Brief:
18mm Scale model o' Canadian Black Brant VI soundin' rocket.

Construction:

• BT-50, 18"
• PNC-50, 4:1 ogive
• 1/8" LL, 2"
• basswood fins, arrr, 4 from plans
• 18mm mmt (tube, block, me hearties, 2 rings, engine hook)
• 12" parachute
• elastic shock cord, me hearties, mount

Single-page, easy t' follow instructions for a simple, arrr, me bucko, scale model rocket. T' plans include a simple diagram, arrr, fin template, paintin' guide, me hearties, and markings which can be scanned, colored, and transferred t' decal paper. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I followed the instructions t' t' letter with t' exception o' t' addition o' TTW tabs to attach t' fins t' t' motor tube as well as t' airframe. Avast, me proud beauty! Clay weight must be added t' t' nose t' balance t' rocket 9" from t' aft t' ensure stability (short fin span).

Finishing:
I painted t' rocket a base coat o' semi-gloss white before maskin' one fin and a white stripe on one side o' t' airframe. I then painted t' nose, me hearties, ya bilge rat, matey, airframe, and three fins with red Krylon. Aye aye! I used SuperCal waterslide decal paper for the letterin' and markings on t' airframe.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight was on an 18mm Aerotech RMS C12-7T. Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket flew perfectly straight t' about 700', me hearties, arched over while emittin' trackin' smoke, arrr, but there was no ejection. Begad! T' rocket came in stable at high speed and hit pavement. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! The nose cone, ya bilge rat, airframe, me bucko, and motor mount were obliterated. Avast! However t' last four inches o' t' body tube and fins were undamaged (unscratched even), arrr, and most fortunately, matey, me bucko, t' motor casin' was also safe. Begad! Apparently t' airframe and nose cone absorbed most o' t' force o' impact.

Recovery:
Forensics seemed t' indicate that t' ejection charge cap be knocked off while loadin' t' motor so t' bp charge be scattered prior t' flight. Arrr! I need to remember t' modify t' engine block rin' slightly durin' construction if I plan to use t' 18mm reloadable motors. Aye aye! Blimey! 5 points for flight, me hearties, 0 for recovery, 2-1/2 overall. Arrr! If you do it right you'll have excellent results. Avast!

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
Good looking, simple scale rocket from simple plans. Arrr! Can't think o' anything negative t' say about that!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5