Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

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

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

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

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

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

I flew t' rocket again about a year later, on a G64, 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, matey, shiver me timbers, as it requires a little patience t' build, but if built right, arrr, it will reward you with some good flights. Avast! This kit always gets attention at our launches. It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5