Construction

For intructions I downloaded the original Estes instructions from the JimZ website.  I made fin patterns by upscaling the JimZ patterns.  I then cut out the fins from the 3/32" balsa stock.  I added a section to the root edge of the main fins as I intended to make through the wall fins.  I rounded the fore and aft ends of the main fins as well as the small secondary fins.  I built the engine mount in the standard fashion, and added centering rings cut from some cardboard stock.  The two body tubes were glued together with the coupler.  I inserted the engine mount into the body tube and allowed the glue to dry.  Once the glue was dry I cut slits into the rear of the tube large enough for the main fin mounts.  I glued the main fins on and allowed them to dry.  I then lined up the seconday fins above the main fins and glued them on.  Glue fillets were applied to all the fins.  I then created the raceway out of the 1/8" balsa strip and glued it on, filleting it as well.  The forward thrusters were also made from 1/8" stock, and glued on in line with the fins.  I cut two launch lugs each about 3/4" long, and mounted them on some thin cardboard.  The lugs were then glued to the side of the rocket as well, spaced along a side away from the raceway.  The final bit of building on the body was to create the three raised bands around the body.  One band goes directly to the rear of the small secondary fins, another directly to the rear of the foward thrusters, and the last just above the fore end of the raceway.  I made the bands from the facecard frome an Estes rocket kit.  The bands are about 1/4" wide and wrap around the circumference of the body tube.  The wraps were glued on with white glue.  Finally I added a shock cord using the standard tri-fold method, substituting fabric elastic for the typical rubber cord.  For a rocket this size I have had good luck with this type of cord.  Constuction went well, proceeding without any problems.