This Design was inspired by the Movie the Fifth Element
This model is a Kit Bashers Delight for Under $15

This model is made up of two Estes kits and some balsa wood. I use one Estes Stingray kit for the main white body tube. Everything was used except the fins. For the other two small tubes and "Engines" I used the top halves of two Rattler kits. The rest is balsa wood shaped to desire (3mm stock).

Here you see a detail of the body tubes and engine mounting and you will note that the wing is BELOW the mean center of the rocket. I attached the two body tubes as if they were 2 of a three-fin rocket and attached the wings to these. This should counter the fact that there are no fins pointing down!

I was considering making this rocket a glider, and still am, but it will likely come in HOT and maybe hot enough to cause damage I will experiment with this further.

For now it recovers on a Parachute on two shock cords so it comes in LEVEL. I do this for looks and for the fact that I tend to use small chutes to make sure I get the Rocket back :-) and it will definitely break that tail off it it comes down tail first.

I painted it white.

Flight Report

Flight 01: On a B6-4

Nice. Slightly into the wind. Flight did a 4-point roll before ejection while horizontal at about 250~ feet. Twin shock cords worked. Landed with no damage 15 feet from the pad.

Flight 02: on a C6-3

Absolutely VERTICAL flight to about I would guess 600~ feet and a LOT of drift on even that small 12" chute ! Recovered about 300 meters away.

Flight 03: on a B6-4

This flight was near vertical with a little waggle but straight and stable. Nice recovery about 50 feet from pad. Upon Inspection I discovered the waggle was caused by a slight cracked vertical tail that wobbled in flight. Easy Fix !

I may make another build of this rocket and attempt a glider Config!

I flew this rocket twice more at NARAM-40. Both flights were GREAT. Straight up and good recovery. No damage. Here is a picture of one of the flights (Sorry for the poor picture quality)