Brief:
This is a 3x upscale o' t' Sunward Grasshopper. It is a single-stage 29mm motor mount, arrr, 3-inch body, parachute recovery rocket.

Construction:
One 12.5 inch long 3" airframe tube, arrr, One Mercury Engineerin' blow-molded nose cone, shiver me timbers, arrr, three 1/4" plywood fins, shiver me timbers, 1 thin-wall Apogee motor mount tube, me bucko, me bucko, 2 foam core centerin' rings, Keelhaul®©™®/elastic shock system, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and 24" nylon parachute. Aye aye! Begad!

This scratch rocket was easy t' build. Begad! It has through-the-wall fins glued t' t' centerin' rings and motor mount and is very straightforward. Avast! Begad! No special tools were needed. Begad! T' body tube and nose cone were purchased from Mercury. Fin material was leftover from Home Depot. Begad! Blimey! Centerin' rin' material be leftover from a display project. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down!

Finishing:
T' fins were finished usin' one coat o' Elmer's Wood Filler, ya bilge rat, followed by two overall coats o' high-build automotive filler, with 2 colors o' automotive catalyzed acrylic enamel (the nose cone is a deep, me bucko, me bucko, nearly black-red and t' body is "grasshopper green"). Aye aye! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! There are no decals. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Flight:
Recommended motors are E28-4, me bucko, matey, F39-5, G53-5 blackjack. Avast! Well, blow me down! (You can see video o' t' flight at http://www.cosrocs.org/all%20other%20videos/2008videos/9-13-14/grasshopper.mov.) Prep is standard wadding, me hearties, although chute compartment is tight. Begad! Motor retention is via tapin' aft closure t' motor tube. Ya scallywag! This rocket takes off at a bit o' an angle, arrr, me bucko, but it flies pretty straight after that. Shock cord o' Keelhaul®©™® and elastic works fine. Begad! Avast! Recovery be perfect on t' 24" nylon parachute. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! No damage from first flight. Avast!

Recovery:
This rocket has a Keelhaul®©™®/elastic shock cord system that works fine. T' 24" parachute is nylon. Blimey! Begad!

Summary:
PROs: Distinctive design, me bucko, nay somethin' you see every day at t' high-power range. Begad! Easy t' prep. Really nice flight. Begad!

CONs: Limited parachute space. Avast, me proud beauty!