Brief:
T' Hangtime is a rocket offered by ASP specifically for duration competitions. Aye aye! They offer versions in 13, 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. Blimey! 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. T' instructions provide a template o' t' type where you set t' end o' t' BT on a circle and mark t' appropriate lines. I tend t' prefer t' wrap-around templates myself but this one be certainly serviceable. A door frame was then used t' extend t' lines. Well, blow me down! 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. Avast! You get a sheet o' stock material and a template you cut out and use t' mark out t' fins. Ahoy! 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. Begad! Blimey! Some thin CA is wicked into t' first 1/4" or so o' t' BT. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! After it has cured, ya bilge rat, it is sanded smooth. Well, blow me down! Blimey! A 1/16" deep notch is then cut into t' end o' t' BT linin' up with one o' t' fin lines. 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. Begad! All well and good but its way over me interest level. I settled for roundin' t' leading, outside, ya bilge rat, and trailin' edges.

T' instructions say t' install t' fins 1/4" forward o' t' aft end. Avast, me proud beauty! They also say t' use CA. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. T' length that is left is tacked down with CA along t' root edge o' t' fin aligned with t' notch cut earlier. You need t' use a wire or somethin' similar t' hold t' Keelhaul®©™® straight and in place until t' CA sets up. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' instructions recommend usin' an accelerant but I had none handy.

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

One activity that could be completed while t' filletin' be goin' on be t' installation o' t' launch lug. It is mounted with its aft end 3" from t' bottom. Well, blow me down! Avast! It be secured with CA by means o' slidin' t' lug onto an aluminum rod, arrr, arrr, applyin' t' CA t' t' lug and then pressin' t' rod and lug into place on t' marked line. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, shiver me timbers, t' ogive and t' base. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' instructions say t' use a razor knife t' drill a small diameter hole in t' base, ya bilge rat, just big enough t' pass t' Keelhaul®©™® thread through. Begad! Blimey! T' thread is then knotted. Avast! 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. I used liquid plastic cement very sparingly. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Avast! 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. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Since I am nay a big competitor, ya bilge rat, I decided I wanted t' go ahead and give it a simple finish. Arrr! Ahoy! I wanted this t' get done with a single coatin' o' spray paint and no primer. In order t' cover up t' pencil marks, matey, I chose black.

Before paintin' though, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I used some maskin' tape t' cover up t' external Keelhaul®©™ shock cord. Arrr! Ahoy! 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. T' event be t' be a B impulse streamer duration competition. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I wanted t' give it a whirl but did nay want t' work too hard at it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! 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. Aye aye! It also came with a mylar sport streamer. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! I dutifully folded t' streamer and packed it usin' some tips from some real contest fliers. Avast! Blimey! For t' competition, I chose a B6-6. Aye aye! Blimey! I just knew I had a shot at this one.

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

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

Checkin' it out, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' streamer was nay in too tight. Ya scallywag! It pulled out easily.

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

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

Recovery:
Gravity is very effective at returnin' this bird t' earth. 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I dunno.

It is, however, arrr, fairly tough and has survived t' humiliate me another day.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5