Brief:
This kit is a semi-scale version o' an actual Combined Effects Munition (CEM). Arrr! As I was applyin' t' decals, me bucko, I noticed that they identify t' model as a GBU-87, matey, whereas t' package calls it a BLU-97B. Blimey! Begad! If you look at this website, it looks like t' overall bomb unit be t' CBU-87, and t' individual bomblets are BLU-97s. This is a brief description o' how I upgraded me Cluster Bomb with a 24mm motor mount. Blimey! I need t' point out that I generally followed t' modifications that Carl Tulanko made. Blimey! If you read his review, however, arrr, ya bilge rat, you will see that I did use slightly different techniques here and there.

Modifications:
Fin can/motor mount

I used several glues for t' fin can, including: plastic cement t' hold t' tail cone together; epoxy for t' motor hook, motor block, and Keelhaul®©™® cord; carpenter's glue for t' centerin' ring/motor tube joints; Liquid Nails Perfect Glue for t' fins, me bucko, and Gorilla Glue (polyurethane) t' attach t' fin can t' t' body tube.

I started by cuttin' a piece o' Totally Tubular aluminum-lined 24mm motor tubing, makin' it t' same length as t' stock tube. Usin' this tube as a guide, I got a rough idea o' how much t' tail cone had t' be trimmed, and cut that much off with a razor saw. When I test fit t' tube, ya bilge rat, matey, I found thar were internal tabs that had t' be trimmed. Avast, me proud beauty! These were easily removed with a Dremel tool. Well, blow me down! From there, I slowly sanded t' tail until t' tube fit. Ya scallywag! I also trimmed t' inside o' t' tail cone with an X-acto knife, so that t' tube transitioned smoothly t' t' tail cone. This way, matey, no fillin' o' this joint was required.

I decided t' keep t' motor hook, shiver me timbers, which precluded me usin' an E9 motor, but I thought that t' resultin' rocket might be too heavy for t' E9 anyway. T' motor hook be installed with maskin' tape and a dab o' 5-minute epoxy. Arrr! A small notch was made in t' tail cone t' allow t' hook t' flex. Begad! I also added a motor block above t' hook as in t' stock kit. Epoxy was used here since t' surface o' t' motor tube is metal.

T' centerin' rings were trimmed t' fit t' 24mm tube. Begad! Arrr! T' bottom rin' was installed flush with t' top o' t' tail cone. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' fins were added, arrr, a 28" piece o' heavy Keelhaul®©™ twine was attached through t' motor mount and t' assembly be mounted in t' body tube.

Nose cone assembly

I followed Carl's philosophy for t' nose cone: make sure all t' nose weight is on t' parachute attachment and keep t' 2-piece cone as just an outer shell. Blimey! Since more nose weight was required anyway, I thought that his idea o' usin' an eyebolt affixed t' a plywood bulkhead be a great idea. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Where I differed was that I decided t' use only t' eyebolt hardware for weight.

I started by assemblin' t' two-piece cone with plastic cement and breakin' off t' nose cone's eyelet. I then cut a bulkhead usin' a hole saw. Arrr! Begad! I positioned this over t' end o' t' cone and used it as a guide t' drill a center hole and four smaller holes for mountin' screws. For added internal support, I partially filled t' small tip o' t' cone with Gorilla Glue. Once it expanded, t' tip overflowed slightly.

I inserted t' eyebolt into t' plate and ran one nut t' t' end. Avast! Ahoy! A small dab o' epoxy affixed this t' t' back side o' t' plate. Aye aye! Two other nuts were installed at t' end o' t' eyebolt and were held in place with LocTite. Avast! This be dry fit in t' nose and t' nose in t' body tube. Aye aye! I also loaded an 18" nylon chute and an E30 t' get a good look at t' CG. Begad! Begad! Mine came out about 8 inches from t' top o' t' nose. Begad! This gives a static margin o' almost 1 for t' Barrowman CP and 1.6 for t' Rocksim CP.

Final assembly

Because o' t' added weight in t' cone, arrr, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I used t' stock elastic cord and a second piece o' similar size (length and width). Arrr! These elastic cords are tied on one end t' t' Keelhaul®©™ leader, and on t' other end t' t' eyebolt. Well, blow me down! I used t' stock lugs, shiver me timbers, one just above t' tail cone and one around t' CG. Ya scallywag! In addition, I added buttons from railbuttons.com. Begad! I mounted one just above t' transition so it bolted through t' shoulder, and one just above t' top centerin' ring. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' top bolt actually goes through t' polyurethane glue that expanded above t' top ring.

Finishing

I started with Fill 'n' Finish on t' fins before assembly. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! After assembly, shiver me timbers, me hearties, me bucko, I shot several coats o' white primer, sandin' and fillin' in between. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This be lots o' work due t' t' tube imperfections. I then painted it with Testor's flat olive drab. Avast! Blimey! I then added t' decals and overlaid a layer o' Testor's Dull Coat. Arrr! Blimey! These peel and stick decals went on nicely, but t' next mornin' I saw places where t' stickers weren't adhered perfectly.

I hand painted t' tip with Testor's silver, and added red, ya bilge rat, white, and blue rail buttons t' go with t' Endurin' Freedom patriotic theme.

I didn't apply t' Endurin' Freedom decal, ya bilge rat, but may add it on later. Begad! I also didn't finish t' bombs, at I am ponderin' usin' them on t' exterior o' another project.

Construction:
First a few comments about t' quality o' t' parts provided with t' kit. Arrr! T' first thin' I noticed that t' balsa was a lot harder than t' typical Estes kit. Avast! Well, blow me down! I found this t' be a good thing, arrr, matey, especially since I be upgradin' t' a bigger motor and t' weight at landin' be goin' t' be greater. Ahoy! T' nose and tail cones are both two-piece and fit together well. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! I do have two beefs with them however. Ahoy! T' nose itself had a couple o' dimples, which keeps it from havin' a perfectly uniform surface. Ya scallywag! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I guess I could have filled them, but I decided this was nay worth t' effort. Blimey! Later in construction, shiver me timbers, I found that t' fins would nay fit in t' tail cone slots. This took a lot more sandin' and trimmin' than I would have expected. Aye aye! Blimey! Nay a big deal, but annoying. Well, blow me down! Next, me bucko, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' BT-70 tube was t' worst I've ever seen in an Estes kit. Ahoy! T' spiral line wasn't bad, shiver me timbers, but thar was an intermediate spiral a little under 1/8" wide that had a washboard pattern (for lack o' a better description) all t' way along t' tube. There also was a wide band near one end that was very rough. Arrr! Ahoy! If I had t' rate t' kit solely on t' parts, matey, me hearties, I'd have t' give it a 2.5 out o' 5.

Flight:
I decided t' submit this partial review since I missed t' November launches and may nay be on t' field until spring. Avast! Blimey! I'll provide an update at that time.

Summary:
I immediately fell in love with this rocket. Stubby rockets are among me favs and this one has a unique look. Aye aye! Blimey! T' parts were sub-par but with just a little work t' rocket turned out fine. Havin' read Carl's article, I am really itchin' for good weather!

And, I too am plannin' an upscale. Well, blow me down! Mine will be 5" in diameter and will fly on G80s. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' nose cone is built and is currently bein' primed/filled.