Brief:
PipeCleaner be t' conventional 4FNC version o' me scratch built tube-fin rocket, F.I.S.H.. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! PipeCleaner is also constructed from 30mm ID PVC plumbin' conduit, me bucko, ya bilge rat, which I chose for its waterproof properties since it is possible for water landings at our beautiful island launch site. T' only differences betwixt it and F.I.S.H. Well, blow me down! are: it is made in one piece o' PVC instead o' two, me bucko, ya bilge rat, it has 4 trapezoidal fins cut from 3/32" aircraft ply instead o' PVC tube fins, and it has a permanent 24mm motor mount, ya bilge rat, because 29mm motors (although a perfect fit) are too powerful for the site and would guarantee a "splashdown". Well, blow me down! Arrr! PipeCleaner be laid out as an exact 53% downscale o' t' Maximum Thrust Rocketry "Star Quest" to assure good balance and flyin' features.

Construction:
T' body tube consists o' PVC plumbin' conduit obtained from Home Depot. Careful selection can yield a straight enough section t' cut a single piece body tube but thar be usually some curvature found in t' stock 10' lengths, so t' rocket can be made from 2 shorter lengths if need be. Blimey! Avast! PipeCleaner's body tube is a 37" section o' PVC tube. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! 3/32" ply trapezoidal fins are installed through-the-wall by cuttin' 4 equidistant 3/32" slits in t' aft tube wall with an electric sabre saw. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Resist t' urge t' cut 2 slits at once just because t' blade is long enough t' do this--you will screw them up. Blimey! Cut one at a time with t' blade inserted halfway, ya bilge rat, and watch your fingers!

I decided t' install a 24mm mount permanently, me bucko, so I epoxied a LOC 29-24mm adapter and then epoxied t' fins through t' slits on top o' it. Arrr! Begad! 2" long triangular balsa pieces were used on each fin base as reinforcement. PipeCleaner can be built for 29mm power (as t' PVC tubin' is a perfect fit with tape friction fit), but it is critical t' install an infrared barrier to protect t' aft end plastic from radiant heat o' t' motor. Avast! Blimey! This is easily accomplished by slittin' a 12" section o' Estes BT-55 tubin' lengthwise, removin' a 1/8" wide strip, me bucko, and then slatherin' t' outside with epoxy before insertin' into t' aft end. If you don't install an infrared barrier like this, your rocket's aft end will droop like a wet noodle after t' first flight. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' rocket is now basically done. I recommend usin' t' nifty PML 29mm conical urethane nose cone for PipeCleaner. This little guy costs $13.95 but t' rest o' the airframe only costs $2.00, so you can't complain that much about t' expense. As an alternative, you can use an Estes nose cone, matey, which is a whisker too fat for t' PVC, me hearties, and construct an adapter for t' PVC tubin' as follows: cut four 5" and three 2 1/2" pieces o' BT-55 tubing, slit t' shorter pieces lengthwise and remove a 1/8" strip from one, a 3/16" strip from another, me hearties, and a 1/4" strip from t' third, nest these 3 pieces in turn with glue into t' lower end o' a 5" piece t' reduce its internal diameter, repeat this slittin' and nestin' process with t' three remainin' 5" pieces, insertin' them in turn 2 1/2" into t' aft o' t' piece you just created. Ahoy! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! You now have an adapter that fits an Estes nose cone t' 30mm ID PVC conduit. Blimey! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! It is nay that hard t' build but lets you use t' Estes cones, which are cheaper and easier t' come by. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I use an 18" LOC chute attached t' 8' of parachute cord, ya bilge rat, me bucko, anchored t' t' body tube 2" below t' top with a external knot through a hole drilled in t' PVC and then covered with a fairing made from half a BIC pen cap. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Add a small LOC Nomex® protector if you like. Ya scallywag! Launch lug is 1/4" fiber, ya bilge rat, centered 16" from the aft end. Well, blow me down!

Finishing:
Custom finishin' job was with Testors red and flat light aircraft gray, complete with WWE wrestlin' stickers t' give it some class.

Flight:
Flights over t' last 2 years were exclusively on 24mm E30-7 and F21-8 motors and were nearly out o' sight (at least, arrr, me sight) on both--it's a skinny rocket and hard t' see. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Sims say 1100' and 1700', shiver me timbers, respectively, shiver me timbers, on these motors. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' main concern, besides findin' it after a 7000' apogee ejection, arrr, with usin' 29mm motors on PipeCleaner is attachin' t' fins strongly enough t' withstand Mach effects--you will never shred t' PVC airframe--I would use 3/32" or 1/8" G10 glass fins on a 29mm version when used with H-motors, arrr, 500 m.p.h. Begad! will be exceeded (an I200 will break Mach), and this would certainly flutter off 3/32" ply fins. Begad! Ahoy!

Recovery:
T' LOC chute is more than adequate t' brin' this rocket down safely.

Summary:
PROs: Cheap and really easy t' build, especially with t' PML nose cone option. Excellent 24mm performance despite t' weight. Aye aye! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Capable o' extreme altitude and Mach performance with 29mm motors. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Waterproof for those who fly near liquid environments.

CONs: Nay much. Well, blow me down! Begad! Need t' better assure fin attachment if 29mm motors are used. NOTE: Although NARRRRR Safety Code legal, ya bilge rat, PVC conduit is heavy and extremely tough stuff. Begad! I wouldn't want one o' these rockets t' hit me, ya bilge rat, especially after an ejection failure. Use caution, even though PipeCleaner is "only" a 24mm rocket weighin' well under one pound.