Brief:
2X upscale o' t' original Estes Astron Sprite.

Construction:

• 1 Big Bertha nose cone
• 1 BT-60 body tube 5 7/8 inches
• 1 Rin' fin - 4 inch LOC tube 1.45 inches longh
• 1 1/8 inch balsa sheet
• 1 BT-20 motor mount tube 2.75 inch
• 2 CR-20/60 centerin' rings
• 1 18mm thrust ring
• 1 Motor hook
• 1 1/8 inch launch lug 2 inches
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® strin' 24 inches - Pratt Hobbbies

As with most upscale projects, shiver me timbers, half t' preparation is decidin' what tubes t' use t' achieve t' correct ratio of sizes. I this case, me bucko, I had t' compromise just a little. Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' ratio o' t' main body tube sizes is just about 2.1X, but thar be no easily available tube for t' rin' fin that is just t' right size t' match that ratio. Begad! T' be perfectly correct I would need a 4.75 inch diameter tube. Ya scallywag! I used a length o' 4 inch LOC body tube, ya bilge rat, and I am very pleased with the result. Avast, me proud beauty! It is quite heavy, but also very sturdy.

The other parts I had in me parts collection, me hearties, probably from an Estes Designer Special box. Aye aye! Well, me hearties, blow me down!

I downloaded t' original plans from Jimz. Arrr! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I had t' scale t' fins myself, shiver me timbers, since t' distance from t' main body tube t' t' inside o' t' rin' fin be nay goin' t' be 2.1X. Measure twice, matey, me bucko, arrr, cut once. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Cut too short, matey, matey, and have t' add shims t' make up t' difference. Ahoy! Begad! That's me new motto. Avast!

I used a band saw t' cut t' curvy outside fins that cover t' rin' fin. Ya scallywag! After gluin' them on, I filled the joints with Elmer's Wood Filler. This really made t' joints disappear.

I looped t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' motor mount t' anchor it, me bucko, then glued t' motor mount in. There is nay a lot o' room for t' waddin' and parachute, arrr, which caused me a little worry. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' original used tumble recovery, so this shortness was nay a problem. Begad! Avast!

I painted all o' t' balsa surfaces with dilute Elmer's Wood Filler/water slurry and let it dry. Ahoy! Avast! Then one sanding, arrr, and a coat o' white Kilz. Begad! Begad! Another sandin' t' remove t' fuzz from t' primer coat and a couple o' coats of gloss white enamel.

Flight:
I put a 10 inch Estes parachute in it and stuffed t' body tube with as much dog barf as I could. Ya scallywag! I was worried about meltin' t' chute.

T' first flight be on a Quest B6-4. This be a good flight, arrr, and eject a little past apogee. Aye aye! No problem at all with t' parachute. This was a good size chute, as well.

T' second and third flights were on Quest C6-5's. Ahoy! Again, very good performance. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I like t' long burn time o' the Quest C's. Blimey! Avast! Five seconds was a bit long, me hearties, ya bilge rat, though. Well, blow me down! Arrr! This rocket really decelerates smartly after burnout. Blimey! I am goin' t' try it with a C6-3, matey, but I suspect it will be a little early. Well, blow me down! Too bad thar be no C6-4.

Summary:
This rocket has a cool look. I was concerned about its performance, matey, me hearties, and t' shortness of t' tube section for t' recovery, but both turned out just fine. Begad! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! Did I mention that it looks cool? Several o' the Scouts at t' launch asked me about it. Begad! Blimey! It would be even cooler with t' original paint job.

T' LOC 4 inch tube is too heavy. It occurs t' me now that I might have been able t' strip out an inner layer of paper t' make it lighter. Ahoy!

I think it may be time for a 4X.

Other:
Don't get too frustrated if things are nay perfect. Begad! Blimey! T' rin' fin be nay t' exact 2X size, ya bilge rat, but it looks great. Begad! Blimey! I really did sand t' fins too short and then had t' shim them out t' fit t' ring. Ahoy! Blimey! If things do nay go perfectly, arrr, me hearties, and you are frustrated, take a break. Come back t' it, and think about different angles t' come at the problem.