First off thank you for t' humongous box of parts. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' only thin' was/is that with that many parts t' use, matey, shiver me timbers, I would still be building. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I just used me inspiration and picked t' best parts that would build a rocket that could fly on a single use AeroTech F or G motor.

I ended up selectin' (naturally) t' strongest "huskiest" tubes. Blimey! Begad! I be intrigued that I had been given so many (6) different nose cones that fit me "D"motor size body tubes. Avast, me proud beauty! I used t' slightly larger tube (too big for a 29mm motor) for t' core body tube. Aye aye!

I stacked t' size tubes around t' core in ascendin' length, arrr, ya bilge rat, glued all with Superglue. Begad! Blimey! And built a payload nosecone section out o' extra core tubing.

Notice in this photo that a 29mm motor would be too loose in t' core tube, arrr, ya bilge rat, me hearties, so I took a couple o' core tube scraps and cut them down t' middle vertically with a pair o' scissors. Ahoy! Then I glued them (5 minute epoxy) into t' tail end of t' core tube. Aye aye! This in effect built a real cheap motor mount. Blimey! Avast! I will friction fit t' AeroTech motor at t' field.

For t' recovery "harness" I doubled up t' cheapo elastic shock cord, arrr, shiver me timbers, and knotted it every 2 inches. This made a surprisingly stronger shock cord. I mounted t' shock cord t' t' core tube by usin' an old (very old) Estes method by slittin' t' body tube near t' top (but below t' nose section coupler) and snaked t' elastic in and out in a very simple weave.

A very quick paint job on t' body tube section with some Rustoleum Lime green. Begad! And I paint only some o' t' nose cones and transitional nose cones. Arrr! Blimey! T' keep that "kit bashed" appearance. Ya scallywag! Begad!

Notice that I constructed only 3 fins (prepainted them black) from t' lightweight balsa, ya bilge rat, but I enhanced their strength by gluin' (5-minute epoxy) 2 sheets together with t' wood grains at a 90-degree angle t' each other. Blimey! Ya scallywag!

My flights o' t' "Box O' Parts Contest" rocket took place on Sunday May 18th, 2008. Ya scallywag! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! This be at Tripoli Central Cal's "Ninth annual Dairy Air" In Helm Ca. (near Fresno). I could only make it t' one day o' this launch due t' work commitments. Well, blow me down! So I had t' make both flights back t' back with t' conditions bein' very hot at 105 degrees.

I chucked t' intended motor I had brought as too wimpy and bought 2 AeroTech single use F-25 motors, shiver me timbers, with 4 and 7-second delays, respectively, from a real great vendor. Aye aye! Avast! WHAT'S UP HOBBIES?

Yikes, due t' camera trouble (low batteries) I HAVE NO LAUNCH PHOTO, shiver me timbers, sorry. Avast, me proud beauty!

At t' field I found that me launch lug set up was too small for t' high-powered rods. Blimey! So I took a low powered rail and stuck it in t' dirt by t' HP pads. Ya scallywag! It worked ok. With t' rod passin' through t' lug and a single outer tube that I had left vacant (no nose cone). This single empty tube enhanced stability due t' cockeyed arraignment of the three fins. Ya scallywag!

T' LCO announces this as an Essence Box o' Parts contest rocket. Ahoy! Then mentions that it's Paul Lane's rocket so heads up. Begad! Boy it's nice t' have a legend. Blimey! Begad!

5,4,3,2,1 blastoff. Ya scallywag! It was quick t' leave t' pad on t' shorty launch rod. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It flew really well (surprise!). Avast! Avast! The motor I picked (F-25-4) was perfect and deployment be optimal. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I would guess it flew t' about 1500 feet. Well, blow me down! Recovery was by multi plastic streamers, matey, since NO PARACHUTE be included in t' Box O' Parts. Ahoy! T' recovery was nominal, shiver me timbers, with no fin breakage. Avast, me proud beauty!

I smartly prepared it for a second flight usin' t' AeroTech F-25-7. Blimey! Avast! Another tremendous flight, very straight. Well, blow me down! I would say t' 1800 feet this time. Recovery was only so so, shiver me timbers, with 2 out o' 3 fins snappin' off. Avast, me proud beauty! All is reparable though. And I have included some post flight photos

So overall this be a successful project. Begad! I will donate t' unused parts t' me NARRRRR section; they will probably use them for an outreach o' some kind. Avast!

WHAT A FABULOUS AND FUN CONTEST AND IT WAS GREAT PARTICIPATING. Ahoy! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR FOR THE BOX O' PARTS ROUND 2 CONTEST. Blimey! Ahoy!