I took all the pieces out of the box and discarded the items that I wouldn't be using which were the motor adaptor and centering rings as not needed with the 29mm motor tube because I shall be only using 29mm motors. As I intend to use an 'H' motor in a reloadable casing for Level One, I also discarded the thrust ring and thrust ring flange. I then had to cut the tab off the motor hook with a pair of pliers so I will be able to fit a longer motor in.Using the instructions I marked the front edge of the back finlok ring then the back edge of the front finlok ring.

REMEMBER--- back edge of front lines up with mark and front edge of back lines up with other mark. Got it ???? Good !!

Motor hook lines up with the marks but I found I had to make the marks bigger so I could see them under the motor hook . I sanded the end of the tube to remove rough edges prior to trying on the finlok rings which I have to say were impossibly tight. Using a sanding sponge I smoothed the inside of the rings and the end of the tube sneezing all the time.Well, I had one helluva fight bunging an old motor in to stop the tube from buckling and scraping the inside of the rings with the knife but to no avail. I'm sure the men have no bother with this but I'm telling you, it needs the patience of a saint, the determination of a spawning eel and the muscle of a Patagonian weightlifter. The end buckled under the pressure and so did I nearly !! So abandoning the ruckled end, I shoved the ejection gas baffle in it none too gently and started again at the other end of the tube. This time I decided to get the rings sliding on the tube without the motor hook..... still more sanding and sneezing.... and I decided at this stage to call it 'ALPHA OMEGA' as I feel it should be my first and last!! Then what do you know !!! I spot a rough naggy bit on the finlok ring where the motor hook was supposed to pass through so more scraping and sanding and sneezing.

Finally they went on with motor hook..... same old performance.... back edge of front on mark and front edge of back on mark. Pushed down upside-down on table-top. Put motor in to test position of motor hook and tried a fin in one of the finloks. I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't clicked in but reassuringly it did so !

Centering rings apparently came next and of course, the first thing I had to do was take the ejection gas baffle out to put the centering ring on as they go either side of the finlok ring things. Because I wasn't convinced about all this, I slid it into the body tube to check and of course, it wouldn't fit....so more sanding and my hands were resembling by this stage the sand paper itself but I know I have to sand slots etc anyway as they need roughing up for the epoxy stuff.

I vented some of my pent-up frustration on it using heavy-duty grubby old sandpaper and finally it went it with a bit of Jane Austen .....('Persuasion' for those not in the know)....then of course, it wouldn't come out and James clicking away with the rotten camera started smirking so I hit him with the body tube and what do you know, it did the trick !!

Next came stretching out the cooling mesh which looks a bit like a brillo pad. I pushed it up the tube where if all goes to plan it will cool the ejection charge gases and stop the shockcords and parachute from getting damaged. I screwed something the instructions called a screw-eye to the ejection gas baffle to which the shock cord for the recovery system attaches. James went off for a fag and I had a load of chocolate to raise my serotonin levels before the dreaded epoxy.....five minute for the motor tube centering rings and 30 minute for what are called the fin- fillets.

I wanted to use my marigolds but James said that I wouldn't be able to feel through them and might drop something or get in a mess so I took his advice reluctantly. I didn't want to use the stuff but I did and it wasn't too bad in retrospect. Having allergies is the pits but you shouldn't allow it to prevent you from doing stuff. Beside, you should never expect other people to do on your behalf what you are not prepared to do yourself. I put dollops of five minute epoxy on the centering rings where they meet the motor tube and 30 minute on the centering rings where they meet the body tube. I tried the fins and checked them for alignment.

Decided to call it a day not wanting to miss the last episode of 'Ted and Alice' but James persuaded me to do the 30 min epoxy before going to bed so I can leave it overnight........to be continued.

Got up early 'cos I couldn't sleep.... had sore eyes and a headache ....the motor mount is now in situ after last night within the body tube and the shockcord fitted to the screw eye at the same time. I chose a rocket with ridges.... 'strakes' they are called so these have to be aligned and put in place but there is a template or rather 'channel tunnel marking guide' ..... to use for marking the position of these.They have to fit between the fin section and the ring that goes at the top of the body tube but wouldn't you know it, they are too long so have to be cut to size.

Why didn't they make the template longer so it was easier to mark out and the ridges.. sorry 'strakes' to size ??

I am anxious to get on because I really want to finish this today and I have washing in the machine, a house to clean before the club descend on me at the weekend.... shopping to do so we can eat..etc etc...

So...washing done...cleaning will have to be done crack of dawn tomorrow... shopping last minute before the store closed and in between bit by bit the warthog got finished to my absolute amazement !!

I have to confess though that James had to spray-paint the warthog for me so I hope it doesn't disqualify me from anything but I really was struggling with the allergy side of things and the spray-paint would have finished me off. I did however choose the colour scheme..... gold nose and gold and red speckled body..... I had originally planned to do it blue/gold and call it Moonfleet after one of my favourite books and places in Dorset but the warthog will always be 'Alpha Omega' to me from now on... first and last !!

It was ready to launch - STARCHASER had generously offered to pay for a motor for me to take my Level 1 in the hope of encouraging me further.Tthis meant more lessons with Jim and another table full of parts to assemble.

The only motor available meant I had a weight problem ( not me personally). Sean donated a perfect pink casing and Roy came up with some fish-weights. This enabled me to take and pass my Level 1.

Maiden launch on 20th April 2002 and flown several times including L1 flight

I had painted it gold and bronze thinking it would be impossible to lose, always guaranteed to show up against the green grass but it finally found a nearby overgrown field of gold and bronze bracken where it remains as Sean would say MIA - Missing In Action.