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

Construction:

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

Single-page, easy t' follow instructions for a simple, scale model rocket. T' plans include a simple diagram, ya bilge rat, fin template, shiver me timbers, paintin' guide, and markings which can be scanned, matey, matey, colored, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and transferred t' decal paper. 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. Aye aye! 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. Begad! I then painted t' nose, matey, airframe, and three fins with red Krylon. 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. Begad! T' rocket flew perfectly straight t' about 700', arrr, arched over while emittin' trackin' smoke, but there was no ejection. Ahoy! Arrr! T' rocket came in stable at high speed and hit pavement. The nose cone, shiver me timbers, airframe, me hearties, and motor mount were obliterated. Begad! However t' last four inches o' t' body tube and fins were undamaged (unscratched even), me bucko, ya bilge rat, and most fortunately, shiver me timbers, t' motor casin' was also safe. Apparently t' airframe and nose cone absorbed most o' t' force o' impact.

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

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5