Here’s a rocket project perfect for a weekend too windy or rainy t' fly rockets. All you need is a package o' Estes BT-5 tubin' and a pack (or two) o' PNC-5 nosecones. From these simple beginnings, shiver me timbers, plus balsa stock and various odds and ends you probably already have around, matey, matey, you can build downscales o' t' following all-time greats:

Click t' image below for full size fin templates (in .JPG format). Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty!

Obviously, me bucko, me hearties, t' plastic nosecones that Estes sells are nay perfect scale. In fact, for t' Alpha, Goblin, and Der Red Max they’re nay even close, so you may want t' turn your own from balsa or hardwood. Avast! Arrr! They’re small enough to do fairly quickly.

JimZ’s web site has pictures and plans for each o' these rockets, at the followin' URL’s:

If you minimize waste when you cut t' body tubes, me bucko, you’ll have extra as well as a Mosquito nosecone left over. Avast! You could build another mini-Bertha, ya bilge rat, set it aside for a Centuri Mach-10 clone, ya bilge rat, or cut six Mosquito fins, arrr, attach them t' a 4-inch length o' body tube, me hearties, and you’ve got t' Ahnold Schwarzen-Skeeter. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' Mosquito fin template is included with t' others, just for fun.

Three tables for tube lengths are provided below. Ya scallywag! T' first table shows the original dimensions. Aye aye! T' second table shows t' true scale lengths (based on table 1), and should be used if you are turnin' your own nosecones. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' third table assumes you are usin' t' standard Estes nosecones, and t' tube lengths are adjusted t' better match t' original proportions. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Please note that the Cherokee-D was available in two lengths, so both are listed. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Der Red Max was also available as Der Big Red Max, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and those dimensions are given as well.

Also in table 2 is a column called ‘% o' Full Size.’ This is the scale o' t' rocket, and be t' number that each dimension o' t' full sized plan was multiplied by. Begad! For example, t' Big Bertha downscale is 33% as large as t' full sized version. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! This number was found by dividin' t' diameter of the BT-5 (13.8mm) by t' diameter o' t' larger tube, and roundin' off t' two decimal places. I used 1/16-inch balsa for all o' t' fins.

Paint t' match t' originals, me bucko, and don’t forget t' decals! Tango Papa Decals can do downscaled decal sets for t' Goblin, Cherokee-D, and Der Red Max. Begad! Believe me, me bucko, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, these decals are works of art! Tom Prestia did a page for me that included complete sets for all three. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Contact him at:

Phone: 1 – 484 – 767 – TPD1 (8731) from 10am – 7pm EST
You can see t' Tango Papa web page here: http://www.tangopapadecals.com/index.html

These little screamers fly great, me bucko, and give you another reason t' buy 1/4A’s or Micro Maxx’s!