I picked up t' Smoke and Fire kit when I bought t' A-SLAM from Thrustline Aerospace via eBay (Not thrilled with that, but did it anyway). Ahoy! Many o' Thrustline's kits draw me t' them and this one be no different. Well, blow me down! I loved t' fact that it be a larger rocket with 3x24mm cluster configuration and t' many fins and transition.

T' kit's price starts at $34.75 (startin' bid on eBay). Blimey! Interestingly, arrr, me bucko, Thrustline doesn't use t' "buy it now" feature (presently). For this price, thar be a lot o' rocket. Well, blow me down! Arrr! How can I say that? I compare it t' t' price o' an Estes Executioner E for about street price o' $31.

Like a number o' Thrustline's kits, it is based off o' t' 1.64" x 5.5" solid balsa nose cone (PNC-60MS). Begad! This attaches t' a 14" payload tube. This then uses a solid balsa transition t' a 12" piece o' BT80 (2.6") tubing. Avast! Arrr! There is plenty o' 1/8" Balsa stock for t' many fins. Ahoy! T' kit also includes two laser-cut 1/8" plywood centerin' rings, shiver me timbers, three 24mm motor tubes, thrust rings, arrr, and retainin' clips. Well, blow me down! Two 18" Mylar parachutes, shiver me timbers, Keelhaul®©™ and Elastic shock cords, me bucko, swivels, matey, and eye-screws. Well, blow me down! Thrustline provides both 1/8" and 3/16" launch lugs. Ahoy! And lastly a bag o' BB's for nose weight, matey, me bucko, .80 ounces worth.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on a 7 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper (single sided). Begad! Blimey! There are black & white photos throughout t' assist in t' assembly o' t' kit. There are fin templates and tube markin' guides made from standard printer paper. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! There are also Mylar parachute assembly instructions. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' kit would probably be considered a skill level 3 or 4 with all t' various parts and activity.

There are many parts and buildin' steps t' this kit, but let me highlight t' main events:

T' cluster motor mount is assembled first. Blimey! Begad! Interestingly, t' use o' t' provided motor hooks is optional. Arrr! Step one points out that if you'd rather friction-fit your motors then t' skip "...all t' steps that pertain t' t' engine clips". I wanted t' use them, so that meant that I need t' cut t' notches in t' lower centerin' ring. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' instructions say t' use a sharp hobby knife, ya bilge rat, but I hit it with a Dremel tool. Ya scallywag!

T' motor hooks are then added t' t' 24mm motor tubes and taped in place. Ahoy! They are then mounted into t' two centerin' rings. Ahoy! Only a light sandin' be needed on t' 1/8" plywood centerin' t' make everythin' fit.

Once dried, ya bilge rat, t' builder needs t' add a 1/16" hole t' t' top centerin' ring. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! This allows t' 26" Keelhaul®©™® shock tether t' be tied around t' three motor tubes.

T' body tubes are marked next usin' paper tube markin' guides. No issues.

I'm nay terribly happy with t' 2.6" tube. Arrr! It is Estes-like thin tubing. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I find it t' be t' weakest component and would like t' see a thicker (LOC or AT-like) 2.6" tubing. Well, blow me down! Begad! Probably would need t' add more nose weight if it be converted.

Thrustline responded t' this comment this way: "As for t' BT80 tube, I've never had any problem with it. Arrr! It's t' same tube used in t' Mike IX which I've had a lot o' success with. Avast! Ya scallywag! Blimey! As far as it bein' weak, matey, I have nay found that t' be t' case. Aye aye! Blimey! T' motor mount gives excellent rigidity t' it."

I would agree that t' motor mount gives t' bottom portion rigidity, ya bilge rat, arrr, but I found t' upper openin' as t' weak point. Just an observation I made while handlin' t' kit. Ya scallywag! Nay that big o' deal.

T' fins are then cut out usin' paper fin templates. Well, blow me down! Begad! Boy oh boy, me bucko, I rather have card stock, especially for those thin strakes.

Eye-screws and a piece o' 1/4" elastic is provided so that t' nose cone can be attached without bein' glued in place. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I didn't do this and chose t' glue me nose cone into t' payload section (which technically could no longer be called a payload section since it is no longer accessible).

T' upper tube is glued t' t' upper part o' t' balsa transition. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Then t' five (5) small strakes are added.

T' nose cone is prepared for nose weight by drillin' four 3/16" holes and usin' epoxy t' set t' BB's in place. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' center o' t' nose cone is where an eye-screw would go if you were makin' it removable for t' payload section.

Both t' 1/8" and 3/16" launch lugs are glued in place. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Why two sizes? Thrustline says, "In t' photo you'll notice I used 2 sizes stacked against each other at 2 and 8 inches from t' end o' t' body tube. Aye aye! This allows me some flexibility when choosin' launch rods at club launches. Well, blow me down! Avast! I have included 2 sizes (2 each) so that if you prefer, ya bilge rat, you can use a similar method."

Finally, matey, t' 42" long piece o' 3/8" flat shock cord is tied t' t' Keelhaul®©™ shock tether and then t' 18" parachute is added. Arrr! T' second 3/8" flat elastic is attached t' t' large end o' t' transition and then its 18" parachute is attached.

Finishing... Avast! Begad! yes, finishing. Aye aye! Get your fillers, me hearties, sand paper, and patience all together. Avast, me proud beauty! There is a lot o' balsa exposed here. Lots o' grains t' fill. Avast, me proud beauty! Lots o' joints t' sand. Aye aye! Begad! Lots o' work!

I used me typical multiple coats o' Plastic-Kote Primer and sandin' in-between. Havin' t' fill and finish t' nose cone, me hearties, t' transition, and 10 fins took a lot o' time and coats o' Plasti-Kote Filler Primer. Arrr! Begad! T' transition is hardest due t' t' grain exposure AND because t' upper fins are half glued t' t' transition! I then used Walmart White and Black paint (additional comments about Walmart paint). Begad! I painted mine with some funky patterns. Ahoy! Got a bit carried away with t' masking. Avast! Avast! I be goin' for a NASA look. Arrr! Eh, it has grown on me.

Overall, ya bilge rat, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points. Begad! Arrr! T' instructions are very good with t' photos. Avast, me proud beauty! There are a number o' buildin' options that t' builder needs t' decide on: hooks, payload nose cone, and launch lug size. Begad! Ahoy! T' parts quality was good with plenty o' balsa t' cut out t' five lower and five upper fins. Begad! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! There is a balsa (BT60) nose cone and a balsa transition. Begad! There is Keelhaul®©™ t' Elastic shock cords and mylar parachutes. Arrr! There are no decals.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Didn't find any motor recommendations in Thrustline's instructions, shiver me timbers, however these are what are listed on t' eBay page: 3x - C6-5s, me hearties, C11-5s, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, D12-5s.

Thrustline indicates t' finished rocket should weigh about 8.6 ounces. My finished rocket weighed 8.1 ounces.

I flew mine on t' 3/16" lug/rod. Ahoy! I'm nay sure I'd like t' variability that would surely come from flyin' it on a 1/8" rod (whip).

First flight be on three C11-3s. They were t' motors I had and I figured t' early ejection would nay be a big problem, especially with t' two-piece recovery method. Aye aye! Arrr! I should have waited for some C11-5's. I had a very early ejection, shiver me timbers, but that be nay t' worse o' it. Arrr! Apparently t' bulk o' waddin' I added was nay enough. Ahoy! It was 6-8 squares. Aye aye! So t' lower recovery section was badly burned, ya bilge rat, includin' t' lower 'chute. Begad! T' upper section ejected well and descended fine. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! T' lift-off be fast. Begad! I mean really fast!

I repaired t' lower 'chute and shock cord and added a Nomex heat shield. Aye aye! I then cleaned out me three C11's and drilled a larger hole in t' clay nozzle. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I inverted them and had instant 24mm-to-18mm adaptors.

I then loaded it up with three Est SU C6-5's. Excellent flight up, arrr, shiver me timbers, straight and stable. Ejection be past apogee. Arrr! Ahoy! At ejection t' lower section 'chute never opened due t' a tangle.

I loaded it up again with three Est SU C6-3's. Ya scallywag! Another slow and graceful lift-off. Well, blow me down! Avast! Slower than t' C11's, me hearties, shiver me timbers, o' course. At ejection t' upper and lower sections got tangled and it came down on only t' lower 'chute. Blimey! No damage, arrr, though.

Determined t' have success, I loaded it up again with three Est SU C6-3's. Avast! Begad! This time after repeatin' a great lift-off, me hearties, arrr, I had a fully successful parachute deployment. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Bravo!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 3 ½ points. T' Smoke and Fire looks great lifting-off on three C6's. Can't beat that slow, majestic look. It is a stable rocket as well. Begad! T' complications that come from a 2.6" body tube and a two piece deployment showed itself with me flights. Avast! All o' these can be addressed with practice, shiver me timbers, so that, me hearties, arrr, in itself, me bucko, shiver me timbers, makes this a fun rocket for flying.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 3 ½ points. Avast! I need t' say... Blimey! DON'T BUY THIS KIT if you are lookin' for an easy t' build and easy t' finish rocket! However, ya bilge rat, if you are lookin' for a moderately challengin' build and a highly challengin' finish (unless you don't care about balsa grains and paint it all one color!) then this kit could be one o' your choices.

On t' other hand, once finished, me bucko, this one can give you some nice flights. They can be more expensive since you are usin' up three motors a time... but hey, how else will you enjoy clusters?