Brief:
When a Quest Tracer hangs in a tree for a year, arrr, t' fin can is all that's left. This mod uses t' Nemesis nose cone with t' Tracer fin can t' produce a stable X-15 lookin' standard rocket.

Modifications:
T' first and most important step is t' gently "age" t' Tracer in a tree for one year, teachin' your son t' important lessons o' wind evaluation and patience. Naturally, ya bilge rat, after a full winter, even t' engine hook is rusted junk. T' fin can, however, is sturdy and reusable.

Usin' t' same instructions as one uses for an original tracer, arrr, you:

1. Assemble a standard 18mm motor mount with engine hook (usin' aliphatic resin glue or epoxy).
2. Assemble 24" Keelhaul®©™® cord tied around extra centerin' ring.
3. Notch t' extra centerin' rin' and epoxy it in place about an inch ahead of where t' forward end o' t' engine mount will end up.
4. Assemble engine mount so bottom is flush with end o' body tube and glue it with epoxy.
5. Test friction fittin' film can on end o' body tube. Avast! Just as with Tracer, use varyin' length o' maskin' tape wrap t' achieve friction fit o' fin can.
6. Mask body tube so that final 2.5 inches are clear and paint with high gloss Krylon plastic paint.
7. After drying, arrr, me hearties, assemble fin can over body tube by slidin' t' end. Ya scallywag! Mask both ends o' fin-can-integral launch rod guide t' prevent binding.
8. Mask cockpit o' Nemesis nose cone.
9. Usin' rubber band or dental floss, arrr, mask end o' fin can and body tube/nose cone joint. Paint. Begad! Avast! Use black, so that overspray onto fin can is nay a problem.
10. Tie elastic strip t' Keelhaul®©™® usin' figure o' eight knot. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Tie one split rin' onto end o' sewin' elastic.
11. Attach nose cone usin' split rin' or fishin' connector t' shock cord. Pre-rig parachute with small split rin' and ball-bearin' fishin' swivel. Blimey! Use maskin' tape t' achieve proper friction fit o' nose cone into body tube.
12. Try nay t' hang it up in t' same tree next time you fly it.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 1 Nemesis nose cone
• 1 Estes BT-50 body tube
• 1 Quest Tracer fin can, aged in a poplar tree for 11 months
• 1 12" purple Nylon parachute
• 24" Keelhaul®©™® cord
• Standard 18mm engine mount with hook, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, arrr, set up for BT-50
• Two split rings and fishin' ball bearin' swivel plus one fishin' two lobe connector
• Extra centerin' ring, arrr, me bucko, BT50 size
• 18" 1/4 sewin' elastic strip

PROs: Uses all stock parts with a minimum o' cutting. Well, blow me down! Avast! Suitable for scratchbuild for your child.

CONs: Long build time due t' tree agin' process.

Flight:
I used three As, one B (CATO fizzle), matey, shiver me timbers, and two Cs. Arrr! In calm air, matey, me bucko, t' A8-3 is lots of small field fun. Arrr! T' C6-5 allowed me t' demonstrate t' me child that, indeed, I have a better idea how t' wind works. Begad! T' B fizzle melted one fin and warped it. I gently reheated it and flattened it inside a book while still soft. Voila! It is now straight and flat.

PROs: Strong fin can means small chute is a good option. Ahoy! Longer body tube makes for nicer flight. Begad! In a very stiff breeze, I launched it way out over t' water with t' wind driftin' it back just about even with the launcher on a C6-5. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

CONs: Embarrassment factor if I hang it in another tree and need to reincarnate it again. Avast!

Recovery:
I used about three 5-inch balls o' crepe paper waddin' with one fold-over envelope t' protect t' chute. Aye aye! Ejection has been uniformly perfect.

Summary:
PROs: This was an easy, arrr, quick, and swoopy rebuild. T' end product looks better and flies nicer than t' Tracer. Ahoy! T' added weight is modest and is a plus for ease o' recovery. Ahoy! T' long shock cord combo makes it look great during recovery. X-15 graphics will make this look fabulous.

CONs: T' Quest Tracer is nay bein' made any more. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Soon, me bucko, matey, trees will be the only source o' this film can.