Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

Construction:
I received t' package, arrr, and t' kit was well packaged. It included 2 main body tubes, ya bilge rat, a 3.1”x 34” long tube, me hearties, and a 2.14” x 12” body tube, as well as nose cone, ya bilge rat, me bucko, transition, me hearties, motor mount parts. Begad! Ahoy! It also comes with (6) 3.1” Tube couplers, which are used for t' fins. They are pretty durable. As well as (2) ½” diameter launch lugs. Arrr! T' only common thin' is the assembly o' t' Motor mount, ya bilge rat, and t' shock cord anchor system. Begad! I did not receive any instructions, matey, arrr, but I had some idea as t' how t' build it. Avast! Begad! I constructed t' entire motor mount assembly usin' 5-minute epoxy. Aye aye! Ahoy! I requested a 29mm motor mount, which is what he sent me.

I didn't get any instructions for this kit, as it was a Beta test. Ahoy! Blimey! But I had an idea o' how t' build it. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I looked at t' basic parts. Ya scallywag! I got a vision o' how to build it in me head, shiver me timbers, me hearties, then I got t' work. Avast! It is relatively easy for the intermediate flyer t' build. T' tube couplers are butted against each other, as well as t' airframe. Begad! Begad! Blimey! Once you get t' first coupler on, t' rest o' them are simply butted into place. Ahoy! Blimey! I used sprin' clamps t' help clamp t' portions together, me bucko, so that I could ensure a good bond betwixt couplers. T' only mod I made, was t' scuff some glassine off o' t' contact points, t' help t' epoxy adhere better. Ahoy! I used basic 5 and 15 minute epoxy. Everythin' went together without a hitch. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I cant really give any con's about this kit. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey!

Finishing:
Pros: It is rather easy t' come up with exotic ideas for paint schemes, me hearties, for instance, like I did on me rocket, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, t' give it an "exotic" touch. Arrr! Well, blow me down! I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. Arrr! Cons: If you want t' paint t' inside o' t' couplers, it will be extra work for you.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight be in March o' 2001. Ahoy! Aye aye! I used a G64-4w, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, since it be a larger diameter. Ahoy! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. Arrr! After passin' it through RSO, matey, ya bilge rat, and puttin' it on t' pad, it was time t' witness t' moment o' truth. Ya scallywag! It lit instantly, and whistled off the pad. Aye aye! T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, shiver me timbers, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. Avast! Aye aye! It drifted a little ways, but was recovered. Begad! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Upon recoverin' it, it be found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. Begad! T' simplest and quickest remedy was t' "pop" it back out. Begad! Ya scallywag!

Next up, I loaded her up with a G125-5t. Begad! A pass through RSO and she was on t' pad within 5 minutes. After t' usual countdown, t' motor lit, arrr, and it practically exploded off t' pad, arrr, ya bilge rat, and up to about 750 feet. Aye aye! T' chute deployed, and it had a flawless recovery. Aye aye! No problems with t' tubes this time. Begad!

I teamed up with a friend o' mine, me hearties, and we loaded up an H128-M for it. Avast, me proud beauty! After a few problems with igniters, me bucko, she took t' t' air, t' about 1200 feet. Ahoy! The chute deployed right on cue, ya bilge rat, arrr, and I had t' walk a little further, ya bilge rat, but it was an impressive flight, arrr, nonetheless. Ahoy!

I flew t' rocket again about a year later, on a G64, arrr, arrr, and then an H128. Both flights were flawless. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I'd suggest this kit for t' intermediate flyer, as it requires a little patience t' build, ya bilge rat, but if built right, it will bounty you with some good flights. Ahoy! This kit always gets attention at our launches. Arrr! Ya scallywag! It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5