Brief:
With t' extension t' t' deadline for t' 2009 design this spaceship competition, I thought I'd have a go at another one o' t' spaceships, me hearties, me bucko, ya bilge rat, this time I went for t' simplest o' t' six. Well, blow me down! 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, arrr, ya bilge rat, matey, I opted for a talcum powder bottle. Other items used were

• 1x launch lug,
• 1x parachute, arrr, arrr, 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, 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. Avast! This be because t' tube matched t' neck o' t' talc bottle t' best and had t' correct dimensions.

Motor Mount Assembly

This be from an old Estes EH –2055 kit. T' coupler was discarded, arrr, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and then t' kit be built in t' normal fashion. Begad! 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. Begad! T' bottom o' t' bottle had a hole cut out usin' a solderin' iron t' take t' aft o' t' BT55. Ya scallywag! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' motor mount was glued into t' body tube, me hearties, shiver me timbers, t' body tube was then sanded t' remove t' gasoline finish and then t' body tube was glued into t' bottle, leavin' 2.6 inches o' t' body tube stickin' out o' t' talc bottle. Avast! Fillets o' white glue were added. Avast! Ahoy! A shroud o' card was then added t' give t' correct profile.

Nose Cone Assembly

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

Fin Assembly

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

Side fins were then cut and added, again fillets o' white glue were added.

T' two side tunnels were made out o' balsa, arrr, 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. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' knicker elastic was then attached t' the nose cone. Well, blow me down! A swivel be then added t' t' elastic shock cord one foot from t' nose cone. Begad! At t' same time that I was makin' this rocket, I was also makin' some rip stop nylon parachutes from some military grade parachute material, tin eyelet and Keelhaul®©™® thread, these were for a bigger project, but I thought I'd make a “nice” parachute for this rocket. Begad! In the end, I went for a 15 inch parachute.

Detailing

Runnin' out o' time, matey, t' detailin' added was minimal.

Finishing:

T' rocket was primed and then spray-painted window grey. Well, blow me down!

Line markin' were added with pen. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! 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, every thin' okay.

First flight:

T' parachute was packed.

Wind conditions were still with t' occasional breeze.

A standard Estes 3mm rod be used.

An B6-2 was used.

T' flight was straight and true, ya bilge rat, but underpowered and low

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

Flight two:

Now with a C6-3, flight was much higher than before, matey, and straight. Ejection at apogee, matey, no damage

Flight three:

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

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