Brief:
This is a scale high power rocket. Ahoy! Begad! It's a very nice kit, me hearties, which was custom made for me by Blackhawk R&D. Arrr! Very easy t' deal with and you get what YOU want, and for a VERY good price!

Construction:
T' quality o' t' rocket be VERY nice. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It used flexible phenolic for tubes, 1/4" 5 ply ply-wood for fins and centerin' rings, matey, a electronics bay, PML nose cone and LOC motor tubing. I had him leave out recovery hardware since I wanted t' do me own. There were no instructions for t' kit, but if you have built a few high or mid power rockets before then its very easy t' build. You do need epoxy, shiver me timbers, CA, wood glue, etc. Ya scallywag! for assembly. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! I used 5 minute for tacking stuff down and 30 minute epoxy for doin' all t' fillets and puttin' stuff together. Blimey! When this was all built it was one VERY sturdy rocket, matey, shiver me timbers, matey, I used no fiberglass at all. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Since it's unnecessary in me opinion. Also t' altimeter bay that was included with t' kit was very nice, and it can hold up t' 2 altimeters.

Finishing:
I used Rockets o' T' World t' help with finishing. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! It is a pain t' paint as there are 6 different colors, me hearties, which takes a lot o' time t' mask t' rocket off. But is well worth t' effort because it makes t' rocket look very nice. Well, blow me down! Begad! Other then I did have a problem with me copper paint 'orange peeling', but after some work I got it t' look pretty good.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I have flown this rocket 4 times since I built it (in August o' 1999), me bucko, the first flight be with a Kosdon 54mm J480 FAST, it really ROCKED! It got up there in a hurry, very fast, straight and loud boost! I used a Olsen M2 altimeter for recovery, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' 18" drogue chute came out at apogee as planned, ya bilge rat, then at 550 feet t' main chute charge fired, me hearties, but t' main got tangled. Aye aye! It came in for a VERY ruff landin' on t' hard dirt. Begad! But thar be NO damage at all. Aye aye! Avast! T' recorded altitude on that flight was 3837 feet! I have also flown it on a Kosdon 54mm J300 FAST, a Ellis Mountain Works J330 and a Vulcan 38mm I250 Smokey Sam, all for perfect flights and recoveries!

Recovery:
Since I did nay have him include any recovery hardware, arrr, arrr, I made me own, ya bilge rat, me hearties, for shock cord mounts I used a steel cable in both t' booster and payload section, with bungee cord attached t' that with a quick link. Avast! Begad! For chutes I used a 18" chute for t' drogue and a 48" chute for t' main. Begad! Which brings the rocket down at t' right speed. Well, blow me down!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall t' rocket is very nice. Ahoy! Ahoy! I do nay recommend a custom kit by him for a first mid or high power rocket. Avast! Aye aye! But he does offer many kits with directions, recovery hardware, etc. Begad! with them that would be great for a first kit. Arrr! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I was very pleased with t' results o' t' rocket, very sturdy and flies very well. Well, me bucko, blow me down!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5