerin' Ring
• 1 3/32" Balsa Sheet
• 1oz Nose Weight (BBs)
• 1 Clear Decal Sheet

After doin' all t' scale calculations, t' assembly was pretty basic. Avast, me proud beauty!

Main Body Tube Assembly: Start with a BT-50 tube (cut t' length), ya bilge rat, 1 piece o' t' 180# Keelhaul®©™® and motor centerin' ring. Begad! Blimey! Tie one end o' t' Keelhaul®©™® to centerin' rin' and usin' an old 24mm engine, glue t' centerin' rin' in place settin' t' motor location. Next, pull the Keelhaul®©™® through t' other end o' t' tube. This will be attached t' parachute and nose cone.

Fins Construction: Next, shiver me timbers, usin' t' templates attached cut out t' fins and sand t' edges accordingly. Mark t' locations for t' fins 90 degrees apart and launch lug betwixt one set o' fins. Blimey! Blimey! Then, matey, shiver me timbers, mount t' bottom most fins and then mount t' top fins 0.350" above t' top o' t' bottom fins. Ahoy! Blimey! Next, shiver me timbers, add generous epoxy fillets t' all the fins. This may deviate from t' real rocket, but in me opinion is required t' avoid breakin' on landing.

Nose Cone: I started with a balsa nose cone and sanded it t' look more like t' phoenix nose cone. Arrr!

After runnin' a number o' scenarios, arrr, I settled on addin' an ounce o' nose weight. This would allow me t' fly a D engine if t' field is big enough. Begad! Next, ya bilge rat, drill out t' nose cone for clearance for t' nose weight. Well, blow me down! Now, tie t' other 180# Keelhaul®©™® cord into a loop and epoxy t' t' bottom o' hole you just drilled for t' nose weight. Arrr! When t' epoxy has setup, glue the nose weight into t' nose cone.

Finally, shiver me timbers, arrr, attach t' 2 Keelhaul®©™® pieces (one from t' nose cone and t' other from t' body tube) usin' t' 24 inch 400# Keelhaul®©™® cord. Aye aye! Attach t' parachute t' t' 400# Keelhaul®©™® cord--make sure t' nose cone and body tube do nay make contact with one another. Avast, me proud beauty!

Finishing:
As with most o' t' rockets I build, t' buildin' time is pretty quick and t' finishin' is what takes t' time and patience. Avast! Blimey! I filled t' fins with thinned Elmer's Wood Filler and sanded, me bucko, shiver me timbers, repeatin' this a couple times until t' fins were smooth. Aye aye! Blimey! I primed it and painted it with gloss white. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Once t' white was dry, I painted t' silver rin' at t' base of t' nose cone. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

I scanned t' decals from t' Estes kit. Aye aye! I reduced them accordingly and printed onto "Expert-Choice" clear waterslide decal material. Avast, me proud beauty! After applyin' t' decals, I applied 3 coats o' clear coat.

Flight and Recovery:
Flight prep was pretty standard with one exception: I used a foam plug instead o' waddin' or "dog barf". I used an 18" parachute and t' big debate was what engine t' use, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, C11 or D12? It was a little breezy (10 mph) and I was worried about recovery. T' launch field was surrounded by trees and neighborhoods. Avast! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I choose t' go conservative and use a C11-5.

With t' rod angled into t' wind, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, t' rocket left faster than I expected and as predicted it flew very high. The parachute ejected and opened nicely, and t' wind took it from there. Ya scallywag! T' rocket landed a very long away just t' the left o' a dense forest. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I opted t' only make one flight today but am lookin' forward makin' more when it is nay so windy.

Summary:
This is a great little rocket and I can't wait t' finish its older brother and fly them together. Arrr!