(05/25/00) Recently BSD High Power Rocketry has started sellin' kits again and although they are a new name, matey, they are nay new t' rocketry. BSD is run by Scott Binder who initially designed all o' t' Binder Design kits. Aye aye! So, shiver me timbers, now operatin' under BSD High Power Rocketry, shiver me timbers, Scott is offerin' several kits but one in particular caught me eye. Avast, me proud beauty! T' Diablo. Arrr! Blimey! It is what I call a "stubby" rocket, arrr, havin' less than a 10:1 length t' diameter ratio. Well, blow me down! In t' Diablo's case it is 8.25:1 bein' 33" in length and 4" in diameter.

See my 4" Stubby Rocket Comparison Page

T' looks o' t' Diablo also caught me eye, bein' a short rocket, usin' three fins and t' finish as displayed on BSD's website. Ya scallywag! Even though I noticed t' finish, I never expected t' get t' decals displayed because many high power kits just don't come with decals. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! So this is a major positive for BSD's Diablo, me hearties, ya bilge rat, because quite frankly t' decals are what differentiate it from t' looks o' any other 3FNC rocket out there.

T' Diablo includes a 17" long paper (LOC Style) glassine coated airframe. Begad! It is pre-marked for t' three fin slots and t' 1/2" launch lug. T' plastic nose cone makes up t' remainin' length. Aye aye! There are three (3) 3/16" thick plywood fins that are pre-cut. Well, blow me down! There are also two (2) 1/8" thick composite centerin' rings (very smooth on one side and very rough on t' other). Aye aye! T' motor mount is 38mm and 8" in length. Avast! The recovery system consists o' a 1/4" eye-bolt and a Quick Link that is combined with a 4-foot 1" wide nylon shock cord strap and a 10-foot 1" wide elastic shock cord. Arrr! Lastly a 30" blue nylon parachute is added. Also included are 4 sheets o' decals!

CONSTRUCTION:

BSD is tryin' t' draw attention t' their "best instructions available", so I should comment on those first. Other high power kits that I have built have had minimal, shiver me timbers, but usually adequate, instructions but were clearly written for individuals with quite a bit o' experience. Begad! So, by initial comparison, BSD has put together a nice instruction booklet. Eight (8) pages o' fully illustrated and photo-illustrated instructions takin' t' builder from an inventory t' flying. They are well written and include helpful hints that can be applied t' building any future rocket. Some o' t' hints cover successful airframe cuttin' for the fin slots, matey, protectin' your Fin Alignment Guide from glues, ya bilge rat, usin' fillers in fin fillets.

Each instruction step is clear and thar are associate photo-illustrations t' help "see" what is expected. Begad! This approach will allow even those with little experience t' build t' kit. Blimey! Blimey! T' kit could be built by someone with just a couple o' Estes' kits under their belts in my opinion. Ya scallywag! T' instructions even "walk" you through t' finishin' steps thoroughly.

T' motor mount is assembled usin' t' two composite centerin' rings (I put t' smooth side out). Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' upper centerin' rin' is used to mount t' 1/4" Eye-Bolt. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' nylon shock cord strap is attached t' the Eye-bolt usin' a Quick-Link. I drilled two holes in t' lower centerin' rin' to insert two t-nuts for motor retention later. I had t' add a small spacer to keep t' t-nuts flush with t' exposed side o' t' centerin' ring.

Havin' t' cut t' fin slots into t' airframe is always "extra" work, me bucko, however, with t' paper airframe it is nay too bad. Aye aye! BSD had t' lines pre-drawn so you just have t' follow them. Avast! Begad! Once these are cut the fins are through-the-wall mountin' and go all t' way t' t' 38mm motor mount.

T' cuts o' t' wood components were excellent. Aye aye! Avast! Perfect match for t' three fins. Ahoy! T' centerin' rings required very little sandin' for a nice fit inside t' airframe.

I replaced t' the 1/2" launch lug with two 1/4" launch lugs (the instructions say to use at least a 3/8" rod). T' two 1/4" launch lugs I used were from Budget Rocketry. They are plastic launch lugs with 45° cuts on both side and a slightly flattened back t' allow for better adhesion. Ya scallywag! Blimey! One nice thin' about them, me hearties, is even after t' primin' and paintin' they still accepted a 1/4" rod without havin' t' clean out all o' t' over-spray.

One interestin' little item that be noticed durin' the build o' this rocket, was that t' fins never lined up correctly accordin' to the provided fin alignment guide. Arrr! Ahoy! T' issue was discovered that t' pre-marked fin lines on t' tube were about off on one fin. Arrr! I noted that two seem t' be 4 1/8" apart and then one was 4 3/8". Avast! No one can tell by eye, but when tryin' t' line up two o' t' fins t' third fin never hit the mark. Well, blow me down! O' course, me bucko, I discovered this after I had cut t' fin slots. Arrr! I notified BSD and they assured me it would be addressed immediately.

For finishing, me hearties, I didn't use anythin' t' fill t' spirals, nor did t' instructions indicate it was needed. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! In fact, arrr, this tubin' really doesn't have deep spirals at all. Begad! Therefore, I was successful in usin' several coats o' Plasti-Kote Sandable Primer. T' instructions are again very thorough in describin' how t' finish t' rocket with several coats of primer, sanding, matey, arrr, wipin' down with a tack cloth and paintin' with light coats. Well, blow me down! I did one very heavy coat o' primer and then focused on t' spirals with a coat only aimed at t' spirals. Avast! After sandin' down t' body was ready.

I used me normal method for finishin' plastic nose cones which involves sandin' with 150 grit sand paper until all shine is removed. The hittin' it with a heavy coat o' Plasti-Kote Primer t' fill in all t' scratches I made. I use several thick coats directly on t' nose cone seam and then sand it back until t' seam is filled. Blimey! Once t' seam is filled I change over t' a 340-400 grit paper. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I have never had nose cone paint chippin' issues usin' this technique.

I picked a Rustoleum Metallic paint. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Copper! It came out very nice (to me).

I then applied t' provided decals. Avast! Blimey! I must admit this was t' toughest part o' buildin' this rocket. Arrr! Ahoy! Blimey! They are self-adhesive vinyl. There was a silver, black and maroon strip, me hearties, matey, black DIABLO letterin' and silver BSD lettering. Begad! Begad! Blimey! In addition, thar was silver, ya bilge rat, black and maroon fin decals.

T' most trouble I had be linin' up t' strips since they come in two pieces and are t' overlap where they meet. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It was challenging to keep them evenly spaced and I would like another chance at it, me bucko, but once these decals are down, me bucko, they are down for good. Another little difference was how me fin decals had t' go on. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Although similar in looks, they did nay match the picture. Begad! Begad! I even had t' cut t' bottom o' t' silver ones t' match t' angle of t' fins.

After t' decals were complete, I hit t' entire rocket with coat o' Rustoleum Clear Coat.

All in all, me hearties, despite me minor difficulties in strivin' for perfection with t' decals, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I have a very nice lookin' rocket!

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. Ahoy! Instructions are indeed excellent as advertised. Begad! The components are o' good quality. A solid recovery system and most important for that distinguishin' look . Well, blow me down! . Ahoy! . decals.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Download RockSim file here! This file is set up with a 29mm adapter. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! Remove it t' use as a 38mm kit. Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! T' weight is setup for with t' 29mm adapter.

BSD indicates that the Diablo can be flown on as little as an F25, but recommends a G35 for t' first flight. It also recommends t' followin' 29mm motors: G80T, me hearties, shiver me timbers, arrr, G64W, shiver me timbers, H128W, H180W and t' followin' 38mm motors: H123W, I154J, I161W and I211W. Here are the altitudes that Apogee's RockSim says it will get. Ahoy! Arrr! Simulations are based on the actual weight o' me finished Diablo which was 34½ ounces. Begad! BSD indicates that t' finished and ready t' fly weight is betwixt 28 t' 48 ounces.

For me first flight I choose an EconoJet G35-4. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! After makin' a 29mm adapter and preppin' a motor retention clip I was ready.

T' instructions indicate how t' pack a chute and also suggest waddin' material. I used a Large Pratt Hobbies Nomex® Heat Shield which fit perfectly. Avast! I attached it about 10" above t' body tube on t' nylon strap. Avast! Most o' t' shock cord and parachute fit within the Heat Shield fully protectin' them!

After testin' t' field out with a couple o' smaller rockets, ya bilge rat, arrr, matey, I set up t' Diablo for her maiden voyage.
5, arrr, arrr, 4, 3, 2, 1 . Aye aye! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! . Aye aye! . Blimey! roar! Nice and loud EconoJets!

It be a relatively slow lift off and a nice and straight flight. She still had a bit o' steam left upon ejection but it was a good match. Ahoy! T' parachute deployed smartly and she descended. Descent rate be on the slower side but still good. It looked like it was goin' into a tree but missed, only t' hit pretty hard on t' edge o' t' road. T' brunt o' impact was taken by t' EconoJet thankfully. Begad! It be chipped and cracked, but no damage to t' Diablo except for a couple o' small paint chips at t' bottom edge.

So, arrr, that was great fun, me hearties, arrr, let's use t' other G35 in the EconoJet pack! Blimey! Re-Prepped and started t' countdown . Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! . . Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! 5, me bucko, arrr, 4, 3, matey, 2, 1. Ahoy! Blimey! No roar this time, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, matey, just one big POP!

T' motor blew apart sendin' t' nozzle somewhere and also cracked t' motor at t' propellant and delay charge.

No damage t' t' rocket, me bucko, matey, but no second flight for t' day either.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, matey, I would rate this kit 5 points. This is only based off o' one flight, however, shiver me timbers, matey, it was super straight and recovery was perfect. Begad! I will fly her again on G's and once I find a bit larger field, I have an H128 with Diablo's name on it! After those flights, if I feel any different about flight and recovery, I'll update the review.

UPDATE: Well, me bucko, I be able t' put t' Diablo up again. Ya scallywag! This time on a G64-7. Well, matey, blow me down! This motor is a good match for this rocket! Excellent "straight-as-an-arrow" boost, ya bilge rat, with a picture perfect ejection at absolute apogee. Begad! It was wonderful! Flight hit t' 1000 foot mark. Aye aye! I reefed t' parachute t' ensure a faster descent this time. Ahoy! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' rocket landed in a very shallow stream, but I be thar within seconds t' retrieve it. Well, blow me down! No damage.

Overall, t' Diablo is a very nice "stubby" rocket that is built with good quality o' parts and truly has some o' the "best instructions available". Avast! I would recommend this as an excellent Level I certification kit because even on an H128 she will only fly t' about 1500 feet. Avast, me proud beauty! One can certainly enjoy t' entire flight at that altitude. Begad! My level 1 certification went t' nearly 3000 feet and that be just too high for me to enjoy t' entire flight (as you can tell, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I'm nay an altitude junky, arrr, I like to stay under that 2K ceiling). Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. Well, blow me down! Aye aye!

We now include our own motor retention system in t' Diablo kit at no extra charge! T' system is essentially two T-nuts that are built into t' aft centerin' rin' durin' initial construction. Begad! Two 6-32 bolts hold two clips that retain t' motor casin' in t' rocket. Avast! Can be retro-fitted t' already built models, shiver me timbers, too! Great review, thanks! - Scott Binder (BSD High Power Rocketry)