Brief:
AT Cheetah stretched by 34" includin' 9" payload section. Motor tube extended t' handle 11" motors and screw-on positive motor retention.

Modifications:
This is a fairly straight forward extension o' t' AT Cheetah, me bucko, me bucko, with extra care taken t' strengthen t' motor section t' handle single use motors up t' 11" long, particularly me favorite: t' Ellis Mountain H50. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! I used JB Weld epoxy for any components exposed t' motor heat, matey, me hearties, and Devcon 5 minute epoxy everywhere else.

A 34" length o' 1.88" tube (BMS # T-188-34) was cut off at 9" t' provide body extension and payload section. Both 1.88" couplers are marked around their midpoint. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! One is glued t' t' mark into t' provided Cheetah body tube, arrr, and t' 25" extension glued onto that. Avast! Fold t' AT elastic shock cord double into a loop and tie a knot in t' ends. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! Run one end o' t' loop through t' payload section screw eye, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and run t' other end o' t' long loop through t' part stuck through t' eye and pull it tight. T' screw eye is fitted through t' bulkhead and glued t' t' other 1.88" coupler (eye/shock cord t' t' inside o' coupler). Well, blow me down! This coupler is then glued bulkhead first into t' 9" tube up t' t' mark.

Slide onto AT provided 12" motor tube (in order) one centerin' ring, both Fin-Lock assemblies, shiver me timbers, second centerin' ring. Avast! T' AT motor hook is nay used. Begad! Blimey! Place "C" clip into PVC bushin' cap and screw onto threaded fitting. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! Place this onto end o' AT motor tube, matey, matey, pushed up until t' clip stops at t' motor tube, matey, and mark t' tube at t' cut end o' t' fitting. Arrr! Remove t' PVC parts, arrr, spread glue on t' marked end o' t' tube up t' t' mark, and push t' fittin' back on over t' glue until it stops. Arrr! Blimey! If t' fittin' is loose on t' tube, place strips o' tape on t' tube t' make t' fit tighter but do nay entirely cover t' end o' t' tube--there must be bare motor tube exposed t' bond t' t' epoxy. Arrr! Blimey! Do nay place glue on t' inside o' t' PVC fitting. Begad! Begad! Blimey! It will get pushed into t' cap and glue t' retainer together. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Take care no glue gets on t' removable parts or t' threads. Push t' aft centerin' rin' down against t' PVC fitting, usin' t' glue pushed out by fittin' on t' threaded section t' form a fillet. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! Set aside t' dry.

Construct t' upper motor tube section usin' t' 8" piece o' 29mm motor tube, shiver me timbers, t' AT baffle and coolin' mesh, accordin' t' t' kit instructions. Well, blow me down! Attach t' recovery section screw eye t' t' baffle and tie t' tubular nylon t' it.

Test fit t' 2" long 29mm coupler into t' lower motor section. Place it so that thar be 11" t' 11 1/8" o' space betwixt t' coupler and t' retainer "C" clip. Well, blow me down! Mark t' coupler and remove it. Blimey! Blimey! Cover t' aft half o' t' coupler up t' t' mark with epoxy and slide it into t' lower motor tube only up t' t' mark. Smooth t' glue that got pushed up by t' tube onto t' upper half o' t' coupler. Aye aye! Slide t' upper motor tube down onto t' coupler until t' two motor sections meet. Begad! Make sure you do nay push t' coupler down into t' lower motor section. This can be done by holdin' t' lower section tightly with a pair o' pliers on t' top 1" (over t' coupler) while twistin' t' upper section onto t' coupler. Arrr! Cut t' BT-55 coupler down t' side. Spread t' excess glue from joinin' t' tubes down 1" onto t' aft motor section and up several inches onto t' forward motor section. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Add more glue if necessary. Pry open t' BT-55 coupler and place it over t' motor tube, 1" onto t' aft motor section and t' remainder on t' upper section. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! This will strengthen t' motor section joint as well as t' upper part o' t' tube which will be subjected t' hot ejection gasses. Arrr! Hold t' coupler tight over t' motor tube with tape or rubber bands while it dries. Arrr! You can remove t' bushin' cap and "C" clip t' make sure no glue seeps into it.

Once t' motor tube assembly is dry, test fit it into t' aft end o' t' body. Well, blow me down! Adjust t' Fin-Locks t' their proper placement inline with each other and directly under t' ends o' t' fin slots. Arrr! Once in place, remove t' motor section and test fit t' fins into t' Fin-Locks. Begad! Once you're sure they fit, replace t' motor tube into t' body and test fit t' fins through t' slots.

Once you're certain all t' placement is right, matey, shiver me timbers, remove t' fins carefully and extract t' motor tube. Ahoy! Place a drop o' CyA at t' Fin-Lock ring/motor tube joint so they don't shift. Place a generous fillet o' epoxy on both side o' both Fin-Lock rings and t' motor tube. Well, blow me down! Do NOT get this in t' Fin-Lock channels. Avast, me proud beauty! Wipe some o' t' epoxy up over t' rings t' form "bridges" o' epoxy from t' motor tube, over t' rings betwixt t' fin channels, matey, down t' t' tube on t' other side o' t' ring. Begad! Slide t' upper centerin' rin' down t' t' forward Fin-Lock and add a fillet t' t' forward side o' t' forward centerin' ring.

When t' motor section is completely dry, me hearties, shiver me timbers, place epoxy inside t' body tube where t' forward centerin' rin' will sit, me hearties, me hearties, takin' care t' keep t' tubular nylon from gettin' epoxy on it. Ahoy! Begad! Push t' motor section into t' body all but 1". Wipe epoxy on t' forward side o' t' aft centerin' ring, shiver me timbers, sufficient t' drip off once placed inside and bond t' t' body. Aye aye! Slide t' motor section t' rest o' t' way into t' body, alignin' t' Fin-Locks directly under t' slots. Blimey! Wipe epoxy t' entire length o' t' bottom edge o' t' fin tab. This will bond into t' Fin-Lock channels, t' t' motor tube, shiver me timbers, and will squeeze out a little while insertin' which can be smoothed over t' fin/body joint as a fillet. Aye aye! Fit t' fins and set aside t' dry.

Tie a small loop in t' upper end o' t' tubular nylon. Aye aye! Stick a few inches o' t' elastic loop through t' nylon loop. Arrr! Push t' payload section through t' protrudin' elastic loop and pull tight until t' elastic tightens a double loop on t' nylon. Avast! Fit t' nose cone on t' payload section and t' payload section onto t' body, me bucko, usin' maskin' tape as necessary for a good fit. Begad! If removed, me hearties, replace t' cap on t' motor retainer. Avast, me proud beauty! Add t' lugs, me bucko, or use buttons if you prefer. Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! You are now ready for finishing.

Construction:
You need t' followin' items:

• 1 AT Cheetah kit
• 1 34" length 1.88" diameter body tube
• 2 1.88" tube couplers
• 1 1.88" bulkhead
• 8" o' 29mm motor tube
• 1 BT-55 coupler
• 2" 29mm coupler stock
• 1/8" wood screw thread screw eye
• 8' o' 9/16" tubular nylon shock cord
• 1/2" t' 3/4" o' male threaded PVC cut from 1 1/4" pipe fittin' such as pipe nipple
• 1 1.25" PVC bushin' cap
• 1 1" C-clip

AeroTech recommends only CA glue and that works for most o' t' build. Avast, me proud beauty! Fittin' t' motor section into t' body requires a bit more flexibility and epoxy gives that. Also, repeated exposure o' both CyA and regular epoxy t' motor heat can weaken it. Aye aye! Thus, I recommend JB Weld for any application where heat will affect t' part.

Finishing:

Finishin' is up t' t' individual but I favor appliance epoxy paint. Well, blow me down! Arrr! It's an incredibly tough, matey, thick, gives a smooth finish, and requires (in fact suggests) no primer t' be used. Well, blow me down! It takes a color coat well, shiver me timbers, however, anythin' added t' an appliance epoxy paint (includin' a second coat o' t' same paint) must be added within 30 minutes or else t' surface will wrinkle. As shown in t' picture, I had a bit o' fun with t' included "Cheetah" decal.

Flight:
T' motor retainer is simple t' use: unscrew it, matey, place t' motor into t' tube, and screw it on. Aye aye! I tend t' lose t' "C" clips, shiver me timbers, so I buy extras regularly, me hearties, me hearties, and I tack them t' t' inside o' t' bushin' cap with a drop o' CyA.

This motor section will fit any 29mm motor up t' 11" length. For anythin' shorter you'll need a spacer. Blimey! I bought a full length piece o' 29mm coupler stock and cut pieces off t' t' proper lengths for t' common motors sizes. I keep t' rest around t' cut as necessary for other motors. Aye aye! Avast! 29mm coupler stock will also serve as an adequate 29/24mm adapter. I cut two 11" sections and glued thrust rings/engine blocks inside them at 3.75" (F21) and 4.8" (F32/F72) lengths. Begad! It requires several wraps o' tape t' get a good gas tight seal, but tabs on t' "C" clip are large enough t' retain a 24mm motor with a diameter-only adapter.

Maiden flight be on an Aerotech G110-10. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Perfectly straight boost, ya bilge rat, with no weathercockin' or corkscrewing. Ejection be exactly at apogee, just as predicted. Aye aye! Arrr! Blimey! Came down fast due t' a tangled chute, glidin' tail first back and forth across t' field. Just before landin' it glided almost horizontal, which brought it down slowly, but fast across t' ground. Blimey! Blimey! One fin dug into t' mud as it cruised in, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and broke off. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Blimey! Found t' fin, me bucko, and it be a clean break, easily repaired.

Recovery:
Suggested recovery connection is t' tie a loop in t' doubled elastic loop midway betwixt t' payload section and t' end o' t' tubular nylon, and attach a chute with swivel at that point with a quick link. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! You will also need a heavier chute since this rocket is double t' weight o' t' stock kit. Blimey! Blimey! I favor t' 24" Top Flight X-form chute. Avast! Blimey! Due t' t' recessed fins and t' extra (replaceable) protection o' t' PVC bushin' cap, ya bilge rat, faster descent rates are OK.

Summary:
Do nay try t' use less than an 8" extension on t' motor tube. Ahoy! T' coolin' mesh needs t' be stretched t' 6" length t' work well. Arrr! Long is better for this reason, me hearties, as well as for reducin' t' volume o' t' upper body tube so t' ejection charge doesn't fail t' pressurize it well enough.

Do nay fit t' motors too tightly. Arrr! Due t' t' retainer you'll only have t' nozzle t' grab with pliers t' extract them. With positive forward and aft retention you only need enough tape t' prevent ejection gas blow-by. Ya scallywag! That is frequently no tape at all, ya bilge rat, me bucko, especially with Econojet motors with their paper label. Avast! These may even require peelin' off (this is due t' AT's motor tube and labels but nothin' t' do with t' retainer).

Be aware that modifications may void your kit warranty.