Brief:
Tube Rocket, ya bilge rat, arrr, shiver me timbers, with transition

Construction:
I received t' package, shiver me timbers, and t' kit was well packaged. Blimey! Blimey! It included 2 main body tubes, a 3.1”x 34” long tube, and a 2.14” x 12” body tube, as well as nose cone, me bucko, transition, me hearties, motor mount parts. It also comes with (6) 3.1” Tube couplers, me bucko, which are used for t' fins. Begad! Blimey! They are pretty durable. As well as (2) ½” diameter launch lugs. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' only common thin' is the assembly o' t' Motor mount, and t' shock cord anchor system. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! I did not receive any instructions, arrr, but I had some idea as t' how t' build it. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! I constructed t' entire motor mount assembly usin' 5-minute epoxy. Begad! Blimey! I requested a 29mm motor mount, arrr, which is what he sent me.

I didn't get any instructions for this kit, as it was a Beta test. Ahoy! Avast! But I had an idea o' how t' build it. Ahoy! I looked at t' basic parts. Aye aye! I got a vision o' how to build it in me head, shiver me timbers, then I got t' work. Begad! It is relatively easy for the intermediate flyer t' build. Aye aye! T' tube couplers are butted against each other, as well as t' airframe. Ya scallywag! Once you get t' first coupler on, t' rest o' them are simply butted into place. Ya scallywag! I used sprin' clamps t' help clamp t' portions together, arrr, so that I could ensure a good bond betwixt couplers. Well, blow me down! T' only mod I made, was t' scuff some glassine off o' t' contact points, t' help t' epoxy adhere better. I used basic 5 and 15 minute epoxy. Aye aye! Everythin' went together without a hitch. Aye aye! I cant really give any con's about this kit. Ya scallywag!

Finishing:
Pros: It is rather easy t' come up with exotic ideas for paint schemes, for instance, arrr, like I did on me rocket, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, t' give it an "exotic" touch. Avast! I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. Ya scallywag! Cons: If you want t' paint t' inside o' t' couplers, shiver me timbers, it will be extra work for you.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight be in March o' 2001. I used a G64-4w, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, since it was a larger diameter. Arrr! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. Avast, me proud beauty! After passin' it through RSO, matey, and puttin' it on t' pad, it was time t' witness t' moment o' truth. Aye aye! It lit instantly, and whistled off the pad. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. Blimey! Well, blow me down! It drifted a little ways, but was recovered. Begad! Ahoy! Upon recoverin' it, shiver me timbers, me hearties, matey, it was found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. Ahoy! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' simplest and quickest remedy was t' "pop" it back out. Arrr! Well, blow me down!

Next up, I loaded her up with a G125-5t. Arrr! Ahoy! A pass through RSO and she be on t' pad within 5 minutes. After t' usual countdown, t' motor lit, and it practically exploded off t' pad, and up to about 750 feet. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' chute deployed, and it had a flawless recovery. No problems with t' tubes this time.

I teamed up with a friend o' mine, and we loaded up an H128-M for it. Arrr! After a few problems with igniters, she took t' t' air, me bucko, me hearties, me bucko, t' about 1200 feet. Arrr! Well, blow me down! The chute deployed right on cue, and I had t' walk a little further, but it was an impressive flight, me hearties, nonetheless.

I flew t' rocket again about a year later, shiver me timbers, on a G64, and then an H128. Both flights were flawless. Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I'd suggest this kit for t' intermediate flyer, as it requires a little patience t' build, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but if built right, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, it will bounty you with some good flights. Avast! This kit always gets attention at our launches. Begad! Avast! It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5