Brief:
At me last launch, shiver me timbers, someone stepped on me Estes Porta-Pad and snapped t' legs right off o' it. Begad! I needed a new pad and one that would hold up because I wasn't in t' mood t' go buy a new pad for $40. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I decided t' build me own out o' PVC pipe from Home Depot. Blimey! Aye aye! It be built for about $10 and can hold model and mid power rockets with a 1/8", ya bilge rat, 3/16", ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, or 1/4" launch lug.

Construction:
This is was a very simple build. If you know how t' use a hack saw and PVC cement, it is easy. Aye aye! Arrr! I bought all o' t' PVC at Home Depot. Arrr! First, arrr, me hearties, I found a 3/4"x10' section o' piping. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Next, I went t' find all t' little plastic parts t' make it look nice. Begad! I found four 3/4" end caps and a four way cross piece. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' final pieces were four 45 degree elbows for 3/4" tube. Blimey! Aye aye! I already had all o' t' tools and supplies needed (1/8" drill bit, shiver me timbers, 3/16" drill bit, arrr, 1/4" drill bit, PVC cement, matey, me bucko, and a hack saw) at home.

T' first step was t' cut t' PVC pipe into 4 legs that should each be 20" long. I then used PVC cement t' bond t' end caps t' t' legs. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Next I cut four 2" long struts and glued them into t' center piece. I clamped t' center piece down and drilled t' holes for t' launch rods evenly spaced along t' center piece. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' 1/4" hole was drilled in t' center so that t' pad would hold t' weight more evenly on me larger rockets across all four legs and nay be off balance. Avast! Blimey! T' 1/8" hole and 3/16" hole are drilled 1/2" away from t' 1/4" hole. Aye aye! Blimey! I made sure that t' 2" struts are glued all t' way into t' center piece before drillin' because t' smaller holes will go through them. T' finish t' legs, matey, I glued t' 45 degree elbows t' t' top o' each leg. Begad! Blimey! DO NOT glue t' legs t' t' center piece, as this will allow them t' pivot on t' struts t' aim rockets into t' wind. I chose nay t' paint mine.

Flight:
This pad handles model/mid power rockets without a problem. I used it for t' first time at me October launch at t' local school. Well, blow me down! I put in me 1/8" rod and slid t' leftover blast deflector plate me Estes Port-Pad over t' rod. Arrr! I launched an Estes X-Flyer off it. T' pad works! After many small rockets I put in t' 3/16" launch rod. Begad! Begad! I launched me scratchbuilt USA Gymnastics rocket off it on a D12-3 and an Estes Blue Ninja on a C11-3. Finally, ya bilge rat, I put in t' 1/4" rod and launched me Dynastar Orion, matey, ya bilge rat, Estes Executioner, arrr, arrr, and LOC/Precision Onyx. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' pad worked great, me hearties, even for t' almost 1 pound Onyx.

Summary:
Anyone in need o' a cheap but durable launch pad can build this pad in under an hour, so it is great if you happen t' break your pad t' day before a launch.