Add fins
You need the fins to be well behind the centre of mass - which shouldn't be a problem with a fuck-off can at the front! Maybe remove the stick and attach 3 light but rigid wires with tincan fins at the end. The rocket will then fly much more stably (and will steer *into* any wind, by the way).

You'll also need to keep the centre of mass on the same line as the thrust. May I suggest two or more smaller containers, strapped symmetrically around the top of the rocket?
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Tue 15 Mar 2011, 16:21, 1 reply)

This all sounds fantastic..
but I'm worried that if I do actually acheive a decent amount of height and speed, the device could explode nowhere near the launch pad. I have horrible visions of dousing some poor OAP's thatched roof in liquid fire, and the subsequent local news stories that would follow.

I guess we could blame terrorists.
( Albert Marshmallow is a completely irredeemable cunt, Tue 15 Mar 2011, 16:28, closed)

I like this a lot, but there is one thing to learn
The thrust from your single rocket is tiny, hence the thing falling out of the sky. You need to double or treble the first stage. Otherwise you will have it hovering about at ground level until the final explosion. Good luck, wear goggles and post the video here.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 16 Mar 2011, 8:15, closed)