Brief:
Described as "High-Powered Thrills in a Mid-Powered Rocket". This is a single-staged, me bucko, 3 X 24mm cluster rocket that builds out t' 52.5 inches in length with a diameter o' 4 inches. Ya scallywag! A 3FNC for those who like t' cluster 24mm motors.

Construction:
T' kit, which be packaged in it's shippin' box and nay bagged, consisted o' two 4-inch diameter main body tubes, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, three 24mm motor mount tubes, fiberboard centerin' rings, three motor retention hooks, matey, shiver me timbers, me bucko, one PVC nose cone, shiver me timbers, three 3/16-inch thick hard balsa fins, matey, a paper sheet o' fin coverings, me bucko, a 36-inch red rip-stop nylon parachute, matey, arrr, me bucko, a 1/4-inch X 60-inch elastic shock cord, me bucko, and an eye bolt and nut. Ahoy! Arrr! T' smaller parts were enclosed in a small plastic bag, arrr, as was t' parachute.

T' kit instructions, as well as t' construction o' t' model, were all very straightforward. I used 5-minute epoxy throughout t' build. T' three motor mount tubes, after t' hooks were inserted and secured, were epoxied together and then fitted into t' centerin' rings. T' unit was then installed into t' lower main airframe tube. Avast, me proud beauty! T' fins feature a through-the-wall t' t' motor mount set-up. T' shock cord mount be different from anythin' I've seen in a kit before. Avast, me proud beauty! Picture a fiberboard disc or plate 4 inches in diameter with a half-moon cut out o' one side. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' t' remainin' material, t' eye bolt is passed through and secured with a nut on t' backside. Here's where I got a bit skittish. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I understand t' need t' save weight in a rocket this size that is designed t' be powered with 3 BP motors, ya bilge rat, but I strengthened this setup. I epoxied a couple o' strips o' 0.25" x 0.25" x 4" hard balsa on both sides (before installin' t' mount, obviously) in hopes o' beefin' it up.

Finishing:
As I mentioned in t' parts rundown, matey, ya bilge rat, t' fins feature a paper coverin' method, shiver me timbers, me hearties, one that I had nay used before. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! And frankly, I don't know that I'd use again. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' method was really very simple, but I didn't like t' way they finished out. Well, blow me down! Maybe it's that fact that t' root, leading, tip chord, matey, me hearties, and trailin' edges o' t' fins are nay covered, and no matter how much you try, ya bilge rat, matey, they just don't blend in with t' rest o' t' fin. Avast! OK, arrr, OK, arrr, me bucko, shiver me timbers, maybe it's just me... Avast! T' decals supplied with t' kit were a bit fussy, arrr, and if you desire t' replicate t' manufacturer's scheme, me hearties, you'll need t' custom cut t' fin stripes. Also, t' blue-fade-to-white featured at t' top o' t' body tube as seen on t' Mercury Engineerin' website is nay included as a decal. Arrr! So, arrr, shiver me timbers, I just got out t' old trim Monokote and fashioned somethin' similar, a light blue band over a navy blue one. Well, blow me down! That combined with t' white body tube, reminds me o' t' Toronto Argonauts uniform. (You have t' follow t' CFL t' get that one.)

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight, I used a cluster o' three Estes D12-3 motors. As one would expect, arrr, t' liftoff was slow--you could almost hear t' rocket grunt as it tried t' take t' t' sky. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! But it did, arrr, shiver me timbers, poppin' t' parachute right at apogee. I immediately loaded t' Integrator up with three Estes E9-6s. This be t' way t' go--forget t' D12s. Well, blow me down! With t' E9s t' rocket had a nice, me bucko, smooth, shiver me timbers, matey, slow liftoff and attained a surprisin' (to me, shiver me timbers, anyway) altitude. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Again, deployment was right at apogee. Very satisfying!

Recovery:
T' only damage be t' one o' t' fins--the point chord edge and trailin' edges come together had some damage. Arrr! However, that suspect shock cord mount held up just fine. Well, blow me down! Given t' size o' this model, ya bilge rat, if you do fly it on D12 and E9 motors only, arrr, I would nay recommend anythin' smaller that t' 36-inch parachute included with t' kit.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
When t' kit first arrived and I opened t' box, me oldest son looked it over with me and stated "that rocket is just screamin' for a 38mm motor mount." Uh, me bucko, no Junior, you're missin' t' point. Blimey! T' kit is aimed at those who want t' fly a big rocket, me hearties, matey, but may be limited in space as well as budget. Well, blow me down! T' Estes E9-6s give this rocket a nice ride despite its size. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! No special HPR buildin' techniques are really required t' build and fly t' Integrator, arrr, but I have t' admit, I am wonderin' how she'd fly on three E15-7s... Ahoy! T' tubes, nose cone, motor mount tubes, me bucko, arrr, ya bilge rat, and hooks are all first rate quality, as are t' parachute and shock cord. Well, blow me down! And yes, t' balsa used for t' fins is o' a very high quality too. Begad! Avast! If I had t' build t' Integrator over, I'd go with lite-ply or basswood. Blimey! Begad! Just a personal preference.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5