Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. Arrr! Begad! It can use anythin' from a big E to a J570. It can easily break Mach 1 on an H, me bucko, and can reach Mach 2 on a J.

Construction:
T' Mach Buster 1 uses a fiberglassed phenolic airframe, ya bilge rat, PML solid urethane nose, Acme fin can and launch lugs, arrr, ya bilge rat, me hearties, Keelhaul®©™® heat shield and shock cord, ya bilge rat, me hearties, a Slimline circle rin' motor retainer, arrr, shiver me timbers, arrr, and an optional Slimline motor adapter. I suppose you could put a payload section on for altimeters and dual deployment.

This be a very easy build. Ya scallywag! I used 2-ton epoxy throughout. Begad! Ya scallywag! I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! The nose cone I got from PML, shiver me timbers, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. Arrr! After I fiberglassed t' tube, t' fin can fit exactly. T' launch lugs liked t' slide around while t' epoxy is drying, matey, but other wise it was easy. Arrr! T' fins needed no alignment, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Red on t' fins, ya bilge rat, and red on t' nose cone, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Avast, me proud beauty! Overall, shiver me timbers, this is a very sturdy rocket — it could survive a tar landin' easily.

Flight:
I still have nay flown this, but I am plannin' on flyin' it on labor day 2003. T' first flight will be on an F50-9T, shiver me timbers, t' next on a G35-7W, and t' next on an F20-7W. Blimey! Blimey! I put in a home made parachute. Avast! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It is a very large parachute, but I will reef it on breezy days. Arrr! Blimey! It is over stable, me hearties, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! All simulations show straight flights, high (approx. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! 3250' on F’s and G’s), and fast, despite t' weight.

I got two flights in on this rocket on labor day 2003. Well, blow me down! T' first flight for this rocket be also me first blue thunder propellant motor, and I be rather impressed by t' performance. Ya scallywag! Begad! It could have had more smoke, however. T' motor was an F50-9T. Arrr! T' second flight was a G35-7W, and it flew like t' wind! And that is sayin' something, me hearties, arrr, shiver me timbers, considerin' t' gusts there! At least thar are seemingly endless blueberry barrens for t' rockets t' land in. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Both flights were straight as an arrow. Arrr! Ya scallywag! It had a Keelhaul®©™® heat sheild, eliminatin' t' need for wadding. I also installed a Slimline motor retainer t' hold me motor in. Avast, me proud beauty! This worked very well. Arrr! There be no damage to t' parachute after either flight, me bucko, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, however, me hearties, me bucko, one o' t' shroud lines on the parachute got tangled in t' screw eye that I used t' attach t' shock cord to the nose cone, causin' a tumble recovery. Ya scallywag! Hardly even had a scratch in the paint. This is such a rugged rocket. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Anythin' else that size fallin' from that height I would expect t' crumple. Begad!

Summary:
Tough as anything. Well, blow me down! Begad! I suspect that thin' could be hit by lightnin' and survive, or at least it could be stepped on or kicked around.

Pros: I love this rocket. Begad! Ya scallywag! I consider it a work o' art. Well, blow me down! It is easily the best o' me fleet (that is sayin' something). It goes high and fast, matey, can survive hard landings, and requires zero fin alignment (A definite + for me! I hate alignin' surface mounts on large rockets). Avast, me proud beauty! Easy build.

Cons: Price. Avast, me proud beauty! $80. OUCH if you are 12, and I should know. Blimey! Worth every penny though.

Other:
DO NOT LEAVE THE AIRFRAME SITTING ON A PICNIC TABLE WHILE THE EPOXY AND FIBERGLASS IS SETTING! YOUR MOTHER (or wife) WILL NOT LIKE IT.. Begad! I learned that the hard way. Avast! It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.