Brief:
First, arrr, I want t' point out that thar be already a review o' this product, shiver me timbers, and I concur with EMRR’s opinions. However, I received this kit as a prize from the Fantasy Rocket Photo Contest, matey, shiver me timbers, and felt that t' least that I could do is write a review. Avast, me proud beauty! When EMRR offered me t' Snipe as a replacement for t' advertised kit (which was a no-show), matey, arrr, it didn’t take me long t' warm up t' this nice sized, ya bilge rat, matey, 24mm cluster rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I haven’t built many clusters, shiver me timbers, and thought this one would be fun on a trio o' E9s.

Construction:
T' Snipe is 2.6” in diameter and 58.5 inches long (actual measurement - t' instructions say its only 56”). Avast! Aye aye! Blimey! T' main tube is 30” long, ya bilge rat, t' payload bay is 15”, arrr, and t' plastic nosecone is 13 inches. T' three rounded fins remind me o' a template that Estes used t' provide in their Designer’s Special, and which I had used many years ago for a rocket I built for me daughter. T' fins, shiver me timbers, payload bulkhead, and two centerin' rings are all 1/8” ply. Blimey! Blimey! While t' fins were very neatly cut, t' rings were slightly rough. Arrr! This, ya bilge rat, matey, matey, however, shiver me timbers, me hearties, arrr, isn’t a problem. Ya scallywag! Blimey! There are three long 24mm motor tubes, shiver me timbers, which are long enough t' handle any available 24mm motors. T' recovery system consists o' an 18” steel cable, ~9’ length o' ½” elastic, and a 28” nylon chute. Avast, me proud beauty! T' cable is pre-attached t' t' front CR and has a loop on t' other end. An eyebolt is used t' attach t' elastic t' t' payload bulkhead plate.

This is an easy rocket t' build. T' instructions are on one double-sided 8 ½” x 11” sheet and are generally adequate. Begad! I first built t' fin can per t' instructions. Avast, me proud beauty! I did this while I be workin' on a bigger project and went ahead and glued on both rings. Arrr! Avast! I normally don’t glue on t' aft rin' until I’ve had a chance t' add internal fillets, but wasn’t payin' attention this time. Ya scallywag! Unfortunately, t' fins only have ½” tabs, arrr, which are nay long enough t' reach t' motor mount assembly. Blimey! Havin' had mid power rockets with both through t' wall and surface mount fins, arrr, I know that internal fillets would have been a good idea on this rocket. It be suggested that I could glue on t' fins, add internal fillets, ya bilge rat, and notch t' forward CR so t' motor mount would slide in. Begad! However, me hearties, I found that one o' t' notches would interfere with t' steel shock cable that be pre-installed. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Therefore, shiver me timbers, arrr, I punted.

T' fin slots are nay pre cut, but were pre-marked. I didn’t trust t' markin' so I double checked them, findin' that they were very accurate. Begad! T' slots were easy t' cut with a sharp Exacto knife. Ahoy! Arrr! I inserted t' motor mount and then glued t' fins on with hefty doses o' t' black rubberized CA. Begad! Since t' fin tabs are only about half as long as t' fins, matey, arrr, I was able t' partially extract t' mount and gain access t' t' back o' t' tabs. Arrr! Avast! I formed thin rolls o' LocTite epoxy putty and laid them against t' fin tabs. Begad! I used a long thin screwdriver, dipped in rubbin' alcohol, ya bilge rat, t' compress them against t' fin joints. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! I have never tried this before, only time will tell whether it was a good idea.

T' payload assembly was typical, consistin' o' a coupler, pre-drilled bulkhead, and eyebolt hardware. Well, blow me down! For motor retention, I cut t' head off a small bolt and epoxied it into t' gap betwixt t' three motor tubes. Avast, me proud beauty! A small washer and a bolt should hold t' three motors nicely.

Finishing:
I filled t' fins with Fill ‘n Finish and gave it one coat o' white primer. For t' first time, I tried plasti-kote Fleck Stone. Ahoy! I got t' ‘Manhattan Mist’, me bucko, ya bilge rat, which is gray with black and white spots. Avast! Ahoy! This is interestin' stuff. It spurts out o' t' can like a giant ‘raspberry’ and leaves a coatin' that looks like a stone surface. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Maybe nay optimal for rockets (too rough), but interesting. I bought this brand over t' competitor because it be cheaper, only t' find that you also need a sealer, shiver me timbers, me bucko, which t' competitor includes. Well, blow me down! After some testing, I used Testor’s clear acrylic over t' Fleck Stone finish. Finally, ya bilge rat, t' add some contrast, me hearties, I painted t' nose cone with Rustoleum Hammered Gold.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I used t' parachute that was supplied with t' kit and a home-made protector made from a car air bag. Ahoy! I wrapped tape around three E9-4’s and then installed t' nut and washer t' hold them in. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! For ignition duties, me hearties, me hearties, I used three Igniterman igniters. These long igniters are easier t' prep, me hearties, and provided an added guarantee o' reliable ignition. They are overkill for these BP motors.

T' kit weighed in at 22 oz on me home scale and Rocksim said it would be about 28 oz with t' E9s (I didn’t have t' motors t' weigh it loaded). Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' launch was slow and thar was a slight wobble in t' first 20 feet until t' rocket came up t' speed. Arrr! Arrr! It easily reached 1000 ft, and ejection appeared t' be just before apogee. Aye aye! T' stock chute seemed fine. Ahoy! T' rocket banged into t' side o' a metal barn, matey, but be undamaged.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Even though this is a standard 3FNC rocket, shiver me timbers, its stylin' is somewhat unique due t' t' curved fins and long nosecone. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! It was easy t' build, me bucko, arrr, but t' fin tabs should be long enough t' touch t' motor mount assembly. Well, blow me down! Barrin' this, matey, t' instructions should have told you t' wait t' glue in t' aft CR until you have added internal fillets. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' flight on t' E9s was cool. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Three F’s should really rock!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5