Brief:
With t' extension t' t' deadline for t' 2009 design this spaceship competition, me bucko, matey, I thought I'd have a go at another one o' t' spaceships, shiver me timbers, matey, this time I went for t' simplest o' t' six. Arrr! Ahoy! It be a very rushed build.

Construction:
T' main body o' t' rocket had t' come from a bottle and after a trawl through cupboards at home, matey, I opted for a talcum powder bottle. Other items used were

• 1x launch lug,
• 1x parachute, shiver me timbers, arrr, me hearties, 15 inch rip stop nylon- hand made
• 1x 3 foot length o' 6 mm knicker elastic
• Snap swivels (optional)
• Engine hook
• Keelhaul®©™® ® thread
• Body tube BT55, arrr, 10.5 inches
• nose cone
• Motor mount and centerin' rin' –EH -2055
• T' build t' rocket I used
• Bostik glue
• White glue
• Sandin' sealer
• Model knife
• Razor saw
• Aluminium oxide sand paper

T' first thin' I did was t' find nose cones from by spares box that matched t' profile o' t' rocket t' best. In t' end chose a nose cone t' fit a BT55 tube. This was because t' tube matched t' neck o' t' talc bottle t' best and had t' correct dimensions.

Motor Mount Assembly

This was from an old Estes EH –2055 kit. Well, blow me down! T' coupler was discarded, and then t' kit was built in t' normal fashion. Blimey! A 2 foot length o' Keelhaul®©™® card be attached t' t' motor mount assembly.

Body Tube Fuselage

T' talc bottle had its top cut off, and neck sanded down t' t' size that snugly fitted a BT 55 tube o' 10.5 inches. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' bottom o' t' bottle had a hole cut out usin' a solderin' iron t' take t' aft o' t' BT55. T' motor mount was glued into t' body tube, t' body tube was then sanded t' remove t' gasoline finish and then t' body tube was glued into t' bottle, shiver me timbers, leavin' 2.6 inches o' t' body tube stickin' out o' t' talc bottle. Fillets o' white glue were added. A shroud o' card be then added t' give t' correct profile.

Nose Cone Assembly

25g o' clay was added t' t' nose cone t' aid stability. Detailin' was added by usin' card t' make t' nose cone front, and plasticine be used t' make t' other detailing, me bucko, arrr, which were then glued into place.

Fin Assembly

I'm nay o' fan o' gluin' different materials together, matey, arrr, and balsa t' smooth plastic was goin' t' present the weakest joint in t' rocket. Arrr! T' counter this I went for a through t' wall design. Avast, me proud beauty! Side slits were made in t' plastic bottle usin' t' solderin' iron. Ahoy! T' fins were then cut, and then glued into place. Begad! Two fillets o' white glue were added t' give a strong joint.

Side fins were then cut and added, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, me hearties, again fillets o' white glue were added.

T' two side tunnels were made out o' balsa, me bucko, sealed and glued into place usin' triangle cut balsa t' add strength to t' join t' t' plastic talc bottle.

Recovery Assembly

One sheet o' reusable Nomex® waddin' were attached t' t' Keelhaul®©™® ® cord and then t' cord was attached t' 3 foot o' knicker elastic. Aye aye! Avast! T' knicker elastic was then attached t' the nose cone. Blimey! A swivel was then added t' t' elastic shock cord one foot from t' nose cone. Blimey! Well, blow me down! At t' same time that I was makin' this rocket, I be also makin' some rip stop nylon parachutes from some military grade parachute material, ya bilge rat, tin eyelet and Keelhaul®©™® thread, these were for a bigger project, arrr, but I thought I'd make a “nice” parachute for this rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! In the end, I went for a 15 inch parachute.

Detailing

Runnin' out o' time, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' detailin' added was minimal.

Finishing:

T' rocket be primed and then spray-painted window grey. Begad!

Line markin' were added with pen. Blimey!

Had no time t' add a clear coat

Flight:
Flight and Recovery.

Before preppin' for flight I did a swin' test t' check for stability, shiver me timbers, every thin' okay.

First flight:

T' parachute be packed.

Wind conditions were still with t' occasional breeze.

A standard Estes 3mm rod be used.

An B6-2 was used.

T' flight be straight and true, but underpowered and low

Ejection was at apogee, parachute deployed and t' rocket landed without damage

Flight two:

Now with a C6-3, me hearties, flight was much higher than before, and straight. Begad! Avast! Ejection at apogee, me bucko, no damage

Flight three:

Again with a C6-3, flight was as before until apogee. Avast! Then t' nose cone failed t' pop off, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' rocket came in hard and fast. Aye aye! Nay botherin' t' repair – retired.

Summary:
I'm nay overly impressed with this rocket. Avast! I rushed t' build and was nay happy with t' finish, on t' plus side, me hearties, I did like t' through t' wall fins