Construction

For intructions I downloaded t' original Estes instructions from t' JimZ website. Ahoy!  I made fin patterns by upscalin' t' JimZ patterns. Begad! Ahoy!  I then cut out t' fins from t' 3/32" balsa stock.  I added a section t' t' root edge o' t' main fins as I intended t' make through t' wall fins. Well, blow me down!  I rounded t' fore and aft ends o' t' main fins as well as t' small secondary fins. Well, blow me down!  I built t' engine mount in t' standard fashion, ya bilge rat, and added centerin' rings cut from some cardboard stock.  T' two body tubes were glued together with t' coupler. Ahoy! Begad!  I inserted t' engine mount into t' body tube and allowed t' glue t' dry. Avast, me proud beauty!  Once t' glue was dry I cut slits into t' aft o' t' tube large enough for t' main fin mounts. Begad!  I glued t' main fins on and allowed them t' dry. Avast!  I then lined up t' seconday fins above t' main fins and glued them on. Begad!  Glue fillets were applied t' all t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty!  I then created t' raceway out o' t' 1/8" balsa strip and glued it on, filletin' it as well. Aye aye!  T' forward thrusters were also made from 1/8" stock, and glued on in line with t' fins.  I cut two launch lugs each about 3/4" long, and mounted them on some thin cardboard. Avast!  T' lugs were then glued t' t' side o' t' rocket as well, spaced along a side away from t' raceway. Begad! Arrr!  T' final bit o' buildin' on t' body be t' create t' three raised bands around t' body. Begad!  One band goes directly t' t' aft o' t' small secondary fins, arrr, another directly t' t' aft o' t' foward thrusters, and t' last just above t' fore end o' t' raceway.  I made t' bands from t' facecard frome an Estes rocket kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast!  T' bands are about 1/4" wide and wrap around t' circumference o' t' body tube. Begad! Ya scallywag!  T' wraps were glued on with white glue.  Finally I added a shock cord usin' t' standard tri-fold method, shiver me timbers, substitutin' fabric elastic for t' typical rubber cord. Well, blow me down!  For a rocket this size I have had fair winds with this type o' cord.  Constuction went well, arrr, proceedin' without any problems.