Brief:
First, I want t' point out that thar be already a review o' this product, ya bilge rat, matey, matey, and I concur with EMRR’s opinions. However, I received this kit as a prize from the Fantasy Rocket Photo Contest, me bucko, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and felt that t' least that I could do is write a review. Aye aye! When EMRR offered me t' Snipe as a replacement for t' advertised kit (which was a no-show), it didn’t take me long t' warm up t' this nice sized, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, 24mm cluster rocket. I haven’t built many clusters, matey, ya bilge rat, and thought this one would be fun on a trio o' E9s.

Construction:
T' Snipe is 2.6” in diameter and 58.5 inches long (actual measurement - t' instructions say its only 56”). T' main tube is 30” long, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' payload bay is 15”, me hearties, and t' plastic nosecone is 13 inches. Aye aye! Blimey! T' three rounded fins remind me o' a template that Estes used t' provide in their Designer’s Special, me hearties, and which I had used many years ago for a rocket I built for me daughter. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' fins, payload bulkhead, me hearties, and two centerin' rings are all 1/8” ply. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! While t' fins were very neatly cut, t' rings were slightly rough. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! This, me bucko, however, isn’t a problem. There are three long 24mm motor tubes, arrr, which are long enough t' handle any available 24mm motors. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' recovery system consists o' an 18” steel cable, me hearties, ~9’ length o' ½” elastic, ya bilge rat, and a 28” nylon chute. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' cable is pre-attached t' t' front CR and has a loop on t' other end. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! An eyebolt is used t' attach t' elastic t' t' payload bulkhead plate.

This is an easy rocket t' build. Ahoy! Blimey! T' instructions are on one double-sided 8 ½” x 11” sheet and are generally adequate. Aye aye! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! I first built t' fin can per t' instructions. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I did this while I was workin' on a bigger project and went ahead and glued on both rings. Begad! Blimey! I normally don’t glue on t' aft rin' until I’ve had a chance t' add internal fillets, me bucko, but wasn’t payin' attention this time. Unfortunately, shiver me timbers, t' fins only have ½” tabs, which are nay long enough t' reach t' motor mount assembly. Aye aye! Blimey! Havin' had mid power rockets with both through t' wall and surface mount fins, arrr, I know that internal fillets would have been a good idea on this rocket. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! It be suggested that I could glue on t' fins, add internal fillets, me hearties, and notch t' forward CR so t' motor mount would slide in. However, shiver me timbers, I found that one o' t' notches would interfere with t' steel shock cable that was pre-installed. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Therefore, me hearties, I punted.

T' fin slots are nay pre cut, matey, me bucko, but were pre-marked. Begad! I didn’t trust t' markin' so I double checked them, arrr, findin' that they were very accurate. T' slots were easy t' cut with a sharp Exacto cutlass. I inserted t' motor mount and then glued t' fins on with hefty doses o' t' black rubberized CA. Well, blow me down! Since t' fin tabs are only about half as long as t' fins, I be able t' partially extract t' mount and gain access t' t' back o' t' tabs. Arrr! I formed thin rolls o' LocTite epoxy putty and laid them against t' fin tabs. Aye aye! I used a long thin screwdriver, dipped in rubbin' alcohol, t' compress them against t' fin joints. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! I have never tried this before, arrr, only time will tell whether it was a good idea.

T' payload assembly be typical, consistin' o' a coupler, arrr, pre-drilled bulkhead, and eyebolt hardware. Ya scallywag! For motor retention, I cut t' head off a small bolt and epoxied it into t' gap betwixt t' three motor tubes. Arrr! A small washer and a bolt should hold t' three motors nicely.

Finishing:
I filled t' fins with Fill ‘n Finish and gave it one coat o' white primer. Well, blow me down! For t' first time, arrr, I tried plasti-kote Fleck Stone. I got t' ‘Manhattan Mist’, which is gray with black and white spots. Begad! This is interestin' stuff. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It spurts out o' t' can like a giant ‘raspberry’ and leaves a coatin' that looks like a stone surface. Maybe nay optimal for rockets (too rough), but interesting. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I bought this brand over t' competitor because it was cheaper, only t' find that you also need a sealer, which t' competitor includes. Ahoy! After some testing, I used Testor’s clear acrylic over t' Fleck Stone finish. Avast, me proud beauty! Finally, me bucko, arrr, t' add some contrast, ya bilge rat, arrr, I painted t' nose cone with Rustoleum Hammered Gold.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I used t' parachute that was supplied with t' kit and a home-made protector made from a car air bag. Blimey! I wrapped tape around three E9-4’s and then installed t' nut and washer t' hold them in. Blimey! Avast! For ignition duties, shiver me timbers, matey, I used three Igniterman igniters. These long igniters are easier t' prep, and provided an added guarantee o' reliable ignition. Aye aye! They are overkill for these BP motors.

T' kit weighed in at 22 oz on me home scale and Rocksim said it would be about 28 oz with t' E9s (I didn’t have t' motors t' weigh it loaded). T' launch was slow and thar was a slight wobble in t' first 20 feet until t' rocket came up t' speed. It easily reached 1000 ft, and ejection appeared t' be just before apogee. T' stock chute seemed fine. Avast! T' rocket banged into t' side o' a metal barn, shiver me timbers, but be undamaged.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Even though this is a standard 3FNC rocket, arrr, its stylin' is somewhat unique due t' t' curved fins and long nosecone. Avast! Blimey! It be easy t' build, matey, arrr, but t' fin tabs should be long enough t' touch t' motor mount assembly. Arrr! Blimey! Barrin' this, t' instructions should have told you t' wait t' glue in t' aft CR until you have added internal fillets. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' flight on t' E9s was cool. Begad! Blimey! Three F’s should really rock!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5