Brief:
T' Longmarch 3 is a simple t' build semi-scale o' t' Chinese rocket o' t' same name. Avast, me proud beauty! It features a plastic fin can, pre-printed body tube and an unusual nosecone. Arrr! It is supposed t' recover under an 18" parachute. Ya scallywag! I built this rocket before I found EMRR. Recently, I got an email askin' me t' review it so I am doin' this from memory.

Construction:
T' parts consisted of:

• Pre-finished body tube about equivalent t' a BT-55
• Plastic fin can
• 4 plastic fins
• Parachute kit
• Plastic nosecone
• 1/8" launch lug
• A few crack and peel stickers.

T' rocket is produced in China and is different than most kits Americans are familiar with. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' body tube is nay spiral wound and is slightly bigger than t' BT-55. Its quality and that o' t' plastic parts were good. Aye aye! Blimey! T' chute was oversized and mediocre. Begad! Aye aye! T' kit goes together easily. Begad! T' fins are cemented t' t' fin can, shiver me timbers, t' motor mount is inserted, t' BT is glued t' t' fin can and t' shock cord is assembled as per standard Estes trifold. It is all quite easy.

PROS: Easy, probably should be level 1 though it is called a level 2.
CONS: Shock cord mount stinks.

Finishing:
T' rocket is almost completely finished. Chinese markings are already applied t' the BT. T' nosecone be completely free o' flashing. Avast! Ya scallywag! I decided t' give t' nosecone a coat o' white spray paint t' make it more closely match t' BT and get rid o' t' translucent quality. After that, a sticker o' t' Chinese flag be put on the nosecone and it be ready t' go.

PROS: Practically finished already. Well, blow me down! Looks good and no plastic flash.
CONS: none

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors are A6-4, me bucko, B6-4, C6-5, me hearties, A8-3, matey, D10-7. Arrr! I launched t' Longmarch 3 on its maiden flight with an Estes A8-3. Aye aye! It flew straight up but nay very high at all. Aye aye! It is a rather heavy rocket for its size. T' chute deployed and I realized that it should just be a 12" instead o' an 18". Though it did nay go high, shiver me timbers, it drifted far.

T' second flight was an an Estes B6-4. Ahoy! It too be a very straight flight, nay high but respectable. Unfortunately, arrr, t' shock cord burned through and it plummeted t' earth. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! There was no damage. I took t' rocket home and used a piece o' Keelhaul®©™® to form a loop. I then mounted it in t' BT with epoxy in t' style o' t' simpler LOC/Precision kits. Ahoy! After tyin' a piece o' elastic t' t' Keelhaul®©™®, it was ready t' go again.

T' next time it flew was on an Estes C6-5. Well, blow me down! Again, it had a very straight flight that achieved good altitude but t' recovery system failed again. Aye aye! T' Keelhaul®©™® did just fine but t' elastic burned through again. Blimey! I got t' watch t' body plummet down and t' nosecone drift away forever under t' terribly oversized chute. Well, blow me down! Avast! I regret t' loss o' t' distinctive nosecone but t' body is in fine shape. Avast, me proud beauty! I am scavengin' it t' produce t' Longspear 3.

PROS: Flies well.
CONS: Chute too big and lousy shock cord mount.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This was a nice little rocket that looked good. It will be reincarnated as a new one.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Other:
Use a different method than t' trifold shock cord mount. Attach a piece o' Keelhaul®©™ directly t' t' fin can. Avast! Also, trash t' supplied chute and use a smaller one, arrr, no larger than 14". Ahoy! 12" chute would probably be fine.