Brief:
Based on Estes design, a single stage, me hearties, 18mm motors, me hearties, parachute recovery, scale-like missile. Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction:
Here are t' parts from Semroc:

• BNC-55 nose cone
• SE-2 screw eye
• BT-55 body tubes (2) each 11"
• JT-55C tube coupler
• BT-20 motor tube
• RA-2055 centerin' rings (2)
• EH-28 engine hook
• LL-110 launch lugs (2)
• 15" parachute from TopFlight
• Fins are balsa covered with paper

Very much an Estes build. Quite simple. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! I like t' paper t' fins, me bucko, so that took some time. Surface mounted fins. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I use Titebond II. Aye aye! I didn't get enough glue on t' coupler when puttin' t' two tubes together and they got stuck with a bit o' a gap. Avast! Blimey! That took some time t' fix. Well, blow me down! I installed t' motor mount before I thought about t' shock cord - DUH, so I used a body tube scrap t' make a short coupler and attached t' shock cord by wrappin' around t' coupler and glueing t' t' top o' t' upper body tube. Aye aye! It's almost like Estes, shiver me timbers, matey, ya bilge rat, but I think a little more secure. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! If you look at t' Rocksim file, me bucko, you will see that t' forward fins attach partly over where t' two body tubes join together. Begad! Nay a big deal, arrr, but if you want t' make one o' these, I thought that might help.

Finishing:
For finishin' I did t' usual Rustoleum sandable primer, ya bilge rat, sanded, me hearties, made some repairs, primed again, arrr, sanded again. Ya scallywag! T' nose cone be sealed with Fill n Finish and received t' same treatment as t' rest o' the rocket. Ya scallywag! I did t' nose cone separate from t' rest. Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' paint was as close as I could come t' photos I've seen on the web. Begad! All done with Krylon.

Flight:
I flew on a clear day with very light winds 0-5 mph. Begad! Ahoy! My first motor choice was C6-7. Ahoy! Altitude wasn't great (approx. 350 ft. and t' chute be very late, but no damage. Arrr! Launched again with C6-3. Well, blow me down! Nay much difference in altitude, ya bilge rat, but t' chute ejected much closer t' apogee.

15 inch diameter chute from TopFlight brings it down nice and slow. It landed about 150 feet from t' launch pad. You might want t' go a little smaller, cut a hole, or shorten t' shroud lines if it's windy.

T' best flight was AT D13W-7. Begad! Ya scallywag! Altitude around 1000 ft.

Recovery:
If I built another one, arrr, I would attach t' shock cord at t' motor mount.

Summary:
T' paint came out great on this one, so I decided t' do a little research and found photos. Made some decals that probably aren't too scale, ya bilge rat, but they look good. Aye aye! T' blue stripes were done with tape.

Other:
As far as tips that this build taught me I'd have t' say DON"T FORGET THE SHOCK CORD!