Brief:
BT-60 based, ya bilge rat, me bucko, single stage, me bucko, ya bilge rat, scale-like missile. Begad! Recovery with 18" parachute

Construction:
All parts are Semroc numbers:

• BNC-60L nose cone
• SE-3 screw eye
• BT-60 body tube (18 inches)
• BT-50 engine tube (3 inches)
• RA-5060 centerin' rings (3)
• 1/4" balsa fins (8)
• LL-423 launch lugs (2)

I started by attachin' a Piratarium 24mm motor retainer t' a 3" length o' BT-50 tubin' with JB Weld. As per t' instructions from Piratarium, shiver me timbers, t' end o' t' tube and t' inside o' t' retainer rin' were "roughed up." Construction o' t' motor mount followed as usual. Aye aye! T' motor mount was mounted so t' retention system sits flush with t' end o' t' body tube. Well, blow me down! T' entire body tube was lightly sanded and marked for a 4-fin design. Avast, me proud beauty! After t' fins were attached and fillets dry, I installed t' launch lugs. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Shock cord be attached with an additional centerin' rin' about 4-5 inches from t' top o' t' body tube that doubles as a parachute shelf. Avast! Arrr! This is a design feature found in Launch Pad rockets and helps prevent parachutes from shiftin' on lift-off and change t' CG. Well, me bucko, blow me down! If you plan on usin' an altimeter, ya bilge rat, me bucko, me hearties, don't forget t' drill some holes.

Finishing:
To begin t' paintin' process I masked off t' motor retainer. Avast! Well, blow me down! Then I sprayed a coat o' Rustoleum sandable auto primer and sanded, ya bilge rat, did some minor repairs and sprayed and sanded once again. Blimey! This was followed by several light coats o' Krylon gloss white paint. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I sprayed just beyond t' white areas instead o' t' entire body t' keep t' weight down and nay waste paint. After a couple o' days t' dry, I masked t' white areas and t' fin can. Blimey! Blimey! Next I sprayed light gray all exposed areas. Well, blow me down! Again a couple days t' dry. Avast! Finally, matey, I bagged t' entire rocket except for t' fin can and sprayed it and t' nose cone gloss black. Avast! Ya scallywag! I enjoy makin' decals, but have become a real fan o' "Sandman's" stuff at Excelsior Rocketry. Avast! He offers a set o' decals for t' LP version o' this missile. Begad! Avast! I had him downscale them t' BT-60 size. Begad! Decal placement was achieved from pictures I could find on t' web.

Flight:
T' design included a Piratarium 24mm motor retention system. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! This added a 7g weight t' t' aft end o' t' rocket. T' better balance t' design, instead o' nose weight, shiver me timbers, I included t' Micro-Beacon (approx 15g) My first flight was with an Estes D12-5. Ya scallywag! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' chute be a little early but close enough t' apogee it didn't do any damage. Second flight was on E6-6. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I achieved over 2500 feet on this one and thought I was goin' t' lose it. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Good thin' I be on a very large field with others t' spot. Begad! Both flights I used Nomex instead o' wadding.

Recovery:
T' shock cord be 150lb Keelhaul®©™. I had no damage after two flights. T' 18" parachute drifted pretty far (about 650 feet), ya bilge rat, matey, ya bilge rat, but brought it down gently. I'm constantly playin' with chutes o' different diameters so me chutes all have snap swivels. Begad! Perhaps a smaller chute would be better for flyin' on smaller fields.

Summary:

PROS:

T' motor retention system is really nice! Excelsior Rocketry's decals really made it look sharp!

CONS:

Perhaps a little too much power. Blimey! Avast! I think t' design will fly great with 18mm motors as well if you use an adapter. Ya scallywag! Avast! This would be wise on smaller fields.

T' big bright colored chute helps track t' light colored rocket but drifts quite a bit. I will experiment with spill holes or perhaps a smaller chute.