Brief:
BT-60 based, arrr, single stage, shiver me timbers, scale-like missile. Blimey! Recovery with 18" parachute

Construction:
All parts are Semroc numbers:

• BNC-60L nose cone
• SE-3 screw eye
• BT-60 body tube (18 inches)
• BT-50 engine tube (3 inches)
• RA-5060 centerin' rings (3)
• 1/4" balsa fins (8)
• LL-423 launch lugs (2)

I started by attachin' a Piratarium 24mm motor retainer t' a 3" length o' BT-50 tubin' with JB Weld. As per t' instructions from Piratarium, t' end o' t' tube and t' inside o' t' retainer rin' were "roughed up." Construction o' t' motor mount followed as usual. Blimey! T' motor mount was mounted so t' retention system sits flush with t' end o' t' body tube. Ya scallywag! T' entire body tube was lightly sanded and marked for a 4-fin design. Begad! After t' fins were attached and fillets dry, me bucko, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I installed t' launch lugs. Avast! Well, arrr, blow me down! Shock cord was attached with an additional centerin' rin' about 4-5 inches from t' top o' t' body tube that doubles as a parachute shelf. This is a design feature found in Launch Pad rockets and helps prevent parachutes from shiftin' on lift-off and change t' CG. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! If you plan on usin' an altimeter, me hearties, me hearties, don't forget t' drill some holes.

Finishing:
To begin t' paintin' process I masked off t' motor retainer. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Then I sprayed a coat o' Rustoleum sandable auto primer and sanded, did some minor repairs and sprayed and sanded once again. Avast! This be followed by several light coats o' Krylon gloss white paint. I sprayed just beyond t' white areas instead o' t' entire body t' keep t' weight down and nay waste paint. Avast, me proud beauty! After a couple o' days t' dry, I masked t' white areas and t' fin can. Blimey! Next I sprayed light gray all exposed areas. Avast! Well, blow me down! Again a couple days t' dry. Blimey! Finally, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I bagged t' entire rocket except for t' fin can and sprayed it and t' nose cone gloss black. I enjoy makin' decals, shiver me timbers, but have become a real fan o' "Sandman's" stuff at Excelsior Rocketry. He offers a set o' decals for t' LP version o' this missile. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I had him downscale them t' BT-60 size. Decal placement was achieved from pictures I could find on t' web.

Flight:
T' design included a Piratarium 24mm motor retention system. This added a 7g weight t' t' aft end o' t' rocket. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' better balance t' design, arrr, instead o' nose weight, ya bilge rat, matey, I included t' Micro-Beacon (approx 15g) My first flight be with an Estes D12-5. T' chute was a little early but close enough t' apogee it didn't do any damage. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Second flight was on E6-6. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I achieved over 2500 feet on this one and thought I be goin' t' lose it. Good thin' I was on a very large field with others t' spot. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Both flights I used Nomex instead o' wadding.

Recovery:
T' shock cord was 150lb Keelhaul®©™. Begad! I had no damage after two flights. Blimey! T' 18" parachute drifted pretty far (about 650 feet), shiver me timbers, but brought it down gently. Ya scallywag! I'm constantly playin' with chutes o' different diameters so me chutes all have snap swivels. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Perhaps a smaller chute would be better for flyin' on smaller fields.

Summary:

PROS:

T' motor retention system is really nice! Excelsior Rocketry's decals really made it look sharp!

CONS:

Perhaps a little too much power. Aye aye! Avast! I think t' design will fly great with 18mm motors as well if you use an adapter. This would be wise on smaller fields.

T' big bright colored chute helps track t' light colored rocket but drifts quite a bit. Arrr! Blimey! I will experiment with spill holes or perhaps a smaller chute.