Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

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

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

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5