Brief:
This is for t' Box o' Parts contest Well, this rocket for me has had multiple problems, me hearties, ya bilge rat, hence t' “jinx” name. Part o' t' issues be good old procrastination. Arrr! But, ya bilge rat, matey, excessive work schedules (a few weeks where I be averaging 70 hours a week), me hearties, me hearties, stuck tubes, matey, a crashin' computer that lost me files, and crashin' rockets (more about that later) – but it finally flew successfully! T' parts arrived late March. Blimey! Like a kid giddy at Christmas, shiver me timbers, arrr, I opened t' box, and was surprised by t' amount o' stuff!

Construction:
T' parts that I used are listed below:

• 1 – BT80 x 14 ¼” tube
• 1 – BT55 x 13 ½” tube
• 1 – BT50 x 18” tube
• 1 – BT50 x 3 ¼” tube
• 1 – BT20 x 18” tube
• 1 – BT20 x 3” tube
• 1 – BT19 x 3” tube
• 2 – BT5 x 9” tube
• 2 – BT5 x 7 ½” tube
• 1 – BT80 x 4” coupler
• 2 – BT55 x 3” couplers
• 1 – 80K balsa nose cone
• 1 – BT55 x 5 ½” plastic nose cone
• 2 – BT55 x 3” broken plastic nose cones
• 2 – BT20 x 2 ¾” nose cones
• 1 – BT20 x 1” fiber nose cone
• 3 – BT20 ~ BT50 adapters
• 1 – BT50 ~ BT60 adapter
• 1 – plastic cup
• 3 – measure/mix cups
• 2 –large plastic caps
• 5 – small plastic caps
• 1 – BT5 fin can
• 1 – dual display nozzle
• 2 – 12” parachutes
• Misc 1/8” balsa
• Misc 1/16” balsa
• 1 – fin
• 3 - snap swivels
• 2 – engine hooks
• 1/8” launch lug
• 7 – toothpicks
• ¼” dowel
• 2 large skewers
• 3 small skewers
• Paper
• Decals
• Holographic sheet
• Mailin' box

T' first thin' I did was t' weigh t' parts. Ahoy! My goal was t' use as much as possible. Begad! Ya scallywag! Based on t' weight, me hearties, I decided that t' rocket would need a cluster o' 2 D engines t' fly. I also felt t' amount o' balsa wood was a bit skimpy (but as I actually got into t' build, shiver me timbers, it appeared that whenever I needed some wood, thar was still a piece available).

Durin' t' rest o' t' build, you will find me referrin' t' version 1.1 and version 1.2. What should be obvious, I first built version 1.1. First flight be at NERFF 4 and t' rocket crashed, me bucko, causin' some major damage. Well, blow me down! Avast! JINX! T' keep with only usin' what came in t' box, me hearties, I repaired and updated t' design t' version 1.2. Arrr! T' second launch also crashed. JINX! But at least nay as bad.

Durin' t' development, I made up various pieces and taped them together, givin' me some flexibility t' adapt the design. Below is a teaser o' t' taped up version. Begad! You will also see where I filled spirals usin' Elmer’s F&F.

I be tempted t' fly it, ya bilge rat, but I could nay figure out

1. Begad! What t' speed o' maskin' tape was

2. How t' convince an RSO t' launch it

3. Avast! Begad! How many pieces would it be in after a flight

For version 1.1, one o' me first steps was t' boil some corn (although clams or any other grub would work as well – or just plain water). Once t' water was boiling, ya bilge rat, I placed t' 1/16” strip o' balsa (it was 2” x 12”) across t' pan. Avast! Besides satisfyin' me hunger, I was also steamin' t' wood so I could bend it. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' corn was done first so I had t' keep steamin' t' balsa but I finally removed t' balsa and sandwiched them betwixt 2 o' my wife’s cake savers (one is 10” t' other is 12”). Arrr! WARNING – that last step can get you into trouble!! I let this sit for a while (over a day) for t' balsa t' retain its shape

I decided on usin' t' BT80 as me main tube, with 3 pod tubes off o' this main. Ahoy! Blimey! I wanted t' use t' couplers to hold these pods. Ahoy! Blimey! Take t' 3 couplers (1 BT80 and 2 BT55) and draw lines t' length o' t' coupler on opposite sides (180 degrees apart). Aye aye! Blimey! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! For t' BT80, make a mark at 2” on one line and a mark at 1” on t' other. Aye aye! Blimey! For t' BT55, make t' marks at 1” and ½”. Usin' stiff paper, connect t' marks on both sides. Aye aye! Blimey! Usin' a sharp knife, cut along these lines.

Some other preparation work – take one o' t' 9” BT5 tubes. Make a mark 4.5” down from one end. Cut t' tube usin' this mark as t' center on an angle, ¼” above and below this position. Ahoy! Blimey! Epoxy a large plastic cap t' t' straight end o' each tube.

In addition, me hearties, me bucko, cut out 2 each o' t' 2” x 2 ¾” x 4” x 1” fin and t' ¾” x ¼” x 1” pieces shown above

For t' motor mount, me hearties, I traced t' BT80 onto t' mailin' box and cut out t' circle. Avast, me proud beauty! Then I drew a line that went through t' center. Blimey! Well, blow me down! On here, I traced 2 circles, matey, centered on t' line but t' edges separated by about 1/8”. Begad! I cut out these holes and dry fitted t' piece into t' BT80 and t' BT50 tubes into t' center circles. Avast, me proud beauty! Sand t' fit. Arrr! Once satisfied, I used t' first piece as a template and made a second piece. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' two BT50 motor tubes had a 1/8” slit made 2 ½” from one end. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Insert t' motor hook and secure with tape. Slide t' motor tubes into t' two centerin' rings. Aye aye! Cut another piece o' cardboard 2” x 2.6” Glue t' 2 motor tubes t' t' centerin' rings, sandwichin' t' 2” x 2.6” cardboard betwixt t' motor tubes and t' rings. Arrr! Let dry.

Take t' other 2 tongue depressors and make a mark 2 ½” from each end on t' edge. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Draw a line connectin' t' marks. Cut t' tongue depressor apart on this diagonal line. Bevel t' cut edges and glue t' pieces back together t' create an angle. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Glue a toothpick into t' angle created.

For version 1.1, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I made some standoffs. Aye aye! Blimey! Cut 4 pieces o' balsa ½” x 1 ¼”. Begad! Blimey! Bevel one o' t' 1 ¼” edges on each piece. Glue t' pieces together so t' bevels create a “V” channel

While t' version 1.1 be designed for a 3/16” rod, t' rocket be too heavy. Avast, me proud beauty! T' version 1.2 was upgraded for ¼” rod. Aye aye! Since all I got was 1/8” launch lug material, I had t' improvise. Take 3 o' t' small skewers, me bucko, ya bilge rat, cut 2 t' 7” and t' third t' 9” from t' pointed tip. Arrr! Begad! Save t' cut off ends for future use. Glue the two 7” skewers t' a tongue depressor even with t' ends. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Let dry. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Cut t' ¼” dowel into two 6” sections. Ya scallywag! Glue these t' t' 7” skewers. Finally, matey, t' 9” skewer needs t' be glued in t' middle o' t' tongue depressor on t' opposite side.

From t' 1/8” balsa, shiver me timbers, cut 2 fins 9” x 3”. Avast, me proud beauty! I received a plywood fin that was already 6” x 2 ¼”. Begad! You would need t' cut your own fin out.

T' BT80 section needs t' be lengthened for stability, shiver me timbers, so I transformed t' 80K nose cone into a transition. Avast! For version 1.1, matey, I planned t' eject t' parachutes from t' very top, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but I ran into issues. Version 1.2 separates at the transition. Well, blow me down! First, matey, take t' plastic cup and cut about 1 1/8” diameter hole in t' top. Avast! Blimey! Slide t' cup over t' nose cone end. Avast! Adjust t' hole size until t' edge o' t' cup (with t' lip) is snug on t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Carefully, cut away the trim, double check t' fit, then glue t' cup over t' nose cone. Arrr! Let dry.

This is how it looks when done

T' attach t' top t' t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, take one o' t' BT 20 t' BT50 adapters and place it over t' top o' t' 80K nose cone. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Mark where it touches t' cone and remove it. Ya scallywag! Take t' BT50 tube. First cut off a 3” length (to use as a motor mount). Avast! Slide a BT50 section over t' nose cone end. Again, mark where it touches. Aye aye! Dry fit t' BT20 t' BT50 adapter in t' 15” length and t' BT50 t' BT60 over t' same end. Avast! Push t' tube and adapters onto t' nose cone and verify t' fit. Begad! Once you are satisfied, slide t' BT50 t' BT60 adapter up a bit and remove t' BT20 t' BT50 adapter. I used 30 minute epoxy; put some inside t' BT50 tube followed by t' BT20 t' BT50 adapter. Begad! Place more epoxy on t' outside o' t' BT50 tube near t' end. Begad! Finally, ya bilge rat, place more epoxy on t' nose cone at t' marks made earlier. Place t' tube over t' end o' t' nose cone and press down. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! This will push t' BT20 t' BT50 adapter up, and slide the BT50 t' BT60 adapter down. Make sure t' tube is straight with t' nose cone. Let dry.

While t' transition section is drying, me hearties, you can make t' nose cone section. Avast! Take t' 3” BT20 tube and 4 equally spaced lines (every 90 degrees) along t' length o' t' tube. Begad! From one end, make marks at 1” on two opposite lines, and marks at 1 ½” on t' other two opposite lines. Similar t' t' couplers, arrr, arrr, shiver me timbers, connect t' marks and carefully cut t' tube. Take t' BT19 tube and make 2 lines t' length o' t' tube on opposite sides.. I am not sure if BT19 is a real designation. Avast, me proud beauty! (This tube is one you would normally get with an Estes rocket, ya bilge rat, make a mark, put glue inside a motor tube, matey, and use this tube t' push t' motor block in up t' t' mark, matey, me hearties, and then “quickly remove to keep from gettin' stuck”).

One piece o' t' BT20 will be slightly smaller. Begad! This be t' top. Glue it onto t' BT19 linin' up t' pointed ends with t' marks on t' tube. Begad! Begad! Glue t' 1” BT20 nose cone onto this end. Aye aye! Blimey! Glue t' other BT20 section onto t' BT19, also linin' up t' pointed ends. Well, blow me down! Glue 2 BT20 t' BT50 adapters onto this end. Well, blow me down! I put t' first on so it only left a small 1/16” ~ 1/8” o' t' BT20 extending, arrr, so t' adapters are mostly glued t' each other

Since t' 1.1 version be t' be t' separation point for ejection, I did nay want this nose t' slide down, arrr, so I created a lip by cuttin' 2 launch lug sections, shiver me timbers, with t' tops cut at an angle, ya bilge rat, t' t' BT20 tube in line with the pointed ends. Blimey! Blimey! T' 2 balsa pieces cut earlier (¾” x ¼” x 1” pieces) were glued t' t' top on the shorter portion, 90 degrees from t' launch lugs.

I glued 2 toothpicks as antenna, but they smartly broke off. Begad! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I would nay bother.

Once t' top be dry, t' ensure stability, I added 1.5 ounces o' epoxy and BB pellets t' t' top.

T' win' pods can start assembly. Blimey! Aye aye! Cut t' 18” BT20 in half. Ahoy! Draw a line along t' length o' t' 2 pieces. Make marks at 2 ¼” and 7” from one end. Ya scallywag! Glue t' 2 BT55 couplers cut before at t' 2 ¼” and 7” locations. Ahoy! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Note t' positions o' t' smaller and larger coupler segment and t' direction o' t' angled cuts. Make 2 o' these. Blimey! Glue t' BT20 x 2 ¾” nose cones in. Usin' a Dremel tool, I cleaned up t' ends o' t' broken BT55 nose cones. Blimey! Begad! These I epoxied into t' other end t' look like a nozzle. I canted t' nozzle for appearance. Well, blow me down! Let dry, then glue t' 2” x 2 ¾” x 4” x 1” fin t' t' other side. Ahoy! Begad! You should cut a notch into t' fin to fit over t' coupler.

Back t' t' main section, I slid t' larger BT80 coupler into t' BT80 tube with t' point even with t' end. Blimey! I used this as a markin' template t' cut t' BT80 tube. Begad! Arrr! I then spent an hour tryin' t' get t' coupler out o' t' tube, causin' me t' have t' cut ¼” strip off where a chewed it up tryin' t' push t' jammed thin' out. Aye aye! JINX! Cut out t' BT80 tube at t' mark.

I used a piece o' paper and marked t' paper t' determine t' BT80 circumference. Aye aye! Avast! Sorry for changin' units, but I found it t' be almost exactly 21 cm. Avast! I wanted t' wings pods t' be slightly asymmetrical, so for 3 pods they should be 7cm apart, shiver me timbers, me hearties, instead I used 6cm. Ahoy! Ahoy! for t' 2 wings. Blimey! I centered t' point with t' 6cm marks on t' point o' t' BT80 tube and marked t' tube. Blimey! Extend these lines t' length o' t' tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Glue t' motor mount into t' BT80 so t' 2 tubes are perpendicular t' t' point.

Since me motor mount be cardboard, shiver me timbers, I did coat it with epoxy for protection.

Glue t' launch lug assembly so t' aft o' t' dowel is 4” from t' end o' t' BT80 tube.

Glue t' win' pods t' t' BT80 so t' aft o' t' win' coupler is 1” from t' end o' t' BT80 tube on the 6cm lines.

Thee rudder pod is similar t' t' win' pods. Mark and glue t' BT80 couplers t' t' BT55 tube at 2 ¾” and 9 7/8” positions. Glue t' smaller fin t' t' coupler and body tube (you will need t' cut a notch into t' fin for t' coupler) as shown.

T' 2 large fins should wait until this is glued t' t' BT80 tube. Aye aye! Mark and glue this pod t' t' BT80 tube, again with t' end o' t' coupler 1” from t' end o' t' BT80 tube. Begad! Avast! T' assist in t' stability, me bucko, glue t' left over segments o' t' skewers (from t' launch lug) betwixt t' aft BT80 coupler and t' BT80 tube. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' 4 ½” BT5 tubes glue betwixt t' front coupler and t' BT80 tube, alignin' t' angled cut with t' coupler. Ya scallywag! Glue t' BT55 nose cone t' t' front.

Once dry, glue t' larger fins betwixt t' coupler sections on either side. T' make a nozzle for t' rudder, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I sanded and roughed up t' 3 measuring/mixin' cups. Arrr! I cut 2 circles (1 3/8” diameter) from t' mailin' box. Blimey! Blimey! I beveled t' edge, ya bilge rat, and then glued one circle into 2 o' t' cups, me bucko, ya bilge rat, then glued t' cups together (all usin' epoxy). Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Once dry, shiver me timbers, this glued into t' aft o' t' BT55 tube. Begad! Blimey! This nozzle I left straight.

Now t' complete t' top. Blimey! Startin' at t' BT50 t' BT60 adapter, matey, glue 2 large skewers and 2 toothpicks along the tube. Attach two o' t' 7” BT5 tubes in line with t' toothpicks startin' at 9” from t' top o' t' BT50 tube. Glue small plastic caps t' t' top o' these tubes. Glue t' nose assembly t' t' top. T' launch lugs should be in line with t' BT5 tubes

T' shock cord was cut in half. Ahoy! A provided screw eye be attached t' t' 80K nose cone. Aye aye! I used some o' t' paper to make a trifold t' attach t' shock cord t' t' main tubes. Begad! Usin' t' snap swivels, ya bilge rat, arrr, me hearties, one 12” parachute was attached t' t' top and t' other was attached t' t' main tube shock cord.

For version 1.1, matey, t' bent balsa was attached t' t' fins on t' wings. T' V beveled standoffs were attached over the win' fins. A missile be made usin' t' last BT5 tube, me bucko, t' fin can, arrr, arrr, t' display nozzle, ya bilge rat, and another small cap. Begad! A missile rack was made with some ¼” x ¼” x 2” supports. Blimey! Begad! Finally, shiver me timbers, me bucko, two 1” x 3” supports were made t' support t' missile. Ya scallywag! Begad! Your size may vary based on t' size o' your wife’s cake savers (or other molds you may have used).

Flight:
Cuttin' things t' t' wire, t' night before I left for NERRF I’m givin' this thin' a quick primer coat and 1 coat o' white. Ahoy! Ahoy! Blimey! There were supposed t' be chances o' thunderstorms at NERRF and I was afraid t' field could be wet. Water and cardboard don’t mix. Begad! So, me hearties, on Saturday, ya bilge rat, off t' NERRF 4 I went t' fly t' beast. Ahoy! Avast! Blimey! As I previously stated, the rocket was designed t' eject t' parachutes from t' top (I did nay discuss about t' holes I drilled through the 80K nose cone. As I be preppin' t' rocket, I noticed t' parachutes were tight. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This had me concerned. Ya scallywag! I had not glued t' 80K t' t' BT80 (fortunately), arrr, so I taped this joint. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Installed 2 D12-3 engines and got through t' RSO (he did wince when I stated it only used two 12” parachutes). Begad! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! While waitin' t' load, me bucko, I had several comments askin' how I kept all t' small pieces on. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I explained this was its first flight. We called a heads up flight. Avast! Blimey!

They launched t' HPR rockets, started t' LPR – and stopped halfway! They then went t' more HPR and did not come back t' t' LPR. Begad! My rocket sat on t' pad for over an hour. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! JINX! Finally, me bucko, it launched. It danced a bit on t' pad – t' rocket weight be really too heavy for a 3/16’ rod. Avast! Also, me hearties, I thought t' 3/16” rods were 4’, but they were only 3’. Ahoy! But, me bucko, t' rocket went up nice and straight. Begad! But those tight chutes did nay come out. Arrr! The tape at t' transition let go – crash. JINX!

I gathered up t' pieces. Begad! T' worst damage was t' wing. At least t' corn had tasted good.

As I previously stated, at this point I cut off t' 1.1 version o' t' launch lug and rebuilt it as version 1.2. I decided t' missile added too much weight, ya bilge rat, and I had no good place t' put it, me hearties, so I left it off. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I cut off the standoffs for t' tongue depressors and mounted them upside down. Ahoy! Blimey! It was also at this point when I changed t' t' shock cords t' connect at t' transition. So, matey, I went back t' NERRF on Sunday. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! While loadin' t' engines, I had t' rocket leanin' against t' side o' me car. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I had t' grab something, shiver me timbers, and it fell over and cracked a fin. Avast! Blimey! JINX! Blimey! A quick glue repair and it be good t' go. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I did nay have t' wait this time, possible since I be now on t' ¼” rods. Again, I requested a heads up. Aye aye! Blimey! It launched beautifully straight, shiver me timbers, but when t' chutes came out t' one for t' main section tangled on t' launch lug skewers and landed hard. JINX! Blimey! But at least t' top came down gently, me bucko, and landed in one o' t' water filled irrigation ditches. Ahoy! Blimey! JINX! Blimey! JINX! Blimey! JINX! Blimey! Fortunately, it be only t' very tip with t' epoxy/BB filling. Ahoy! Blimey! There be some minor damage t' t' rocket, but it was repairable. Avast! Blimey! I be goin' t' give up, me bucko, but then t' contest got extended a week, me bucko, just enough time for some repairs and painting. Ahoy! Blimey!

My son and I went t' a local school yard and did 1 launch. Well, matey, blow me down! Nice and straight, me hearties, both chutes opened, and a safe recovery! I be nay goin' t' tempt fate with another launch. Ya scallywag! One thin' I would say, t' rocket really needs 18” chutes minimum. Begad! While t' landin' did nay cause any damage, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I did wince as it looked rather hard. Ya scallywag! However, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I had to live with what I got – t' 12” chutes.

Summary:
This be a great contest that challenged me. Ahoy! Despite all me JINXes, me hearties, I think I came up with somethin' special that used almost all o' me parts. Aye aye! I guess t' only thin' I didn't try is puttin' t' rest o' t' parts into a blender...