Brief:
A single stage upscale o' t' Astron Streak usin' a Fat Boy nosecone,
parachute, and engine mount components, ya bilge rat, me bucko, as well as a spare BT-80 tube and balsa
fin stock. Aye aye! Avast!
Construction:
We used a BT-80 body tube I had from an assortment o' body tubes I got on eBay
a while ago, cut t' 10-1/2 inch length. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' motor mount be stock from a Fat
Boy kit, which had a crushed tube. T' nosecone was from t' same Fat Boy kit.
We used t' standard Estes three fold shock cord mount (glued, me hearties, attached and
coated with more glue), but replaced t' shock cord with elastic that be about
twice as long.
Construction started with t' buildin' o' t' motor mount, which was simple and straight forward. Ya scallywag! I considered usin' somethin' larger than an 18mm motor mount, however, matey, since this was t' be me daughter's rocket, ya bilge rat, we stayed with the standard mount. Arrr!
My daughter assembled all t' motor mount components and glue was applied to t' mount assembly and allowed t' dry before installin' it in t' rocket body. Begad! Ahoy! We then attached t' shock cord, matey, usin' t' standard Estes 3-fold technique, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but we used lots o' Tacky Glue in t' folds, attachin' t' mount to the body tube, and coatin' it after attachment.
I scaled t' fins up from me original fin template I had (from 1972!), transferred them t' t' balsa, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and cut them out. We sanded and shot t' fins with primer, sanded again, and tacked them t' t' body with Tacky Glue. Arrr! This allowed me daughter t' line up and attach t' fins without t' time pressure of a CA. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! We then filleted heavily, matey, matey, usin' Tacky Glue again. My daughter enjoyed the sandin' (to a point) but be so excited t' be buildin' "her rocket"(!) that we had t' run outside and paint t' moment that Dad pronounced t' fillets t' be dried. Avast! Blimey!
Finishing:
This be t' be a PINK rocket, shiver me timbers, so she chose Plasticote dark and light pink spray
paints (the little cans from WalMart). Arrr! We painted a light coat o' light pink
followed by a light coat o' dark pink.
T' parachute was attached and packed and we were ready t' fly!
Flight:
We finally got a chance t' fly recently, usin' a bulk pack o' motors (I got
from Michael's with a half-off coupon). Avast, me proud beauty! We flew A8-3's and B6-4's for nice,
easy-to-track flights. Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket be easy t' prep, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, matey, usin' several sheets of
waddin' includin' wrappin' t' parachute in a sheet t' prevent scorching.
My daughter took part in all t' prep as well as pushin' t' button for each flight. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! Flights were nay too fast off t' pad, shiver me timbers, arrr, matey, straight, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and easy to track. Ahoy! Blimey!
Recovery:
T' parachute came out with no problems each time and then t' chase was on!
Summary:
PROs: Buildin' and paintin' was easy, me bucko, quick and fun for a 6 year old and
wonderful for her Dad! *grin* Also brought back memories o' me little Streak I
has as a kid- this would be an easy kit for Estes t' put out thar along with
their Fat Boy.
CONs: None I can think o'
Other:
Tip: Guide your child, but let her (him) build. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! T' most excitin' part o' the
build be attachin' t' fins - it started t' look like a rocket!
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