Brief:
A single stage upscale o' t' Astron Streak usin' a Fat Boy nosecone, parachute, and engine mount components, as well as a spare BT-80 tube and balsa fin stock. Arrr!

Construction:
We used a BT-80 body tube I had from an assortment o' body tubes I got on eBay a while ago, cut t' 10-1/2 inch length. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor mount was stock from a Fat Boy kit, which had a crushed tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' nosecone was from t' same Fat Boy kit. We used t' standard Estes three fold shock cord mount (glued, attached and coated with more glue), but replaced t' shock cord with elastic that was about twice as long.

Construction started with t' buildin' o' t' motor mount, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, which was simple and straight forward. I considered usin' somethin' larger than an 18mm motor mount, shiver me timbers, me hearties, however, since this be t' be me daughter's rocket, arrr, we stayed with the standard mount. Ahoy! Blimey!

My daughter assembled all t' motor mount components and glue be applied to t' mount assembly and allowed t' dry before installin' it in t' rocket body. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! We then attached t' shock cord, ya bilge rat, usin' t' standard Estes 3-fold technique, but we used lots o' Tacky Glue in t' folds, shiver me timbers, attachin' t' mount to the body tube, arrr, ya bilge rat, and coatin' it after attachment.

I scaled t' fins up from me original fin template I had (from 1972!), transferred them t' t' balsa, and cut them out. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! We sanded and shot t' fins with primer, me bucko, sanded again, me bucko, and tacked them t' t' body with Tacky Glue. Avast! Blimey! This allowed me daughter t' line up and attach t' fins without t' time pressure of a CA. Blimey! Blimey! We then filleted heavily, shiver me timbers, usin' Tacky Glue again. Aye aye! Blimey! My daughter enjoyed the sandin' (to a point) but was so excited t' be buildin' "her rocket"(!) that we had t' run outside and paint t' moment that Dad pronounced t' fillets t' be dried. Ahoy! Blimey!

Finishing:
This be t' be a PINK rocket, me hearties, so she chose Plasticote dark and light pink spray paints (the little cans from WalMart). Well, blow me down! Blimey! We painted a light coat o' light pink followed by a light coat o' dark pink.

T' parachute be attached and packed and we were ready t' fly!

Flight:
We finally got a chance t' fly recently, usin' a bulk pack o' motors (I got from Michael's with a half-off coupon). Begad! We flew A8-3's and B6-4's for nice, easy-to-track flights. T' rocket be easy t' prep, matey, usin' several sheets of waddin' includin' wrappin' t' parachute in a sheet t' prevent scorching.

My daughter took part in all t' prep as well as pushin' t' button for each flight. Ahoy! Flights were nay too fast off t' pad, straight, and easy to track. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty!

Recovery:
T' parachute came out with no problems each time and then t' chase be on!

Summary:
PROs: Buildin' and paintin' was easy, quick and fun for a 6 year old and wonderful for her Dad! *grin* Also brought back memories o' me little Streak I has as a kid- this would be an easy kit for Estes t' put out thar along with their Fat Boy.

CONs: None I can think o'

Other:
Tip: Guide your child, arrr, arrr, but let her (him) build. Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' most excitin' part o' the build was attachin' t' fins - it started t' look like a rocket!