Brief:
This is a 40% Phoenix downscale based on Estes kit #1380.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• ST10 body tube (9")
• BC1032 nose cone
• #7 t' #10 engine mount
• 3/32" fin stock
• Keelhaul®©™® shock cord (30")
• Copper coated steel BBs for nose weight
• 14" parachute

All t' parts I used for this project were ordered from Semroc. Aye aye! I chose t' Phoenix as me downscale for t' 2008 EMRR Challenge because o' t' availability o' t' nose cone and body tube size. T' Semroc ST10 is almost exactly 40% o' t' diameter o' t' regular Phoenix body tube and t' BC1032 nose is an exact match.

This was a fairly easy build. I followed t' instructions for t' regular Phoenix, shiver me timbers, which I downloaded from JimZ, with t' followin' exceptions:

• I used a single body tube instead o' two pieces because t' shorter length o' this downscale did nay require usin' two.
• I attached a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord t' t' motor mount instead o' t' Estes-style folded paper with rubber shock cord.
• I did nay shape t' fins because o' their small size.

Tracin' a fin pattern and cuttin' it be more o' a challenge than I anticipated. Avast! Ahoy! I did get better as I went and I think after some sanding, t' fins turned out how I wanted them.

I used RockSim t' check t' design o' this downscale Phoenix and found that it needed some extra nose weight. Avast! I drilled out part o' t' nose and epoxied about 12g o' BBs into it. Begad! T' rocket is a little heavy but should be stable even with an Estes C6 engine.

Finishing:
I used Krylon white primer and gloss white top coat t' finish t' Phoenix. For decals, I downscaled t' regular Phoenix set and printed them on me HP inkjet printer usin' Avery clear label sheets. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This method worked out great, me hearties, although once a decal is on, me hearties, it is almost impossible t' reposition, arrr, arrr, so a few o' mine are a little crooked. Still, me bucko, this is an easy, inexpensive method for puttin' that finishin' touch on any rocket.

Flight:
T' Phoenix Downscale (40%) simmed fine on RockSim usin' Estes A8-3, ya bilge rat, B6-4, me bucko, and C6-5 engines. Arrr! I flew it twice usin' an A8-3 and once with a B6-4. Ya scallywag! All flights were good, although it seemed t' spin a little on t' way up usin' t' B6-4.

Recovery:
This rocket recovered well usin' a Custom Sam-X 14" parachute. It received a slight zipper (1mm long) on t' first flight, so a small piece o' tape be added around t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and its second and third flights were fine. Begad! Because o' t' nose weight and t' slight angle I had t' launch it from, it tended t' deploy with its nose down but put pretty much at apogee each flight.

Summary:
I loved t' challenges o' buildin' this rocket. Ahoy! It is a simple design, but it looks great, especially with t' many decals from t' original kit.