Introduction:
After gettin' back into rocketry via 3x18mm and 3x24mm Estes-que scratch-built rockets, I figured it was time t' move on up and try composite motors. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Econojets were t' best bet for t' short-term, since I wasn't ready t' invest in a reload casing, and they have a decent burn time and a rather unique louder-than-normal sound. Arrr! T' original goal was t' aim for a design that would sneak under t' 16 ounce FAA notification limit, but I haven't strolled into t' local supermarket yet with t' rocket under me arm. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! Doesn't matter that much if it is over, since me limited club experience has been enjoyable so I don't plan on launchin' at t' local field any time soon.

Nose Cone:
Made from a $.99 foam cone at t' local fabric store. Ahoy! Haven't bothered with a drill lathe system yet. Avast, me proud beauty! Results were 'good enough' for this proof-of-concept rocket. Well, blow me down! Covered it with three layers o' tissue paper/wood glue, with a final layer o' wood glue t' seal it. Sanded, me hearties, matey, matey, primed and sanded again. Begad! Blimey! Depressions were then filled with some leftover whitewall mud and sealed with glue. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Resulted in a heavy yet fairly smooth and strong nose cone 5.25" long, arrr, with 1.25" o' it bein' t' shoulder.

 Recovery System:
1/2 inch sewn flat nylon elastic cord from t' local fabric store, matey, arrr, arrr, 4 feet o' it. Yes, me hearties, I know t' cord is supposed t' be longer, but smaller versions o' t' same material worked fine on me clusters, ya bilge rat, so I trusted me instinct on this one. Begad! Mounted t' t' body via two wooden dowels that are glued through t' body tube. T' idea was t' have them 90 degrees from each other, but in me haste t' build, me bucko, things got a little out o' alignment. Avast! Ya scallywag! Tied a loop in t' cord, matey, then placed t' dowels through loop inside o' t' rocket. Ahoy! Parachute is composed o' two plastic layers from a garbage bag, shiver me timbers, 23 inches in diameter. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Eight shroud lines composed o' a waxy version o' kite string, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, which keeps tangles down, attach t' t' parachute via duct tape. T' 'chute is attached t' t' shock cord through a grommet in a folded over section, matey, which be then layered with wood glue and tissue paper as well as CA. Aye aye! I was goin' t' use swivels t' attach t' parachute, me hearties, arrr, but decided against it. Well, blow me down! Just didn't trust t' ones I had on hand. Aye aye! Nose cone is attached at t' end o' t' shock cord via tissue paper and wood glue, shiver me timbers, me bucko, about 2.5 inches from t' parachute grommet.

Body Tube:
Grabbed t' parallel-wound tube at t' fabric store, t' clerk gave me a rather odd look when I asked if I could have it. Blimey! 39.5" long, matey, shiver me timbers, 2.23" across and .125" thick. It be longer, but for some reason I chopped off 8.5" o' it. Begad! Covered it in a layer o' watered down wood glue. Begad! Fin slots were started with a drill, ya bilge rat, then finished slowly with a keyhole saw and then 40 grit sandpaper until desired width was obtained.

 Motor Mount Tube:
Had t' make me own. Took a garden tool handle, coated it with some oil, ya bilge rat, and used a few grocery bags cut into 1" strips. Avast! Once t' glue was tacky, added another layer o' paper wound diagonal t' t' first. Begad! Removed t' tube before it became attached t' handle.

 Fins:
I've got a huge amount o' balsa stock leftover from friends at school who were in t' architecture program. Ya scallywag! Decided t' go simple by gluin' two 1/8 pieces together, arrr, me hearties, me hearties, and goin' with three fins with a rectangular shape. Gave them an aerodynamic edge, shiver me timbers, and covered them with 20 pound white paper and -you guessed it- watered down wood glue. Arrr! Ya scallywag! They are 3.5" by 3", nay includin' t' t' amount that extends t' t' motor mount tube.
 

Fin Can Mounting:
Centerin' rings were made from 1/8 balsa stock soaked in wood glue. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Was goin' t' double them up, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but they were a pain t' make, and they seemed strong enough. Fin edges attach t' both o' them. Blimey! Blimey! Since I figured a strong bond t' t' centerin' rings be more important than internal fillets on t' fin body tube joint, arrr, I glued t' aft rin' in place before slidin' it into t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Used some more 20 pound paper t' form some external fin mounts once t' fin can be glued into t' body tube.

 Launch Lugs:
I wanted t' use a ¼ rod for this bird, matey, arrr, so I grabbed two eyelets from t' workshop. Ya scallywag! One is within a few inches from t' bottom, shiver me timbers, and t' other is a few inches above t' CG. Well, blow me down! Screwin' them into t' body tube then soakin' t' area around them with CA seemed t' work well.

 Painting:
I've never been a really big fan o' beautifully paintin' rockets since you never get t' see them up close while they are launching. As long as they have a decent gleam in t' sun, arrr, me bucko, I'm happy. Avast, me proud beauty! I primed t' rocket and covered it with royal purple. Avast, me proud beauty! I then tried a clearcoat which started t' strip off t' paint. Aye aye! That's when I discovered t' whole problem o' mixin' enamel with lacquer paints, tehehe. Begad! Never did get it perfect again, matey, still have some crackin' on some o' t' fins. Blimey! A coat o' auto wax later and Econoexpress be ready t' fly!

First Flight:
I finally got t' chance t' launch EconoExpress at CMASS's last sport launch o' t' year. I loaded her up with an Econojet F20-4 at home, with plenty o' tape as an external thrust rin' as well as motor retention. Ahoy! Begad! Two pieces o' Estes recovery waddin' were installed, as well as one piece around t' bottom o' t' parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I was somewhat worried about t' over stability o' t' design, which at 3.6 calibers with a F20 loaded, would make it fairly susceptible t' weather cocking, arrr, especially at t' windy CMASS launch site. T' weather turned out t' be decent however, with moderate temperatures and light winds.

 Got t' copperhead installed, ya bilge rat, and absentmindedly flipped t' rocket back over before puttin' on t' rubber band. T' field then ate it. Avast! I be placed out on a high power pad, since this was t' first launch o' t' rocket and I needed a 1/4 rod.

 Ignition be within a second o' t' button bein' pushed, and t' flight was nice and straight, with very little if any weather cocking. Blimey! T' Econojet didn't disappoint, plenty o' noise for an F! Ejection was a bit early, about 1200-1400 feet up, arrr, and then t' fun started. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Rocket did 5 t' 6 revolutions around t' now-opened parachute before finally settlin' down. Ya scallywag! Everythin' held together though, me hearties, me hearties, and I recovered it a bit downrange in perfect condition.

 Conclusion:
I'm happy with t' results, me hearties, 2 bucks (for t' foam and shock cord material) isn't all that bad for a rocket o' this size that can fly on Econojets. Arrr! Goin' t' try out a F20-7 next time around, and then step up t' a G35-7. Arrr! Avast! Hopefully I won't stress t' recovery system as much with these delays, or so t' sims tell me. Well, blow me down! Heck, maybe I'll get somebody t' stick in a H125W!

As o' 01/12/00, EconoExpress has flown a total o' 3 flights. F20-7 is a little long but works fine, and a G35-7 really pushes it up there!