Brief:
Estes Blue Bird Zero upscale; uses 24-inch parachute recovery..

Construction:
T' Estes Blue Bird Zero was me first model rocket. Naturally, when I became a BAR, I wanted t' clone one. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! A quick check o' Jim Z’s site revealed that thar were no plans available. Nay one t' be deterred, me hearties, I searched on. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' make a long story short, arrr, I found someone through t' internet who would provide me t' plans and fin tracings. Begad! Blimey! I decided t' do a slight upscale t' BT-60 from t' stock BT-55 size mostly because that is what I had on hand at t' time. I needed 44.5-inches o' tubin' for correct scale. I installed a 24mm motor mount and glued both sets o' fins t' t' lower body tube. Avast! Blimey! I then proceeded t' join t' body tubes. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Everythin' was glued with 30min epoxy. Ya scallywag! Blimey! (author’s note: BBZ plans are available on Jim Z’s website, thanks in part t' yours truly.)

When all t' gluin' was complete, me hearties, me hearties, t' entire rocket was skim-coated with thinned Fill ’N’ Finish and sanded smooth. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! I then proceeded t' prime, and paint t' blue section o' t' rocket first. Begad! Avast! Blimey! After drying, I masked t' blue section and painted t' white section, me hearties, then clear coat over t' entire rocket. T' decals for this rocket were a challenge. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! I ended up drawin' them myself and printin' them on self-adhesive stock. Arrr! Ahoy! Blimey! T' decals turned out good, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and t' finished product looked great!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I prepped t' BBZ for her maiden flight on a D12-3. Begad! I installed t' wadding, me hearties, ya bilge rat, motor, parachute, and set her on t' pad. Ahoy! This rocket gives a nice, me hearties, semi-slow, shiver me timbers, me hearties, smokey, takeoff. Ahoy! She went up straight as an arrow — a very stable rocket.. Ya scallywag! Ejection was near apogee, me hearties, arrr, and it recovered with no damage. Avast, me proud beauty! After a perfect third flight, shiver me timbers, me hearties, it landed on t' neighbors’ roof and slid about halfway down t' roof t' t' gutter. Begad! T' BBZ was OK, matey, except for some nasty shingle rash on t' edges o' t' fins. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Flight number six would prove t' be fatal. Ahoy! After a perfect boost and ejection, shiver me timbers, t' chute did nay open due t' bein' tangled on t' shroud lines. It crashed on t' asphalt HARD — rest in pieces.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I have t' give both construction and flight five out o' five. Arrr! Aye aye! Construction was fairly easy, arrr, and t' rocket flies very well.