Here’s a rocket project perfect for a weekend too windy or rainy t' fly rockets. Begad! Blimey! All you need is a package o' Estes BT-5 tubin' and a pack (or two) o' PNC-5 nosecones. From these simple beginnings, me hearties, plus balsa stock and various odds and ends you probably already have around, shiver me timbers, me hearties, you can build downscales o' t' followin' all-time greats:

Click t' image below for full size fin templates (in .JPG format).

Obviously, t' plastic nosecones that Estes sells are nay perfect scale. Ya scallywag! In fact, arrr, for t' Alpha, Goblin, and Der Red Max they’re nay even close, ya bilge rat, so you may want t' turn your own from balsa or hardwood. They’re small enough t' do fairly quickly.

JimZ’s web site has pictures and plans for each o' these rockets, ya bilge rat, at t' followin' URL’s:

If you minimize waste when you cut t' body tubes, matey, me hearties, ya bilge rat, you’ll have extra as well as a Mosquito nosecone left over. You could build another mini-Bertha, set it aside for a Centuri Mach-10 clone, or cut six Mosquito fins, attach them t' a 4-inch length o' body tube, and you’ve got t' Ahnold Schwarzen-Skeeter. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' Mosquito fin template is included with t' others, shiver me timbers, just for fun.

Three tables for tube lengths are provided below. T' first table shows t' original dimensions. T' second table shows t' true scale lengths (based on table 1), me hearties, shiver me timbers, and should be used if you are turnin' your own nosecones. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! T' third table assumes you are usin' t' standard Estes nosecones, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and t' tube lengths are adjusted t' better match t' original proportions. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Please note that t' Cherokee-D was available in two lengths, me bucko, so both are listed. Der Red Max was also available as Der Big Red Max, and those dimensions are given as well.

Also in table 2 is a column called ‘% o' Full Size.’ This be t' scale o' t' rocket, matey, matey, shiver me timbers, and be t' number that each dimension o' t' full sized plan be multiplied by. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! For example, shiver me timbers, t' Big Bertha downscale is 33% as large as t' full sized version. Aye aye! Blimey! This number was found by dividin' t' diameter o' t' BT-5 (13.8mm) by t' diameter o' t' larger tube, me hearties, and roundin' off t' two decimal places. Begad! I used 1/16-inch balsa for all o' t' fins.

Paint t' match t' originals, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and don’t forget t' decals! Tango Papa Decals can do downscaled decal sets for t' Goblin, arrr, Cherokee-D, me bucko, and Der Red Max. Aye aye! Begad! Believe me, shiver me timbers, these decals are works o' art! Tom Prestia did a page for me that included complete sets for all three. Arrr! Contact him at:

You can see t' Tango Papa web page here: http://www.tangopapadecals.com/index.html

These little screamers fly great, and give you another reason t' buy 1/4A’s or Micro Maxx’s!