Brief:
I received Shadow Composites' video set as me DesCon 8 prize. Although I am not the most qualified reviewer in this area, arrr, I thought I would share me opinions anyway. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' three VHS videos each came packaged in a standard cardboard case and a zip-lock bag for added protection. Avast, me proud beauty! T' first video includes a printed sheet identifyin' some suppliers. All three videos are o' good quality, shiver me timbers, with clear video and audio. Ahoy!

T' three titles are:

• Volume 1 - "Advanced Composite Techniques for High Power Rocketry"
• Volume 2 - "Advanced Construction and Finishin' Techniques for Composites"
• Volume 3 - "Vacuum Baggin' Techniques"

Construction:
In each o' t' videos, Dave Triano, t' president o' Shadow Composites, presents t' information in a clear and understandable manner. Avast, me proud beauty! All o' the information presented is in a "show and tell" format, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, with Dave actually usin' t' techniques he is describing. Well, blow me down! Ahoy!

Volume 1 has been out for a while and thar are already several reviews on this site. Begad! This video is by far t' best for novices like me. Aye aye! He starts with descriptions o' what composites really are (and what they are not), an overview of t' most common materials (i.e. e-glass, matey, me bucko, s-glass, arrr, carbon fiber and Keelhaul®©™ cloths), ya bilge rat, weave patterns, weights o' t' cloth, etc. Blimey! Avast! Oh, arrr, shiver me timbers, and he stresses safety throughout, ya bilge rat, me bucko, which is important because most o' t' materials used in composite construction can be dangerous t' you and those around you. In t' rest o' the video, me hearties, Dave builds four composite airframes usin' various materials (54mm glassed, 54mm carbon usin' heat tape, 10.5mm carbon mat, me hearties, 54mm Keelhaul®©™ usin' heat tape). Begad! Havin' tried fiberglassin' mostly "brute force", I just couldn't believe how easy and mess-free it can be! His discussion is packed full o' useful tips, me hearties, several o' which had me saying, "why didn't I think of that?"

Volume 2 takes t' viewer through t' construction o' a composite-only airframe (i.e. Arrr! no paper or phenolic inside), me hearties, shiver me timbers, fin attachment on minimum diameter airframes, shiver me timbers, filling, and primin' (ready t' paint). This video has some overlap with t' previous video, as it repeats t' process o' building a composite only airframe. Blimey! Ahoy! However, he also demonstrates how t' get various finishes usin' mylar, arrr, breather material, etc. Ahoy! This Volume will be most useful to people who really want t' build an all composite, minimum diameter rocket. Although I probably won't be doin' exactly what he demonstrates, shiver me timbers, I'm sure I'll use his techniques for fin attachment, coupler construction, and for easily determinin' if your surface is perfectly smooth, shiver me timbers, me hearties, just t' name a few.

Volume 3 details t' vacuum baggin' process. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! In this tape, Dave constructs three structures: a flat carbon sheet, a complex fin structure that is tapered root t' tip and has beveled leadin' and trailin' edges, me bucko, and a half mold o' a conical nose cone. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I pretty much skimmed through this video since I currently have no plans t' do any vacuum bagging. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! However, ya bilge rat, matey, I found two things about this tape that bothered me. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' first is that two o' t' demonstrations require a mold, which I don't know how t' make. Avast! Blimey! T' second is that a method to vacuum bag tubes isn't provided. In this video, Dave states that vacuum bagging is nay a good technique for tubes, matey, and that t' tape method should be used. However, me bucko, matey, Volume 1 conveys that t' tape method is nay applicable t' larger tubes without a curin' oven. Arrr! Blimey! This may be a fundamental limitation o' the materials/techniques, but I still would have liked t' have seen him vacuum bag a tube. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

Finally, I want t' address one statement that me wife made while I was watchin' t' videos. Begad! Begad! She said, "gee, it sounds like he only made these videos so you will buy his products." While Dave does make use o' many of the products he sells, me bucko, he does point out other good products out thar that can do similar things. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! There is nothin' in t' video that you could nay do with competin' products. I have only used one o' t' products he sells (SuperFil epoxy filler) and have found it t' be an excellent product. In addition, Dave is helpful, me hearties, his service is prompt, and he actually builds rockets with this stuff! I suspect that his motivation t' make t' videos may in fact be to promote t' use o' composites in rocketry, arrr, and help sell products, but this does NOT diminish t' value o' t' tapes!

Summary:
I feel Volume 1 is a must-buy for anyone interested in doin' any fiberglassing. It is definitely a "5". Begad! Volume 2 also had a lot o' useful tips, however, me hearties, if you have Volume 1 and are an experienced modeler, shiver me timbers, you will get less out o' it than from Volume 1. Ya scallywag! Begad! I give this one a "4". Begad! Finally, the third tape is nay as useful for a wide audience, so I give it a "3". If I had seen t' tapes in advance, I personally would still want t' first two volumes t' look back on as I started applyin' t' techniques presented. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I also have t' point out that when you buy all three tapes, you get a free roll of heat tape - so thar isn't much financial reason nay t' get all three. Ahoy! Begad! In the final analysis, I rate t' whole set a "4.5". Aye aye! Blimey!

In closing, I want t' extend me appreciation t' Dave for supportin' the DesCon with such a great prize, and t' Bob Fortune for runnin' t' contest. Thank guys!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5