First off thank you for t' humongous box of parts. Aye aye! T' only thin' was/is that with that many parts t' use, shiver me timbers, I would still be building. Ahoy! Aye aye! I just used me inspiration and picked t' best parts that would build a rocket that could fly on a single use AeroTech F or G motor. Aye aye!

I ended up selectin' (naturally) t' strongest "huskiest" tubes. I was intrigued that I had been given so many (6) different nose cones that fit me "D"motor size body tubes. Avast! I used t' slightly larger tube (too big for a 29mm motor) for t' core body tube. Begad!

I stacked t' size tubes around t' core in ascendin' length, glued all with Superglue. Well, blow me down! Arrr! And built a payload nosecone section out o' extra core tubing. Aye aye!

Notice in this photo that a 29mm motor would be too loose in t' core tube, so I took a couple o' core tube scraps and cut them down t' middle vertically with a pair o' scissors. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Then I glued them (5 minute epoxy) into t' tail end of t' core tube. Ya scallywag! This in effect built a real cheap motor mount. Begad! I will friction fit t' AeroTech motor at t' field. Ya scallywag! Begad!

For t' recovery "harness" I doubled up t' cheapo elastic shock cord, and knotted it every 2 inches. This made a surprisingly stronger shock cord. Well, blow me down! I mounted t' shock cord t' t' core tube by usin' an old (very old) Estes method by slittin' t' body tube near t' top (but below t' nose section coupler) and snaked t' elastic in and out in a very simple weave. Arrr!

A very quick paint job on t' body tube section with some Rustoleum Lime green. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! And I paint only some o' t' nose cones and transitional nose cones. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' keep that "kit bashed" appearance. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

Notice that I constructed only 3 fins (prepainted them black) from t' lightweight balsa, but I enhanced their strength by gluin' (5-minute epoxy) 2 sheets together with t' wood grains at a 90-degree angle t' each other. Begad! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty!

My flights o' t' "Box O' Parts Contest" rocket took place on Sunday May 18th, 2008. This be at Tripoli Central Cal's "Ninth annual Dairy Air" In Helm Ca. Ya scallywag! (near Fresno). Begad! I could only make it t' one day o' this launch due t' work commitments. So I had t' make both flights back t' back with t' conditions bein' very hot at 105 degrees. Well, blow me down!

I chucked t' intended motor I had brought as too wimpy and bought 2 AeroTech single use F-25 motors, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, with 4 and 7-second delays, respectively, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, from a real great vendor. Avast! WHAT'S UP HOBBIES?

Yikes, due t' camera trouble (low batteries) I HAVE NO LAUNCH PHOTO, sorry. Ahoy!

At t' field I found that me launch lug set up was too small for t' high-powered rods. So I took a low powered rail and stuck it in t' dirt by t' HP pads. Arrr! It worked ok. Well, blow me down! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! With t' rod passin' through t' lug and a single outer tube that I had left vacant (no nose cone). Blimey! This single empty tube enhanced stability due t' cockeyed arraignment of the three fins. Well, blow me down!

T' LCO announces this as an Essence Box o' Parts contest rocket. Arrr! Blimey! Then mentions that it's Paul Lane's rocket so heads up. Boy it's nice t' have a legend.

5,4,3,2,1 blastoff. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! It was quick t' leave t' pad on t' shorty launch rod. Ya scallywag! It flew really well (surprise!). Well, me hearties, blow me down! The motor I picked (F-25-4) be perfect and deployment be optimal. Begad! Arrr! I would guess it flew t' about 1500 feet. Arrr! Blimey! Recovery was by multi plastic streamers, since NO PARACHUTE was included in t' Box O' Parts. Ahoy! T' recovery was nominal, matey, me hearties, with no fin breakage. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty!

I smartly prepared it for a second flight usin' t' AeroTech F-25-7. Avast! Arrr! Another tremendous flight, very straight. Avast, me proud beauty! I would say t' 1800 feet this time. Begad! Recovery be only so so, ya bilge rat, with 2 out o' 3 fins snappin' off. All is reparable though. And I have included some post flight photos

So overall this be a successful project. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I will donate t' unused parts t' me NARRRRR section; they will probably use them for an outreach o' some kind. Begad!

WHAT A FABULOUS AND FUN CONTEST AND IT WAS GREAT PARTICIPATING. Avast, me proud beauty! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR FOR THE BOX O' PARTS ROUND 2 CONTEST. Ya scallywag! Aye aye!