Photo courtesy o' Giant Leap Rocketry   

Brief:
This is a single-stage super-sonic capable dirt-simple HPR rocket. Well, blow me down! A great HPR certification kit for L1 and L2.

Construction:
T' kit comes with 1 body tube (phenolic or optional fiberglass extra $$), a 3-fin Acme Fin-can (very solid and easy t' install), shiver me timbers, and is minimum diameter so thar's no need for centerin' rings. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' body tube be t' motor mount. I recommend t' optional Slim-Line motor retainer. Aye aye! Blimey! It comes with a bright-orange parachute and plenty o' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord. I also recommend t' optional Keelhaul®©™ heat-pad for t' chute. It comes with an OGIVE nose cone. Aye aye! Blimey! T' shock cord is tied and epoxied t' a "supermount", which is two thick cardboard tubes (one inside t' other) with a piece o' all-thread through t' middle. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! This is one o' t' sturdiest shock-cord mounts I've encountered.

T' instructions are excellent and virtually unnecessary for anyone but t' most novice rocketeer. This kit is so completely easy t' build and so bullet proof. T' assembly process consists of:

• Epoxy (JB Weld) motor retainer in place (if you are usin' one)
• Epoxy (30 min. or better) fin can in place
• Attach shock cord t' shock cord mount (bowline)
• Epoxy-coat shock cord knot
• Epoxy shock cord mount t' body tube
• Attach Parachute and Nose Cone
• Epoxy Launch Lugs t' Body
• Paint

That's all thar be t' it.

Finishing:
This rocket can be flown bare or finished as elaborately as you want. Begad! Ahoy! If you do paint it, you'll want t' use a good Krylon or other heavy duty heat-resistant paint. Begad! (Did I mention a K will get this thin' past Mach 2?)

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Giant Leap has a list o' motors they've simmed or tested on their website. Blimey! T' rocket, however, arrr, is so well designed, shiver me timbers, it'll pretty much fly on any HPR motor in t' 38-54mm range. Begad! I flew it multiple times on an H-242 and J-350. Avast! (Unfortunately, shiver me timbers, I botched an avionics add-on with no motor-backup on it's third flight, ya bilge rat, and created confetti. This be entirely me fault, ya bilge rat, however, me hearties, me hearties, and t' rocket flew very well right into t' ground (straight down, me bucko, me hearties, perfectly stable)).

Here pictured be t' J350 just comin' t' pressure for lift-off o' me Level 2 Certification Flight. Avast! Success!

T' chute might be a little large. Begad! In any wind, you can expect a trek t' go get t' thing.

Recovery:
T' shock cord and parachute are generally o' very high quality. Arrr! Blimey! Keelhaul®©™ tube shock cord and Nylon chute. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' "technique" is a very strong mountin' on t' body-tube end and a very long shock cord. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' only possible complaint about t' recovery system be t' slow descent can lead t' a long recovery trip. However, this is a trade-off, arrr, ya bilge rat, and, for certification, shiver me timbers, a nice gentle landin' is worth t' hike.

Recommended Motors:
Almost any 38mm or 54mm H-K.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:

Pros:

• Very easy t' assemble
• Flies great
• Extremely Stable
• MACH+
• Great intro t' HPR
• Great startin' point for mods and scratch-builds (I've built about 3 more rockets based on t' FS54 parts since then).

Cons:

• Long recovery hike due t' slow descent
• Maybe too simple... Begs t' be modified (or is that a Pro?)

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5