Rocket weather cocked as it came off t' pad but gained good altitude. Parachute ejection was a couple o' seconds after apogee. Arrr! This is where t' trouble started. Ejection charge melted through shock cord and rocket separated into three pieces. Nose cone and main body o' rocket came down hard and fast while payload section drifted away under parachute never t' be seen again. Had help in search for nose cone and be finally recovered by one o' t' kids at t' field. Avast, me proud beauty! Tip was broken off. Main body tube recovered intact. Ahoy! Rocket will be repaired and flown again but will no longer have a payload bay (the black section) unless I find a replacement tube.