Brief:
This is a simple, matey, ya bilge rat, high reliability, me hearties, and flexible usage sport flier from DG&A. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! It is perfect for mid or high power applications and different sized fields. Well, blow me down! It is an easy rocket t' certify L1 on due t' t' continuin' quality of DG&A kits. Ya scallywag! It is a simple 3FNC rocket with parachute deployment. Arrr! It is also a kit that can be easily modified t' your needs with DG&A components available through t' web site. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Danny is also offerin' rail buttons in red, white, shiver me timbers, and blue now, matey, so you can have a patriotic guidance system included with your kit.

Construction:
My DG&A Predator came with t' basics: Plastic nose cone, matey, 2.56" Kraft cardboard tubing, shiver me timbers, 36" Re-inforced rip-stop nylon parachute, arrr, 29mm motor mount 12" 2 high strength plywood centerin' rings, 3 Baltic birch 5 ply fins, ya bilge rat, Recovery webbing/harness, Vinyl cut decals, Body tube pre-marked for fins, Easy t' follow instructions, ya bilge rat, Fin Alignment guide, Paintin' guide

T' directions are easy t' understand and include pictures. Aye aye! T' assembly order is easy t' follow for t' beginner or t' experienced rocketeer. There is a piece o' paper included that will serve as a fin alignment guide for fin attachment. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! You have t' cut out t' slots on t' body tube for t' fins t' go through. T' fins are then attached t' t' motor tube betwixt t' 2 centering rings. Begad! Begad!

I opted t' make 2 design changes in t' rocket. Aye aye! Ahoy! I got a 12" piece o' body tube and 2 extra couplers and bulkheads from Danny. Arrr! Ahoy! I used t' extra tube t' make an anti-zipper fin can, matey, per Stu Barrett's method. Blimey! I extended t' pre-marked fin slots t' t' back o' t' tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I then assembled the motor mount. Well, blow me down! Next I epoxied t' fins t' t' motor mount usin' 3 inch fiberglass tape, matey, 2 layers, and 1/2 hour epoxy. Begad! Ya scallywag! This was very strong. Begad! I then assembled the bulkhead by gluin' t' bulkplate into t' coupler. Begad! Next I drilled 6 1/4 inch holes into t' bulkplate after t' glue dried. Ya scallywag! I slid t' motor mount into the body tube and epoxied it in place. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' aft end o' t' motor tube sticks out about 3 inches from t' end o' t' fin can. Begad! I wrapped 4 layers o' 1/2 inch 6 ounce glass tape around t' aft end o' t' body tube t' cover up t' three cuts. Blimey! Begad! I then put 3 layers o' 3 inch glass tape on t' front end o' t' tube in front o' t' fins. Aye aye! Fillets were then added t' t' fins. Ya scallywag! Finally, arrr, I glued the bulkhead in place.

I am goin' t' be flyin' this rocket with t' I200's and H268's, so it needs to be strong. Avast! Plus, by buildin' a fin can, you can add what ever length body tube t' t' top for various performance features. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! You can put a short tube or a real long tube with an altimeter bay on it. Arrr! Arrr! More rocket for less money!

Next I made another bulkhead, attached t' webbin' t' it, and glued it in the forward end o' t' main body tube. Aye aye! t' webbin' will just hang out t' back end o' t' main tube. Begad! I put a screw through t' top o' t' main body tube to hold t' nose cone on, shiver me timbers, it is easier t' swap it with another rocket this way instead o' epoxyin' it in. Avast, me proud beauty! That way, ya bilge rat, if you lose another nose cone for t' same size, matey, you can just swap.

I used NHP 5 and 30 minute epoxy for most o' t' construction. I used West Systems resin for t' glass. T' fiberglass tape came from t' local hobby shop. I used a sandin' block t' sand t' finish, me hearties, and Krylon paints. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I bought some Mono-Kote and applied t' decals t' that, matey, and then put them on t' rocket for effect.

Finishing:
I am nay t' best painter, so thar be always room improvement on me finish. T' finish came out pretty glossy, ya bilge rat, and I am goin' t' wait until it flies well before I finish painting. Begad! T' main tube is bare, but t' fin can is painted. Ya scallywag! Ahoy!

I used t' included pattern t' paint a diagonal pattern on t' tubes that is t' line betwixt t' dual color model Danny has. Aye aye! I opted t' paint t' kit black, me bucko, white, and red so mine is a little different. Aye aye! You can do what you think looks good. T' vinyl decals are really nice. Begad!

You can put a wrap o' 3/4 ounce glass on and sand it out and it will get rid o' t' small lines in t' tube, ya bilge rat, they don't bother me so I left them. Danny's model looks great up close at t' launches, t' red and white are sharp.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I went t' a small non club launch we had on t' first. Aye aye! I put this rocket through it's paces with a first flight on a G-64(M) t' check stability and then when it flew tried and true, me bucko, I decided it was time t' hit it with t' big stuff. Ahoy! It flew perfect on t' G-64 with just a slight weathercock into t' 10 MPH winds and t' 35 degree temperature. Ahoy! It laid out horizontal at apogee into the winds driftin' down. Avast, me proud beauty! Due t' t' winds, I opted for a 14 inch X-form chute from me buddy Chad Ellis. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! It brought it down quick and close, me hearties, no damage, about a 1000 foot flight. Aye aye! Arrr!

I then loaded it up with a H-268R and then an I-200. Well, blow me down! These are t' big 29/360 motors that have 320 and 330 N respectively. Ahoy! Aye aye! That Redline lit and boom! it be out o' sight in no time. Avast! That huge Redline flame be great. Blimey! It must have gone ~4000 feet, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, we lost sight o' it. Begad! It took it about 5 minutes t' come down and drifted about 1/4 mile. Ya scallywag! Great flight, me hearties, no damage, took t' motor in stride. I then loaded it back up with t' I-200(M) and BOOM! same result, way out of sight. It drifted t' almost t' same spot. Blimey! Great flights on a great rocket. Aye aye! Begad! I wish Danny be thar t' see.

T' anti-zipper does nay really require wadding, arrr, as it acts like a baffle. I did put a little cellulose insulation in for good measure. Aye aye! I have not outfitted this rocket with a slimline yet, I used tape for retention. T' only con about t' rocket is I wish I had put a 38mm in it!

Recovery:
T' flight recovery be great. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I only added a smaller chute due t' t' winds and t' altitude obtained. Avast! Blimey! There was no damage at all t' t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main pro for this kit be t' quality o' materials. Begad! Begad! They are light enough for mid-power fliers, matey, but heavy duty t' take t' HPR stuff as well. T' kit is a no-brainer t' put together, ya bilge rat, due t' t' quality o' t' instructions. Ya scallywag! T' large vinyl decals are also a big plus, they look great on t' kit. Aye aye! T' only one con has been fixed, Danny upgraded all t' 2.56" kits t' 3.00". Blimey! It is also upgraded t' a 38mm mount. Ya scallywag!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5