7 up

After seeing several small rockets fly out of sight, I wanted a rocket that would spend more time where I could see it. I wanted something large, so it would be highly visible, but with low enough power for a slow, majestic lift-off. Body tubes and nose cones get expensive rather quickly when you go beyond a BT-80, so I looked for a cheaper alternative. I thought of using a 2- liter pop bottle for a body tube, and realized it would also make a neat boat-tail. I was lucky enough to have a friend who found an old 2- liter in his basement with a rounded bottom-- the kind that sat in a plastic cup for stability. This allowed me to give my rocket a rounded, torpedo-like nose.

The newer style bottles with 5-lobed bottoms will work, too, you'll just have an alien-looking 5-lobed nose cone.

Parts and Materials

2- liter Bottles (7)
24 mm Engine Mount (BT-50)
24 mm Engine Block (if you can't find one, cut one
from an expended engine casing with a hacksaw)
24" - 36" Parachute
3/16 x 6 x 36" Balsa Plank for fins
12-15 feet of 70# test Kevlar® for shock cord
1/4" x 2 yd. Flat Elastic for bungee
Clay nose weight
Corrugated Cardboard for centering ring
Drinking straw for launch lug
Paint
Epoxy

Recommended Engines:
Aerotech E 18-7W RMS