Brief:
This is me submission for t' 2008 EMRR Challenge #6 - Downscale "Real" Rocket. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! I have all ways liked the look o' t' AIM-54A Phoenix guided missile. Well, blow me down! 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. Aye aye! Blimey! This "baby" Phoenix is a high flier set up for 24mm motors. Avast! Blimey!

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, shiver me timbers, t' assembly was pretty basic. Aye aye!

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

Fins Construction: Next, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, 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. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Then, mount t' bottom most fins and then mount t' top fins 0.350" above t' top o' t' bottom fins. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Next, shiver me timbers, arrr, add generous epoxy fillets t' all the fins. Avast! This may deviate from t' real rocket, me bucko, me hearties, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey!

After runnin' a number o' scenarios, me bucko, I settled on addin' an ounce o' nose weight. 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. Arrr! Now, ya bilge rat, tie t' other 180# Keelhaul®©™® cord into a loop and epoxy t' t' bottom o' hole you just drilled for t' nose weight. Ya scallywag! When t' epoxy has setup, glue the nose weight into t' nose cone.

Finally, ya bilge rat, matey, attach t' 2 Keelhaul®©™® pieces (one from t' nose cone and t' other from t' body tube) usin' t' 24 inch 400# Keelhaul®©™® cord. Ahoy! 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, ya bilge rat, t' buildin' time is pretty quick and t' finishin' is what takes t' time and patience. Ahoy! I filled t' fins with thinned Elmer's Wood Filler and sanded, repeatin' this a couple times until t' fins were smooth. I primed it and painted it with gloss white. Ya scallywag! Once t' white was dry, I painted t' silver rin' at t' base of t' nose cone. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty!

I scanned t' decals from t' Estes kit. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! I reduced them accordingly and printed onto "Expert-Choice" clear waterslide decal material. Begad! After applyin' t' decals, matey, 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". Well, blow me down! I used an 18" parachute and t' big debate be what engine t' use, C11 or D12? It was a little breezy (10 mph) and I was worried about recovery. Begad! T' launch field be surrounded by trees and neighborhoods. Begad! I choose t' go conservative and use a C11-5.

With t' rod angled into t' wind, t' rocket left faster than I expected and as predicted it flew very high. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! The parachute ejected and opened nicely, arrr, and t' wind took it from there. Begad! Blimey! T' rocket landed a very long away just t' the left o' a dense forest. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I opted t' only make one flight today but am lookin' forward makin' more when it is nay so windy. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

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