Brief:
This is an 18mm engine altitude rocket with "Hillary Duff" graphics, built with me daughter t' interest her in rocketry.

Construction:
T' BT50 based design has elliptical fins for efficiency, shiver me timbers, givin' good altitude for schoolyard launches on smaller engines. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Its light construction gives good parachute duration. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Finally, me bucko, t' hot pink color and Hillary Duff graphics delighted me daughter.

I started by sittin' down with me daughter in front o' t' PC, arrr, with Rocsim running. We selected body tube and fin style. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' velocity is relatively low, so we did nay need TTW construction. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! We started by assemblin' an Estes engine mount, shiver me timbers, rocsimmin' fins and printin' out t' template. Aye aye! Begad! We then cut out t' fins, sandin' on t' airfoil after gang-sandin' them t' identical dimensions on a belt sander.

We used 100 lb Keelhaul®©™® thread fastened t' t' engine mount for parachute retention, me bucko, with a short length o' elastic for give. Avast! Aye aye! T' parachute is attached t' t' stock plastic Estes nose cone with a ball-bearin' fishin' swivel. Begad! Voila - no tangled shroud lines!

For t' graphics, matey, we got photos o' her favorite singer, ya bilge rat, me bucko, Hillary Duff, arrr, arrr, from an online source. Begad! Avast! We printed these onto plain paper with t' printer after appropriately sizin' them for t' fins. Arrr! We got t' name from one o' Ms. duff's songs. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! We used t' same "plain-paper printing" technique t' create the logo and name on t' side.

We used Wal-Mart fluorescent Krylon paint t' get t' hot pink color. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Blimey! We used CA t' attach t' graphics, shiver me timbers, and then clear-coated over t' rocket in several light coats. Blimey! It really shines.

We now call these "girl rockets".

Flight:
We have flown this twice, ya bilge rat, me hearties, once on a B 6-4, and once on an A 8-3. Avast! Both produce ejection that is just about optimal. Arrr! t' rocket is nay overstable, so it doesn't weathercock. T' small engines allow one t' appreciate just how far tis coasts after t' engine ceases boosting. Aye aye! Avast! t' stock 12" parachute takes this a long way in a breeze, but drops t' rocket softly almost onto our heads in calm conditions.

We use crepe paper for wadding, with a fold around t' rolled parachute for protection. Ahoy! this works perfectly. Arrr! No singein' o' chute. Aye aye! T' rocket looks new after two flights, me bucko, ya bilge rat, thanks t' a combination o' correct engines, good chute and little wind.

T' hot pink color makes t' rocket VERY easy t' see against t' sky. Blimey! I believe I'll build several more "girl rockets", me bucko, for just this reason.

Summary:
Pros: GREAT way t' get girls into rocketry. Avast, me proud beauty! Hot pink looks unusual, ya bilge rat, but is VERY practical for findin' rockets.

Cons: Nay for those insecure in their masculinity. Arrr! Blimey! It be t' antithesis of "macho". T' graphics would be better on decals.