Brief:
Usin' a BT-55 created a 1.8 upscale o' t' Estes Solar Warrior.

Construction:
In order t' build t' upscale Solar Warrior I used:

• 2 BT-55 tubes. One for t' body tube and t' other be cut t' create the two pods as t' end o' t' wings. Ya scallywag!
• 1 BT-20 for t' motor mount. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down!
• 1 sheet o' 3/32" balsa
• 1 PNC-55
• 1/8" launch lug
• 18 inches o' ¼ inch elastic for shock chord
• 60 inches o' 1.6" wide streamer material

Before I started me brother-in-law provided me with an enlarged fin pattern from a Solar Warrior kit I previously built. Aye aye! In order t' capture t' edges of the fins on t' copier t' balsa sheet was colored with a marker. Ahoy! Usin' the pattern I cut out t' fins from t' balsa usin' a steel edge ruler and cutlass. Avast, me proud beauty! I decided t' cut me centerin' rings out o' balsa. Aye aye! Avast! I first drew an "+" on t' balsa and marked me BT-55 and BT-20 into four equal distances around the circumference. Avast! I pressed one end o' t' tubes against an inkpad and then used it t' mark t' balsa by linin' up me marks with t' lines o' t' "+". I then proceeded t' cut t' centerin' rings form t' balsa on t' inside o' the markings. Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' centerin' rings were then sanded so that they would fit nicely in the body tube and t' motor mount tube would also fit correctly. In order to ensure a shipshape straight cut for me body tubes I wrapped it a few times with good maskin' tape at t' desired point. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' maskin' tape provided a nice straight guide t' cut against. I cut t' first BT-55 t' a length o' 17.55" for t' main body tube and t' second BT-55 be cut t' create t' two pods of 2.7" in length on t' side o' t' wing. Avast! Ahoy! I cut three inch o' t' BT-20 for the motor mount. Well, blow me down! I cut a quarter inch o' t' end o' a spent 18mm motor casing for an engine block. Avast! I did nay have an engine hook and decided t' friction fit my motor. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Usin' t' same steps as t' original Solar Warrior. I finished it usin' wood filler t' create smooth fins and wings and painted it with Krylon yellow paint. Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight:
My first flight for t' rocket used an A8-3. Lift off be slow but t' rocket may have reached only 40 feet in t' air. Begad! For me next flight I used a C6-3, me hearties, it flew nice and straight and t' recovery was uneventful. Begad! T' third flight on a B6-4 was good. Again it flew straight and recovery yielded no damage. Avast! Ahoy! I flew successful on B6-4 and C6-3 twice more.

Summary:
Overall, arrr, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I like t' design o' t' Solar Warrior. Well, blow me down! Begad! I have also built one usin' a BT-5 and am in t' process o' up scalin' it 3 times usin' LOC/Precision parts. Arrr!