USE ANY STYLE ROCKET BODY
After constructing hundreds of soda bottle rockets, the rocket recently evolved in 1998 to the above rocket design. Of course, the rocket body (the part that pressurizes) can vary from the one shown above, but everything else pretty much stays the same. The above rocket body shown above is the "circumference splice with curled edge" design. Another rocket body that can be used is a simple stock (unchanged) 2 liter bottle. A "Robinson Coupled Rocket" or also known as a "threaded lamp rod rocket" may be also used.

THE ADVANGAGES - Safer & Interchagability & Better Glue Joints
There are many advantages of the "1998 Rocket".
(1) MUSH SAFER!!! Most of the pressurized rocket body vessel is covered with a second layer of PETE plastic,which almost doubles it's wall thickness.
(2) The "Sliding Tail & Fin Assembly" is interchangable with any other rocket bodies (if you follow the size requirements). Let's face it, the old method of attaching the fins to the rocket is a task, and it's a huge disappointment when there is fin damage to a rocket, disabling that particular rocket. Or look at it another way, if you crash and damage your rocket body, you are left with a damaged rocket with a good fin assembly. Either way you loose.
The ability to slide a pre-made "Tail & Fin Assembly" on and off the rocket bodies is a great new way to recycle tail fin assemblies that survive many launches.
(3) The "Sliding Nose Assembly" offers the same interchability as mentioned above in (2).
(4) The circumference splice joints are better and hold higher pressures. By selecting a circumference splice ring that is 2/32 inch larger than the rocket body, there is an ideal amount of PL Premium Construction Adhesive between the rocket body and the splice ring.

THE NEW APPROACH FOR 1998 - Measure The Bottles & Heat Curled Edges
The "1998 Rocket" is a product of a whole new approach to the steps taken to making a water rocket.
The Old Approach: Get bottles, clean bottles, make rockets, if the parts buckle or kink, that's life.
The NEW Approach: Get bottles, clean bottles, MEASURE CIRCUMFERENCE OF BOTTLES, write measured size on side of bottle, sort bottles according to size, use certain size bottles for prespecified purposes. All parts fit perfectly. Measure bottle circumferences to the closest 1/32 inch. Most bottles will measure between 13 and 15/32 inches to 13 and 21/32 inches.

The New Approach also includes a rather new proceedure, CURLED EDGES. Using heat to curl cut edges of bottles greatly increase the strength of components. There are two types of curled edges that I use, the "full curl" and the "slightly curled" edge. Both have a specific purpose.
The FULL CURL is used to reinforce the cut edges of bottles. One common location is on "circumference splice" joints, where two bottles are jointed together. Another location is on the bottom edge of the "Sliding Tail & Fin Assembly".
The SLIGHTLY CURLED edge is used in the "Sliding Nose Cone". It is essential for providing a tight seal for the water tight compartment.

---Being updated as we surf the net-----more comming-------