Brief:
This science fiction/fantasy rocket is a "Global Defense System" missile intended t' protect t' Earth from alien attack vessels. My son fell in love with t' decals (a rather irreverent reference t' E.T.), so I downloaded the free plans and built this fairly simple rocket from spare parts in an afternoon.

Construction:

• 24mm nose cone
• BT-50 tubin' 12" length
• 18mm motor mount (2.75")
• (2) 18-24mm centerin' rings
• 13-18mm centerin' rin' (engine block)
• 2 x 36 plastic or Mylar streamer
• 12-18" shock cord (1/8 elastic, though I used 1/4")
• 3/32 balsa or basswood fin stock
• 1/8" launch lug
• Optional-decal sheet (jpeg file can be downloaded from Apogee Ezine archives #76)

There were no instructions for this plan (it's FREE), arrr, ya bilge rat, but if you've built at least a couple skill level 2 kits, you should be able t' figure this one out (RockSim is also available here on EMRR). Aye aye! Aye aye! Blimey! Start by assemblin' t' motor mount, ya bilge rat, centerin' rings, arrr, shiver me timbers, and engine block. Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Install t' motor mount assembly into t' body tube. Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! Cut t' fins (the pattern can be printed out usin' t' full version o' Rocksim, me bucko, or you can get the dimensions usin' t' demo version and sketch them yourself). Ya scallywag! Blimey! There are two sets o' fins on this, shiver me timbers, with t' forward set actually mounted with a flat/square leadin' edge, and angled trailin' edge. Blimey! Blimey! There are (3) forward fins and (4) aft fins, matey, arrr, so mark t' tube carefully and pay close attention t' which lines you're usin' as you tack t' fins t' t' tube.

Install t' streamer, and you're ready for finishing.

Finishing:
After applyin' (2) coats o' primer, I applied a single coat o' white t' the whole rocket. Avast! Begad! I then followed t' paint scheme shown in t' E-zine newsletter, with one gray coat applied t' t' aft end, and a red stripe just forward o' the first fins.

I downloaded t' decals and printed them on an inkjet printer on Avery clear decal sheets. Aye aye! Begad! They looked reasonably good, but are nowhere near as good a finish as water-slide decals. Ya scallywag! T' decal designs, me bucko, are excellent. In addition to basic lettering, me hearties, arrr, you also get an extra-terrestrial face that trims t' fins, and a scrawled "Eat this E.T." towards t' front o' t' rocket. Well, blow me down! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! This "attitude" be very appealin' t' me 12-year-old son, and that alone has placed this at t' top o' his list o' favorite rockets.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
There were no recommendations for motors (the Rocksim file includes simulations o' several Apogee motors no longer available), so usin' Rocksim I decided t' try a B6-4. Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' flight conditions were somewhat windy (10mph). Begad! The rocket weathercocked slightly, ya bilge rat, but nay too badly. Avast, me proud beauty! Ejection was a little bit early, and a 5 or 6 second delay might be better. Blimey! Blimey! Overall, ya bilge rat, me bucko, though, arrr, t' rocket was recovered without any damage, and has flown several times since on C6-5's which suit it very well.

Recovery:
Pros

• Decal design, low cost (free plan)

Cons

• No fin pattern unless you own t' full version o' Rocksim (which I bought after buildin' this kit)

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Very cool appearance, combined with 4-and-3 fin sets make this an interestin' rocket, ya bilge rat, a far cry from t' basic modrocs available in hobby stores.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5