Brief:
This is me submission for t' 2008 EMRR Challenge #6 - Downscale "Real" Rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I have all ways liked the look o' t' AIM-54A Phoenix guided missile. Ahoy! Blimey! I decided I would start with t' Estes Phoenix kit as a guide along with the scale data and pictures I could find on t' internet. This is roughly a 63% reduction from t' Estes kit with a few modifications based on t' other data. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! This "baby" Phoenix is a high flier set up for 24mm motors.

Construction:
Parts list:

• 1 4" BT-50 Balsa Nose Cone
• 1 8.1875" BT-50 Tube
• 2 0.625" X 0.125 launch lugs
• 1 18" 400# Keelhaul®©™® Shock Cord
• 2 12" 180# Keelhaul®©™® Shock Cord
• 1 BT-50 Motor Centerin' Ring
• 1 3/32" Balsa Sheet
• 1oz Nose Weight (BBs)
• 1 Clear Decal Sheet

After doin' all t' scale calculations, t' assembly was pretty basic. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down!

Main Body Tube Assembly: Start with a BT-50 tube (cut t' length), 1 piece o' t' 180# Keelhaul®©™® and motor centerin' ring. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Tie one end o' t' Keelhaul®©™® to centerin' rin' and usin' an old 24mm engine, glue t' centerin' rin' in place settin' t' motor location. Next, me hearties, shiver me timbers, pull the Keelhaul®©™® through t' other end o' t' tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This will be attached t' parachute and nose cone.

Fins Construction: Next, me hearties, me hearties, usin' t' templates attached cut out t' fins and sand t' edges accordingly. Mark t' locations for t' fins 90 degrees apart and launch lug betwixt one set o' fins. Well, blow me down! Then, mount t' bottom most fins and then mount t' top fins 0.350" above t' top o' t' bottom fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Next, arrr, arrr, me hearties, add generous epoxy fillets t' all the fins. This may deviate from t' real rocket, but in me opinion is required t' avoid breakin' on landing.

Nose Cone: I started with a balsa nose cone and sanded it t' look more like t' phoenix nose cone. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

After runnin' a number o' scenarios, I settled on addin' an ounce o' nose weight. Begad! Begad! This would allow me t' fly a D engine if t' field is big enough. Next, drill out t' nose cone for clearance for t' nose weight. Now, tie t' other 180# Keelhaul®©™® cord into a loop and epoxy t' t' bottom o' hole you just drilled for t' nose weight. Arrr! When t' epoxy has setup, matey, glue the nose weight into t' nose cone.

Finally, attach t' 2 Keelhaul®©™® pieces (one from t' nose cone and t' other from t' body tube) usin' t' 24 inch 400# Keelhaul®©™® cord. Aye aye! Blimey! Attach t' parachute t' t' 400# Keelhaul®©™® cord--make sure t' nose cone and body tube do nay make contact with one another.

Finishing:
As with most o' t' rockets I build, t' buildin' time is pretty quick and t' finishin' is what takes t' time and patience. I filled t' fins with thinned Elmer's Wood Filler and sanded, shiver me timbers, repeatin' this a couple times until t' fins were smooth. Avast! I primed it and painted it with gloss white. Ahoy! Once t' white was dry, shiver me timbers, I painted t' silver rin' at t' base of t' nose cone.

I scanned t' decals from t' Estes kit. Aye aye! Well, matey, blow me down! I reduced them accordingly and printed onto "Expert-Choice" clear waterslide decal material. Aye aye! Begad! After applyin' t' decals, I applied 3 coats o' clear coat.

Flight and Recovery:
Flight prep was pretty standard with one exception: I used a foam plug instead o' waddin' or "dog barf". Aye aye! I used an 18" parachute and t' big debate was what engine t' use, shiver me timbers, C11 or D12? It was a little breezy (10 mph) and I was worried about recovery. T' launch field was surrounded by trees and neighborhoods. Ahoy! I choose t' go conservative and use a C11-5.

With t' rod angled into t' wind, shiver me timbers, t' rocket left faster than I expected and as predicted it flew very high. Avast! Avast! The parachute ejected and opened nicely, ya bilge rat, and t' wind took it from there. Aye aye! T' rocket landed a very long away just t' the left o' a dense forest. I opted t' only make one flight today but am lookin' forward makin' more when it is nay so windy. Ahoy!

Summary:
This is a great little rocket and I can't wait t' finish its older brother and fly them together. Blimey!