Brief:
T' Madcow HOJO M50 mid-power rocket kit is a fun kit t' build and fly. Ahoy! T' kit comes with precise laser cut parts and all o' t' extras. Avast! If you were talkin' about a car, shiver me timbers, you would say it is loaded. Aye aye! Begad! Madcow kits tend t' be priced on the higher end but well worth it!

Construction:
Parts list:

• 1 custom balsa nose cone
• 1 custom balsa transition
• 1 custom balsa tail cone
• 1 pre-slotted body tube
• 1 centerin' ring
• 1 29mm motor tube
• 4 laser-cut fins
• 1 eye bolt, shiver me timbers, nut, and washer
• 1 NC shoulder coupler
• 1 NC shoulder bulkhead
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® shock cord section
• 1 nylon shock cord section
• 1 flameproof chute protector
• 1 24" Nylon chute
• 2 ¼" launch lugs
• 2 launch lug spacers

I purchased two kits from Madcow, me bucko, and they arrived well packed and in excellent shape. Begad! Inside t' heavy plastic bag, me hearties, arrr, t' balsa nose cone and boat tail were wrapped in heavy corrugated paper with separate bags for t' smaller parts.

T' straightforward instructions are printed on five sheets o' 8.5" x 11" paper folded in half. Ya scallywag! Five minute epoxy is suggested for t' entire build, shiver me timbers, but it could also easily be built usin' yellow wood glue. Begad! Well, blow me down! I used a combination o' thirty minute epoxy (it is what I had) and Titebond II wood glue. Well, blow me down! I used t' epoxy t' build and install the motor mount as well as t' nose cone and coupler and wood glue for t' fins and fillets. Ahoy! Ahoy!

I started with t' nose cone and boat tail. Avast, me proud beauty! T' two piece nose cone requires a 1 inch wide by 1.5 inch hole drilled in t' wide end o' each piece for t' lead weight, 4oz in each hole. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Once t' epoxy is cured, the two pieces need t' be joined with epoxy, although you could certainly use wood glue. Ahoy! It is critical t' make sure the pieces are joined evenly and do nay wobble when you spin it. Aye aye! While t' nose cone was curin' I applied water diluted Elmer's Wood Filler t' t' boat tail and nose cone once it be cured then sanded both smooth usin' 320 grit sand paper. They both got 3 coats o' Minwax Polycrylic sandin' lightly in betwixt each, leavin' a nice smooth finish. Ahoy! T' next step for me was t' nose cone shoulder/ballast box usin' epoxy. Avast! This consists o' a nose cone shoulder, eye bolt, washer and nut. Well, blow me down! Begad! Once assembled t' unit is epoxied t' t' base o' t' nose cone. Begad!

T' rest o' t' build is straightforward. Begad! I tapered t' leadin' edge o' t' fins and filled and sanded them smooth (not that they required it). Aye aye! I built t' motor mount with epoxy tyin' t' Keelhaul®©™® to t' motor tube and feedin' it through t' notch in t' centerin' rin' makin' sure t' centerin' rin' and boat tail line up with t' fin slots. Once cured, matey, arrr, I installed it in t' body tube with epoxy. Avast! Blimey! T' fins are installed into the slots, matey, and t' fit and finish o' these parts is fantastic. Arrr! Blimey! Here I used Titebond II wood glue.

Finishing:
There are no suggestions for finishin' t' M50, matey, except for t' picture on t' instructions. Avast, me proud beauty! I found details online. Avast! I primed t' entire rocket with Kilz, ya bilge rat, sandin' most o' it off with 220 grit, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, 400 grit, ya bilge rat, and 600 grit sandpaper, arrr, leavin' a smooth finish for paint. Begad! Well, blow me down! I painted t' entire rocket with Rustoleum Painters Touch semi-gloss white. Blimey! Allowin' the rocket t' dry thoroughly it was then masked and three fins were Rustoleum Painters Touch painted gloss black. Aye aye! T' nose cone be also masked and painted Rustoleum Painters Touch light gray gloss then Rustoleum Painters Touch gloss black. T' stripes were cut from Top Flite Trim Monokote.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight I chose a Road Runner F60R-4, me bucko, shiver me timbers, which is nay a recommended motor but accordin' t' RockSim a perfect choice. Begad! Blimey! T' motor be friction fit with maskin' tape wound around t' motor in a spiral. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' chute was packed inside t' Nomex® pad; both were attached t' t' shock cord. Arrr! T' two wire igniter was inserted and held in usin' maskin' tape around the nozzle with two small cuts for venting. T' motor lit launchin' t' M50 in 8-15mph winds. There be a nice initial boost but t' M50 corkscrewed a bit on t' way up, and ejection took place at apogee. Aye aye! Arrr! It is hard t' say what caused the corkscrew, as it could have been rod whip or builder error (nose cone balance). Arrr! Other than that it be an impressive flight. Avast, me proud beauty! It will fly again.

Recovery:
Recover was perfect. It was a nice gentle landin' under t' 24" nylon chute with no damage.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Madcow Honest John M50 is an impressive kit with high quality parts. Ya scallywag! T' fit, finish and laser cuttin' are second to none. Some may question t' lack o' motor retention, but I think friction fittin' works just fine. T' one tricky part t' t' build be t' two piece nose cone. Other than that, t' build is uncomplicated. This is good kit for first time mid-power builders. Begad! T' M50 can be launched on a wide selection o' F and G 29mm motors. Aye aye! This is an excellent kit and is well worth your rocketry funds. Avast! Begad!

PROs:

• High quality parts, excellent laser cutting, fit and finish
• Good instructions makin' for an uncompleted build

CONs:

• Lack o' motor retention for some, does nay bother me
• Price but this kit is loot well spent
• T' nose cone could be less complicated if t' nose weight was preinstalled. Ahoy!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5