Modifications:

1. Anti-zipper airframe
2. Full 2 layer fiberglass
3. Extra centerin' rin' - mid fin
4. Totally redesigned fins - g10 and 50's styling
5. Dual recovery
6. External access t' electronics bays
7. Internal wire race for timer air-starts
8. Custom built "Y" shock cords - 1" x 50' Tubular nylon
9. Full 98mm x 32" main motor mount
10. 6 each 29mm x 18" motor mounts
11. Custom centerin' rings
12. Internal thrust ring

I had t' buy a scroll saw just t' do t' centerin' rings. Ya scallywag! I started with 54mm t' 7.6" rings and butchered them from there. Aye aye! I also had t' buy a jig saw and abrasive saber-saw blades that were designed t' cut tile. Blimey! This be used t' cut t' massive notched G10 fins. Don't try t' learn t' fiberglass on tiny kits, ya bilge rat, nor one this big. Go medium like an EZI or similar kit. Well, me bucko, blow me down! I did it and it came out perfectly, me bucko, but I think that I was just lucky. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Use premium epoxy as t' life o' t' rocket is at stake!

Construction:
Base airframe is unchanged from t' stock LOC Bruiser. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I decided t' loose t' ridiculously small fins with massive ~14" X ~20" 50's style curved fins out o' G-10. Blimey! T' motor/fin assembly was built and stressed outside o' t' airframe and then secured into t' pre-slotted airframe. Ahoy! I also cut t' airframe t' just accommodate t' full 98mm motor mount. Arrr! This allowed for positive anti-zipper. Arrr! I reinforced t' airframe with 2 extra coupler tubes t' give me a backin' for two external electronics access doors. Ya scallywag! T' one in t' booster will house timer for air-startin' 6 outboard 29mm motors. T' payload access door allows for access t' custom altimeter bay. Well, blow me down! I also used a 1.125" ID plastic gas pipe for t' launch lug. Aye aye! I also installed drywall butterfly anchors for 3 launch lugs for Black-Sky rails.

T' rocket kit was well packaged and complete. Avast, me proud beauty! T' paper tubes were good quality and would probably hold up t' J power without modifications. Avast, me proud beauty! (Not Me). Ahoy! There were minimal instructions as expected with an advanced kit. Well, blow me down! There was a fin alignment page and construction detail sheet.

I made a big mistake while finishin' this rocket! Screwed up a PERFECT fiberglass job, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and here is how I did it: 1) Filled t' FiberGlass dimples with bondo (good idea) 2) Found most beautiful wrappin' paper that shimmered (good idea) 3) Rolled on a thick coat o' epoxy (good idea) 4) Smoothed t' wrappin' paper onto t' tubes (bad idea) T' next mornin' when I got up t' go into t' garage and view t' most awesome holographic finish! I sat and held back t' tears! T' damn paper had buckled and partially separated from t' backing. Ahoy! Obviously t' holographic material had become separated from t' white paper backin' and then stretched slightly. Ya scallywag! Looked like underwear with terribly worn out elastic. My heart was hurtin' and only 9 days from launch! I ran out and purchased an orbital sander and went through 30 full sheets o' coarse (expensive too) sand paper. Arrr! Five days later I had what could be called an Earl Schribe base for a paint job. Well, blow me down! Begad! I could nay get all o' t' epoxy ridges and valleys off. Well, blow me down! I just painted it t' best that I could. Avast, me proud beauty! I think that it came out pretty good, considerin' what I went through!

Flight:
Recommended motors with t' kit were big "I" t' big "J". Ahoy! But that was THEIR kit, and this was MINE! A 54mm K-550 was t' only choice in me head. Aye aye! Sim'ed out at 2000'. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Plenty o' room for our 5000' waiver. Avast, me proud beauty! When I built t' fin/motor unit, I planned ahead (this time) and put in 3 each 1/4-20 "T" nuts and epoxied them well on t' inside for positive motor retention ability. T' adapter (54 t' 98) that I built be short o' t' motor casing. Arrr! This allowed me t' tape t' adapter t' t' motor casin' where t' casin' protruded about 6" above t' adapter motor mount tubing. Begad! Then 3 each 1/4-20 bolts and a couple o' fender washers took care o' t' rest.

I custom built t' two shock cords. Arrr! Ahoy! Both 1"x50' fluorescent nylon webbing. Aye aye! Ahoy! I sewed in a "Y" attachment point and used steel lockin' d-rings for attachment. Arrr! I could smartly take t' whole thin' apart in a matter o' seconds and put it back together in t' same. Avast, me proud beauty! I know, matey, arrr, because I had t' double-check t' locks.

T' launch was absolutely perfect. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Nay too slow and nay too fast. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Lots-o-noise and wonderful smoke shroom! Did nay spin or even rotate, straight up. Arrr! Begad! At just below apogee, t' RRC2 controller popped me homemade ejection charge and t' 6' drogue opened perfectly! At 500' t' main charge popped and ejected t' 10' main. It be picture perfect; a HUGE chute that took about 100' and 5 seconds for t' main t' fill completely, me hearties, but it felt like 20 minutes! She landed upright and almost stayed that way. Arrr! I could have launched again in t' time t' reload. Arrr! Nay a scratch!

Summary:
T' small fins o' t' original kit are just too small. Blimey! Blimey! I think that it takes away from t' overall awesomeness o' this kit. This is a most perfect modification kit and/or easy level II. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! I have and will recommend t' LOC Bruiser t' one and all!

This kit really taught me about buildin' rockets from scratch. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I know that doesn't make any sense, but think about it. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I spent TONS o' time examinin' and redesignin' somethin' that I KNEW was already well tested. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I could concentrate on me talents and forget about t' other things. Arrr! Begad! Then I had t' take into account t' original kit design t' learn how me mods had effected it. Good method. Arrr! I will mod a lot more (and REAL soon).