Brief:
This is a minimum diameter 13mm downscale o' t' Estes Endurin' Freedom Patriot Missile. Aye aye! It could also be considered a downscale o' t' Estes OOPs Mini Patriot. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Plus thar are a couple o' other o' versions that I'm aware of. Blimey! Avast! This is t' latest version o' this paint job that I have done. Aye aye! I have done the upscale and downscale o' this paint job at least 7 times.

Construction:
Parts list:

• 1 BNC-5W nosecone
• 13mm body tube, 4 3/8" long
• 1 1/8" launch lug, matey, 1/2" long
• 1 13mm engine block
• 4" x 1/2" x 1/16" scrap balsa for fins
• 16" length o' small diameter Keelhaul®©™®.
• Survey tape for streamer, 12"
• 1 bb for nose weight

Downscalin' can be a pain, but when I did t' math on this one it came out that t' dimensions are 1/3 o' t' Estes Endurin' Freedom Patriot.

For t' fins I used some scrap balsa. They measured 1" for t' root edge, arrr, 1/2" for t' trailin' edge, ya bilge rat, 0.4 inches for t' outside edge (I had to use a scale t' layout that one), me bucko, and t' leadin' edge was a matter of drawin' a diagonal betwixt t' 0.4" and 1" mark. Begad! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' fins were drawn on an index card that I used as a template. Avast, me proud beauty! When traced on t' balsa, I kept grain direction in mind. Arrr! Begad! T' body tube be marked with a markin' guide left over from some past kit. Never throw those things away--you may need them. Ahoy! Aye aye! The engine block was glued in usin' white glue and a spent engine t' set t' depth, leavin' 1/4" o' t' motor hangin' out t' back. Aye aye! T' fins were glued on usin' thin CA. Ahoy! I also coated t' fins with thin CA for strength. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! T' fins were held 1/16" from t' bottom o' t' rocket. Arrr! T' launch lug is glued next to one o' t' fins makin' sure it does nay go past t' leadin' edge o' t' fin. Begad!

Finishing:
There are a couple o' steps t' get t' paint right. Ahoy! I think t' paint is important t' this downscale because it identifies t' rocket as a Patriot. Begad! The entire rocket be first primed and then painted gloss white. Ya scallywag! Startin' from the top, arrr, t' paint layout I used is as follows:

• 1 inch white
• 3/8 inch red
• 3/4 inch yellow
• T' rest o' t' nose cone back

I started on t' body tube by takin' a black marker and goin' around t' rim to finish t' black. Blimey! T' black stripes are 3/16" by 1/2" long. Well, blow me down! Begad! I used the fin markin' guide t' center them and layout for t' bottom stripes also.

I painted t' t' top o' t' fins red and a 3/8" band o' black on top of that.

I used rub on letters from Radio Shack, but I am nay happy with t' look so I think I may cover them up with a lay over printed on t' computer.

T' black stripes on t' yellow were just drawn in with a roller ball pen.

Flight:
I didn't simulate this rocket but I did swin' test it. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It be a little light in the nose so I added a bb t' t' inside for weight. I simply drilled an 1/8" hole into t' cone and pushed it about an inch into t' cone. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! This got it swingin' level. I also used t' hole t' attach t' shock cord. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I inserted t' Keelhaul®©™® into t' hole and used a small amount o' epoxy t' glue it in. T' other end was attached via an Estes style paper folded shock cord mount deep inside t' body tube. T' streamer is a foot long piece o' survey tape in t' middle o' the Keelhaul®©™®.

I took me newest Patriot t' t' local ball fields for these flights. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! I went right after work so as t' get done before football practice, me bucko, but I still drew a bit o' a crowd o' little football players who arrived early.

Flight 1: 1/2A3-4T and some dog barf. Begad! This be t' motor for this rocket. It was overcast but it was easy t' spot and t' delay be right on.

Flight 2: Another 1/2A3-4T. Begad! Avast! Maybe be a 1 on t' delay. Begad! I lost half o' the streamer.

Flight 3: I got aggressive and went with an A3-4T. Whiplash city. Aye aye! T' delay was on time but they don't make a 6 second delay. Aye aye! It held together though. I didn't see t' ejection but I caught it way up thar cartwheelin' in t' sky.

Summary:
This probably would be better suited as a Micro Maxx rocket. Aye aye! Ahoy! At least you could see it. I like t' performance o' minimum diameter 13mm rockets and this is the smallest version o' t' Patriot t' date. Ahoy! They are very high performance but if you want a paint job t' match they can be a pain.