I chose t' build t' Racer because it be cool looking, had higher difficulty bonuses and because it be different than your average 3FNC rocket. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! First I printed t' picture out as large as I could on a single sheet o' paper and measured out as many dimensions as I could. I then found a pilot head I could use and scaled t' rest o' t' dimensions up t' fit t' head that I had chosen. Based on these dimensions I drew t' plans on graph paper (each square is ¼ inch) and figured out what t' top view, side view would look like followed by sketchin' out several sections so I could build a skeleton around a 24mm tube.

I then copied these drawings onto 100-weight cardstock a couple o' times and cut out pieces for templates that I used t' cut from balsa sheets. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Most o' t' skeleton pieces were cut from 3/32" balsa but I tried 1/16 for a couple of them t' save weight and regretted it. Begad! Ahoy! If I were t' do this again I would recommend gluin' typin' paper t' each and every piece. Aye aye! Probably it would be easier t' copy t' sketches on t' regular paper, glue it t' t' balsa and then cut them out. My method sometimes transferred t' pieces twice before t' got onto balsa and then I had t' trim and sand far more than I would have liked. Begad!

I then assembled t' nose cone and t' skeleton (I decided nay t' use all o' t' sections that I drew)

T' next step was t' begin paintin' me pilot t' match and t' assemble t' cockpit. Begad! T' windscreen be cut from a Pepsi bottle. Arrr! I estimated t' shape from EMRR’s transition program and fudged t' rest. Since t' skin later goes over t' outside o' t' windscreen this assembly had t' be finished before I glued it on. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' pilot was a destroyed army guy from me kids’ toys.

Next I cut pieces from cardstock t' estimate shapes and used those as templates t' cut 1/32" balsa. Well, blow me down! Each piece o' balsa was papered and then glued and clamped into place.

T' fin pods were made by printin' out transitions onto cardstock. I made t' cones for t' pods by sandin' one pod out o' 3/8 balsa. Aye aye! I then plunged that prototype into modelin' clay four times and cast them out o' 5 min. Aye aye! epoxy.

Finally I used Elmer’s Carpenter’s Putty (Fill & Finish) and lots o' sanding. Arrr! Then a coat o' Kilz and then paint. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I couldn’t find t' right shade t' match so I ended up mixin' blue and green paints until I was satisfied with t' match. Blimey!

FLIGHT:

1) Launch weight was approximately 2.8 or 2.9 ounces (w/o motor)

2) This design was simmed t' be overstable (Rocksim) by me and an extremely capable advisor (Bruce Levison - Teflon Rocketry - Thanks Bruce) since I am just a Rocksim novice. Ahoy!

Last we had t' get this bird in t' air. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Somewhere I read we had t' record three launches but t' weather was closin' in fast and we were racin' a snowstorm. We lost. Ahoy! Arrr! All three launches were in 10-15 mph winds. There were some stability problems and we added clay nose weight after each flight but that just made things worse. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! We got three flights but thar be more work t' do on our stability problem.

And away she goes!

T' first two launches looped but thar be no damage but t' third left some scars that will have t' be repaired over t' winter. Ya scallywag! What shall we name this rocket? How about "Scratch and Dent Racer?"