Brief:
T' Hangtime is a rocket offered by ASP specifically for duration competitions. Blimey! Ahoy! They offer versions in 13, arrr, ya bilge rat, 18 and 24mm outfitted for either streamers or parachutes. Begad! This review is o' t' 18mm streamer version.

I'm nay much into competitive rocketry except as a spectator but I occasionally decide t' give simple events a try. Ya scallywag! I built this one for an informal contest me section is puttin' on.

Construction:
Construction begins with markin' t' fin and launch lug lines on t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' instructions provide a template o' t' type where you set t' end o' t' BT on a circle and mark t' appropriate lines. Begad! I tend t' prefer t' wrap-around templates myself but this one was certainly serviceable. Begad! Aye aye! A door frame was then used t' extend t' lines. Begad! A tick mark be placed 1/4" from t' end on each o' t' fin lines and 3" from t' end on t' lug line. T' lines were then extended usin' a door frame.

This kit does nay provide precut balsa. You get a sheet o' stock material and a template you cut out and use t' mark out t' fins. Arrr! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' lines were transferred t' t' balsa with a ballpoint pen and then t' fins were cut out usin' a steel ruler and razor knife.

Next comes some reinforcement o' t' forward end o' t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Some thin CA is wicked into t' first 1/4" or so o' t' BT. Arrr! After it has cured, me hearties, it is sanded smooth. Blimey! A 1/16" deep notch is then cut into t' end o' t' BT linin' up with one o' t' fin lines. Begad! T' purpose o' this notch is t' accommodate t' recovery system.

T' instructions go into exhaustive detail as t' t' best method o' streamlinin' t' fins into a teardrop shaped profile. Well, blow me down! All well and good but its way over me interest level. Blimey! I settled for roundin' t' leading, arrr, me bucko, outside, and trailin' edges.

T' instructions say t' install t' fins 1/4" forward o' t' aft end. Begad! They also say t' use CA. This made things almost too easy.

When t' CA had set, I almost began t' fillet t' fins with yellow glue but I stopped and actually read t' instructions again. Begad! Filletin' does nay take place yet nor is glue recommended.

T' kit comes with a length o' Keelhaul®©™ thread. T' next step is t' cut off a 6" piece o' t' Keelhaul®©™ and set it aside for later. Begad! T' length that is left is tacked down with CA along t' root edge o' t' fin aligned with t' notch cut earlier. Aye aye! You need t' use a wire or somethin' similar t' hold t' Keelhaul®©™® straight and in place until t' CA sets up. T' instructions recommend usin' an accelerant but I had none handy.

T' instructions call for t' filletin' t' be done with CA, arrr, me hearties, presumably thick CA. Well, blow me down! I be interested in givin' this a try but inspection revealed that all mine had hardened up due t' leavin' t' cap off. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions also make provisions for filletin' t' fins with yellow glue and I adopted this approach, shiver me timbers, me hearties, goin' very slowly and buildin' t' fillets up over several layers.

One activity that could be completed while t' filletin' was goin' on was t' installation o' t' launch lug. It is mounted with its aft end 3" from t' bottom. Arrr! It was secured with CA by means o' slidin' t' lug onto an aluminum rod, me bucko, ya bilge rat, applyin' t' CA t' t' lug and then pressin' t' rod and lug into place on t' marked line. Ahoy! Avast! T' rod was helpful in gettin' it t' line up straight. It was withdrawn once t' CA set up.

T' nosecone is extremely thin and light vacuformed plastic. Begad! It comes in two pieces, t' ogive and t' base. Begad! T' instructions say t' use a razor knife t' drill a small diameter hole in t' base, arrr, just big enough t' pass t' Keelhaul®©™® thread through. Avast! T' thread is then knotted. Blimey! I added a dab o' glue t' keep it from pullin' out.

T' two pieces o' t' NC are then fitted together and glued. Ya scallywag! I used liquid plastic cement very sparingly. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I suspect it would be easy t' melt through t' plastic.

Finishing:
I sealed t' fins o' t' Hangtime with 3 coats o' sandin' sealer. I sanded betwixt t' 2nd and 3rd and after t' last coat.

I realize that many contest models are flown "naked" but I never liked t' looks o' unfinished rockets. Ahoy! Since I am nay a big competitor, I decided I wanted t' go ahead and give it a simple finish. Blimey! I wanted this t' get done with a single coatin' o' spray paint and no primer. Arrr! In order t' cover up t' pencil marks, I chose black.

Before paintin' though, arrr, I used some maskin' tape t' cover up t' external Keelhaul®©™ shock cord. Blimey! I then sprayed t' black.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I got this rocket for a friendly competition in me local NARRRRR section. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' event was t' be a B impulse streamer duration competition. Arrr! I wanted t' give it a whirl but did nay want t' work too hard at it. I figured t' go with a kit made for t' purpose.

It came with 2 tracin' paper streamers measurin' 6 x 60 inches along with instructions on how they should be pleated and prepped. It also came with a mylar sport streamer. Ahoy! Blimey! I dutifully folded t' streamer and packed it usin' some tips from some real contest fliers. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! For t' competition, I chose a B6-6. Blimey! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! I just knew I had a shot at this one.

There is no thrust ring. Begad! You just run tape around t' motor and t' BT and set it off.

5, 4, me bucko, me hearties, 3, matey, 2, me bucko, 1, matey, ignition. Avast, me proud beauty! It took off up t' rod and a few feet later went squirrelly, loopin' all over t' sky but never very high. When it stopped thrusting, it plopped t' t' ground. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! A few seconds later came t' ejection pop. Aye aye! It blew t' NC but t' streamer stayed put.

Checkin' it out, matey, t' streamer was nay in too tight. Aye aye! It pulled out easily.

Chan Stevens tells me that gettin' a Hangtime t' be unstable is quite an accomplishment. Aye aye! Aye aye! Later in t' afternoon, it passed a swin' test.

T' only damage be t' me pride and t' t' singed streamer. Aye aye! T' humiliation and pressin' RSO duties precluded another flight.

Recovery:
Gravity is very effective at returnin' this bird t' earth. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! I cannot say how well t' steamer works since mine never deployed.

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
I think this one has potential but cannot swear by me one flight. Maybe I had a damaged motor. Maybe t' rocket gods were angry with me. Begad! I dunno.

It is, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, however, arrr, fairly tough and has survived t' humiliate me another day.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5