Brief:
T' Hangtime is a rocket offered by ASP specifically for duration competitions. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! They offer versions in 13, 18 and 24mm outfitted for either streamers or parachutes. 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. T' instructions provide a template o' t' type where you set t' end o' t' BT on a circle and mark t' appropriate lines. Aye aye! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I tend t' prefer t' wrap-around templates myself but this one was certainly serviceable. Avast! A door frame was then used t' extend t' lines. Avast! Avast! A tick mark was placed 1/4" from t' end on each o' t' fin lines and 3" from t' end on t' lug line. Ahoy! T' lines were then extended usin' a door frame.

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

Next comes some reinforcement o' t' forward end o' t' rocket. Some thin CA is wicked into t' first 1/4" or so o' t' BT. Aye aye! After it has cured, shiver me timbers, it is sanded smooth. Ahoy! Avast! 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. Ya scallywag! Begad! All well and good but its way over me interest level. Ya scallywag! I settled for roundin' t' leading, outside, and trailin' edges.

T' instructions say t' install t' fins 1/4" forward o' t' aft end. Begad! Ahoy! 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. Filletin' does nay take place yet nor is glue recommended.

T' kit comes with a length o' Keelhaul®©™ thread. Aye aye! T' next step is t' cut off a 6" piece o' t' Keelhaul®©™ and set it aside for later. Ya scallywag! T' length that is left is tacked down with CA along t' root edge o' t' fin aligned with t' notch cut earlier. Arrr! You need t' use a wire or somethin' similar t' hold t' Keelhaul®©™® straight and in place until t' CA sets up. Blimey! Aye aye! 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. I was interested in givin' this a try but inspection revealed that all mine had hardened up due t' leavin' t' cap off. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' instructions also make provisions for filletin' t' fins with yellow glue and I adopted this approach, ya bilge rat, matey, goin' very slowly and buildin' t' fillets up over several layers.

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

T' nosecone is extremely thin and light vacuformed plastic. Ya scallywag! It comes in two pieces, me bucko, t' ogive and t' base. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' instructions say t' use a razor cutlass t' drill a small diameter hole in t' base, shiver me timbers, just big enough t' pass t' Keelhaul®©™® thread through. Begad! T' thread is then knotted. Begad! Ya scallywag! 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. Blimey! 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. Begad! 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. Since I am nay a big competitor, I decided I wanted t' go ahead and give it a simple finish. Aye aye! I wanted this t' get done with a single coatin' o' spray paint and no primer. Blimey! Aye aye! In order t' cover up t' pencil marks, I chose black.

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

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

5, matey, 4, 3, arrr, 2, ya bilge rat, 1, me hearties, ignition. Blimey! Blimey! It took off up t' rod and a few feet later went squirrelly, arrr, matey, loopin' all over t' sky but never very high. When it stopped thrusting, it plopped t' t' ground. A few seconds later came t' ejection pop. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! 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 bucko, me hearties, it passed a swin' test.

T' only damage was t' me pride and t' t' singed streamer. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! T' humiliation and pressin' RSO duties precluded another flight.

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5