Brief:
I have re-designed t' Estes Mongoose as a single-stage 24mm, shiver me timbers, minimum diameter rocket I call t' MonoGoose. Blimey! Well, blow me down! It utilizes t' kit's two plastic fin assemblies t' create a strong, diamond airfoil fin can. Avast! MonoGoose can be flown on D12's, t' new Estes E9's, ya bilge rat, E15's or any 24/40 reload.

Components:
T' t' packaged components o' an Estes Mongoose all that is required t' build a MonoGoose is two additional Estes 24mm x 18" tubes. One o' these is used t' build t' epoxy-laminated motor tube that forms t' base o' t' rocket.

Construction:
T' usual excellent Estes quality and fit o' parts. Blimey! Blimey! T' MonoGoose actually goes together much faster than a stock Mongoose. One hour does it, easily, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, except for painting. Avast! Blimey! I happen t' prefer attachin' recovery systems through t' hull, about 1-2" below t' bottom o' t' nose-cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' knot retainin' t' shock cord is covered with half o' a BIC pen cap, me hearties, arrr, shiver me timbers, sawn lengthwise.

Modifications:
T' MonoGoose is built by first graftin' t' two kit fin assemblies tail-to-tail usin' t' long green adapter tube supplied with t' kit (see diagram). Arrr! Arrr! I used 5-minute epoxy throughout. Arrr! Take care t' be sure that t' fins are exactly aligned t' create a perfect diamond airfoil. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' body o' t' rocket is built by gluin' t' yellow tube provided with t' kit t' one end o' t' fin can, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and then extendin' this by addin' another 18" section o' 24mm Estes tube, usin' 2" o' 24mm tube as a coupler (it is slit lengthwise, ya bilge rat, and a 1/8" sector is removed, shiver me timbers, allowin' it t' be inserted into t' two body tube sections. Begad! T' process can be repeated for additional strength. Begad! T' Mongoose kit nose cone is mounted per t' packaged instructions, along with t' recommended recovery system.

T' motor tube is fabricated from 24mm Estes tubin' as follows: three 4.25" lengths o' tubin' are prepared, and two o' them are slit lengthwise. Arrr! Well, matey, blow me down! Cover t' exterior o' t' intact section with a thin layer o' 5-minute epoxy mixture, arrr, and slide one o' t' slit sections over it, doublin' its thickness. Begad! Let t' epoxy harden, shiver me timbers, arrr, and repeat t' process with t' second slit section, addin' it t' create a triple-thickness, epoxy laminated motor tube (make sure t' cuts are on opposite sides o' t' tube t' assure strength).

Now complete your MonoGoose by simple gluin' t' motor tube t' t' remainin' end o' t' fin can. Well, blow me down! An Estes motor hook is added by gluin' with epoxy t' t' exterior o' t' motor tube, me hearties, shiver me timbers, leavin' it t' extend about 3/8" beyond t' bottom. Aye aye! No glue is applied t' t' bottom 3/8" o' motor tube so t' retainin' hook can be bent a bit when insertin' a motor. I use an extra long Estes motor hook, and bend t' top straight with a pliers so it sits flat on t' motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Wrap t' retainin' hook t' t' motor tube with a little fiberglass cloth tape and epoxy -- I just used duct tape, ya bilge rat, since I'm lazy, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and paint covers it anyway. Arrr! Add a 3" length o' Estes soda straw centered 6" above t' fin can (above and and betwixt t' fins) as your launch lug; this be t' balance point. Blimey! Remember that with t' motor in t' atypical position, behind t' fin can, shiver me timbers, me bucko, even a long rocket like this could become tail heavy. Blimey! I painted me MonoGoose battleship flat gray, me bucko, except for t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, arrr, which I left in that awful Estes Mongoose pink t' show its heritage.

You're ready t' fly. Avast, me proud beauty! Use a D12-5 t' start. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! You'll get about 1300', me hearties, with somewhat premature ejection. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! T' thin' coasts forever. Begad! A D12-7 is perfect, and t' MonoGoose will show you a twirlin' tail-slide until t' chute takes hold. Ahoy! Blimey! Be warned that an E15-7 will take t' light-weight, shiver me timbers, minimum diameter MonoGoose out o' sight t' 2500' or more. Avast! Blimey! I wouldn't risk losin' a reloadable 24/40 RMS set-up E18-8 or F24-9 without a suitable flyin' site. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! T' MonoGoose survives 450 mph E30-7 launches, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but simulations show t' height gained is virtually identical t' that with an E15, matey, so why bother. I like t' use 2 feet o' 3/8" elastic and 5 feet o' parachute cord on t' 12" Estes chute for a recovery that looks like a much bigger rocket -- until it lands.

Flight:
You gain a quick-buildin' stable high-flyer at t' expense o' t' "excitement" o' a two-stage, me bucko, shiver me timbers, arrr, which t' me means that you don't have t' worry about losin' t' tumble recovery first stage that everybody eventually experiences with a Mongoose.

You gain t' ability t' fly on either Estes or Aerotech single use or on Aerotech 24/40 reloads, so this is an excellent trainin' rocket.

Flights are arrow-straight up, with little weathercockin' or influence o' wind. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! T' 12" chute is as much as I would use on this 47" rocket. It comes down like a propeller on its 7' o' cord and elastic. T' epoxy laminated motor tube has held up superbly t' landin' impacts.

Summary:
PRO- A great fun-fly and trainin' rocket, shiver me timbers, with maximum performance for minimum cost and construction fuss, shiver me timbers, plus its unusual and it looks cool with its aft-of-fins motor mount. (see picture). Avast! Flies on a range o' low-cost 24mm D, me bucko, ya bilge rat, E and F motors.

CON - With its length and thin Estes tube construction, ya bilge rat, one has t' be careful nay t' dent or bend it on storage or transport. Begad! Ya scallywag! But it holds up superbly t' flight stresses.

I built t' motor tube t' accommodate t' new long Estes E9 motors. Avast, me proud beauty! But since I fly it mostly on 24x70mm motors, me bucko, I slide in t' t' top o' t' motor tube a motor stop a 28mm spacer sawn from a used D12 motor.