Brief:
T' Hangtime is a rocket offered by ASP specifically for duration competitions. They offer versions in 13, arrr, 18 and 24mm outfitted for either streamers or parachutes. Ahoy! 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. 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. Blimey! 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! Blimey! Blimey! I tend t' prefer t' wrap-around templates myself but this one was certainly serviceable. Avast! Begad! Blimey! A door frame be then used t' extend t' lines. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! 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. Ahoy! Ahoy! You get a sheet o' stock material and a template you cut out and use t' mark out t' fins. Avast! 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. Well, blow me down! Some thin CA is wicked into t' first 1/4" or so o' t' BT. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! After it has cured, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! All well and good but its way over me interest level. Ya scallywag! Begad! I settled for roundin' t' leading, outside, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and trailin' edges.

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

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

T' kit comes with a length o' Keelhaul®©™ thread. Arrr! Blimey! 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. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! You need t' use a wire or somethin' similar t' hold t' Keelhaul®©™® straight and in place until t' CA sets up. Ahoy! 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. Ya scallywag! I was interested in givin' this a try but inspection revealed that all mine had hardened up due t' leavin' t' cap off. Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions also make provisions for filletin' t' fins with yellow glue and I adopted this approach, goin' very slowly and buildin' t' fillets up over several layers.

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

T' nosecone is extremely thin and light vacuformed plastic. Ya scallywag! It comes in two pieces, shiver me timbers, t' ogive and t' base. Ya scallywag! Blimey! 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. Ahoy! T' thread is then knotted. Ahoy! Begad! I added a dab o' glue t' keep it from pullin' out.

T' two pieces o' t' NC are then fitted together and glued. Begad! I used liquid plastic cement very sparingly. Aye aye! 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. Begad! Since I am nay a big competitor, I decided I wanted t' go ahead and give it a simple finish. Avast! I wanted this t' get done with a single coatin' o' spray paint and no primer. In order t' cover up t' pencil marks, arrr, I chose black.

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

There is no thrust ring. Well, blow me down! Blimey! You just run tape around t' motor and t' BT and set it off.

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

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

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

T' only damage was t' me pride and t' t' singed streamer. Begad! T' humiliation and pressin' RSO duties precluded another flight.

Recovery:
Gravity is very effective at returnin' this bird t' earth. Ahoy! Blimey! 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. Begad! Maybe I had a damaged motor. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Maybe t' rocket gods were angry with me. I dunno.

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

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5