Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

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

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

Finishing:
Pros: It is rather easy t' come up with exotic ideas for paint schemes, me bucko, for instance, matey, shiver me timbers, like I did on me rocket, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, shiver me timbers, t' give it an "exotic" touch. Arrr! I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. Ahoy! 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 was in March o' 2001. Well, blow me down! I used a G64-4w, ya bilge rat, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, me bucko, me bucko, since it was a larger diameter. Ahoy! Avast! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. After passin' it through RSO, ya bilge rat, and puttin' it on t' pad, it was time t' witness t' moment o' truth. Arrr! It lit instantly, and whistled off the pad. Avast, me proud beauty! T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, shiver me timbers, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. It drifted a little ways, me hearties, but was recovered. Upon recoverin' it, me hearties, it be found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. T' simplest and quickest remedy be t' "pop" it back out.

Next up, matey, I loaded her up with a G125-5t. 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, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and up to about 750 feet. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' chute deployed, ya bilge rat, arrr, and it had a flawless recovery. No problems with t' tubes this time.

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

I flew t' rocket again about a year later, on a G64, shiver me timbers, and then an H128. Both flights were flawless. Arrr!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5