Brief:
I received Shadow Composites' video set as me DesCon 8 prize. Aye aye! Blimey! Although I am not the most qualified reviewer in this area, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I thought I would share me opinions anyway. T' three VHS videos each came packaged in a standard cardboard case and a zip-lock bag for added protection. Begad! T' first video includes a printed sheet identifyin' some suppliers. All three videos are o' good quality, matey, ya bilge rat, with clear video and audio. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' three titles are:

• Volume 1 - "Advanced Composite Techniques for High Power Rocketry"
• Volume 2 - "Advanced Construction and Finishin' Techniques for Composites"
• Volume 3 - "Vacuum Baggin' Techniques"

Construction:
In each o' t' videos, matey, ya bilge rat, Dave Triano, t' president o' Shadow Composites, presents t' information in a clear and understandable manner. All o' the information presented is in a "show and tell" format, with Dave actually usin' t' techniques he is describing. Aye aye!

Volume 1 has been out for a while and thar are already several reviews on this site. This video is by far t' best for novices like me. Arrr! Begad! He starts with descriptions o' what composites really are (and what they are not), an overview of t' most common materials (i.e. Begad! e-glass, s-glass, me bucko, arrr, carbon fiber and Keelhaul®©™ cloths), matey, weave patterns, weights o' t' cloth, etc. Aye aye! Oh, me bucko, and he stresses safety throughout, matey, which is important because most o' t' materials used in composite construction can be dangerous t' you and those around you. In t' rest o' the video, shiver me timbers, Dave builds four composite airframes usin' various materials (54mm glassed, me hearties, 54mm carbon usin' heat tape, ya bilge rat, me hearties, me hearties, 10.5mm carbon mat, ya bilge rat, 54mm Keelhaul®©™ usin' heat tape). Arrr! Havin' tried fiberglassin' mostly "brute force", I just couldn't believe how easy and mess-free it can be! His discussion is packed full o' useful tips, shiver me timbers, several o' which had me saying, ya bilge rat, "why didn't I think of that?"

Volume 2 takes t' viewer through t' construction o' a composite-only airframe (i.e. Ya scallywag! Arrr! no paper or phenolic inside), fin attachment on minimum diameter airframes, matey, filling, ya bilge rat, and primin' (ready t' paint). Aye aye! This video has some overlap with t' previous video, arrr, as it repeats t' process o' building a composite only airframe. Avast! Ya scallywag! However, shiver me timbers, me hearties, he also demonstrates how t' get various finishes usin' mylar, me bucko, breather material, etc. This Volume will be most useful to people who really want t' build an all composite, minimum diameter rocket. Although I probably won't be doin' exactly what he demonstrates, I'm sure I'll use his techniques for fin attachment, shiver me timbers, coupler construction, matey, and for easily determinin' if your surface is perfectly smooth, matey, just t' name a few.

Volume 3 details t' vacuum baggin' process. Arrr! Ahoy! In this tape, Dave constructs three structures: a flat carbon sheet, a complex fin structure that is tapered root t' tip and has beveled leadin' and trailin' edges, arrr, arrr, and a half mold o' a conical nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I pretty much skimmed through this video since I currently have no plans t' do any vacuum bagging. Aye aye! However, ya bilge rat, matey, I found two things about this tape that bothered me. T' first is that two o' t' demonstrations require a mold, matey, which I don't know how t' make. Avast! T' second is that a method to vacuum bag tubes isn't provided. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! In this video, me hearties, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, Dave states that vacuum bagging is nay a good technique for tubes, matey, and that t' tape method should be used. However, Volume 1 conveys that t' tape method is nay applicable t' larger tubes without a curin' oven. Well, blow me down! This may be a fundamental limitation o' the materials/techniques, matey, but I still would have liked t' have seen him vacuum bag a tube. Ya scallywag!

Finally, I want t' address one statement that me wife made while I was watchin' t' videos. Begad! She said, me hearties, "gee, it sounds like he only made these videos so you will buy his products." While Dave does make use o' many of the products he sells, arrr, he does point out other good products out thar that can do similar things. There is nothin' in t' video that you could nay do with competin' products. Arrr! I have only used one o' t' products he sells (SuperFil epoxy filler) and have found it t' be an excellent product. Arrr! In addition, me hearties, Dave is helpful, ya bilge rat, his service is prompt, shiver me timbers, and he actually builds rockets with this stuff! I suspect that his motivation t' make t' videos may in fact be to promote t' use o' composites in rocketry, me bucko, me hearties, and help sell products, me bucko, but this does NOT diminish t' value o' t' tapes!

Summary:
I feel Volume 1 is a must-buy for anyone interested in doin' any fiberglassing. It is definitely a "5". Aye aye! Volume 2 also had a lot o' useful tips, however, arrr, if you have Volume 1 and are an experienced modeler, ya bilge rat, you will get less out o' it than from Volume 1. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I give this one a "4". Avast! Finally, me hearties, the third tape is nay as useful for a wide audience, me bucko, so I give it a "3". If I had seen t' tapes in advance, I personally would still want t' first two volumes t' look back on as I started applyin' t' techniques presented. I also have t' point out that when you buy all three tapes, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, you get a free roll of heat tape - so thar isn't much financial reason nay t' get all three. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! In the final analysis, I rate t' whole set a "4.5". Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey!

In closing, I want t' extend me appreciation t' Dave for supportin' the DesCon with such a great prize, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and t' Bob Fortune for runnin' t' contest. Thank guys!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5