Brief:
T' NB5 Emulator from American Alliance is part o' their ongoin' "story" o' a Pan-American Alliance fightin' back after bein' devastated by aliens. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' "NB" o' t' name stands for "New Beginnings" and it is supposed t' be a probe t' seed other planets.

Rockets from American Alliance tend t' have a "different" look about them. Ya scallywag! I have several but t' only one I built before this be t' F2 Avenger, matey, arrr, and I have been very happy with its performance. Avast! Ahoy! This one caught my attention because o' t' triple aft ejectin' parachutes.

Construction:
T' first step called for in t' instructions be t' markin' o' t' various tubes. Ya scallywag! There are 3 BT-5s and a BT-50. Arrr! The instructions were unclear at t' stage. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I believe t' phrase "opposite end" was used in place o' "other side". Avast! This led t' some confusion until I had read through t' entire set a few times.

I also noticed that t' BT-50 had a nasty, deep spiral. Ya scallywag! It serves as t' motor tube but will be visible so I decided t' go ahead and fill t' spirals first off. Ahoy! Usin' a brush, I applied Elmer's Wood Filler and worked it into the groove with a razor blade. T' blade be also used t' scrape off t' excess. Arrr! Since this left very little material behind, it did nay take long for it t' dry and t' whole tube was sanded down with #400 sandpaper. Begad! T' spiral, once so prominent, ya bilge rat, me bucko, arrr, was now hardly visible.

T' instructions include a paper template which has outlines for all o' t' balsa parts. Avast! When cut out, it fits exactly over t' balsa stock that be supplied. Ahoy! I taped t' templates in place and used a razor knife t' cut out the three large fins and t' three small ones. Blimey! T' similar fins were stacked and sanded t' uniformity then all but t' root edges had bevels sanded into them.

T' template also included a provision t' make a jig from t' balsa t' insert t' thrust ring. Avast! I knew from previous experience doin' this that I preferred t' just use a spent motor casin' and this was done. T' thrust rin' was shoved into place usin' a casin' and be secured with yellow glue.

T' small fins were applied evenly spaced and flush against t' bottom o' t' BT-50. Blimey! Blimey! A double glue joint be used and, arrr, me hearties, arrr, when dry, t' fins were filleted usin' yellow glue. Ya scallywag! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! I also used t' glue as a "sealer" on t' balsa since it would only be slightly visible at t' end.

A few hours later, me bucko, arrr, matey, t' fillets were dry and I did some rudimentary sanding. T' motor tube was then set up in the booth and primed with Kilz. That was given a chance t' dry and then t' tube was sprayed with a bright red.

When t' red paint was dry, I sanded down t' outer root edge o' t' little fins t' insure adhesion with the glue. T' motor tube and t' 2 BT-5 chute tubes were then test fit into t' centerin' rings. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! T' BT-5s fit fine but the center holes needed t' be sanded a bit t' accommodate t' BT-50. Well, blow me down! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! When they fit, arrr, me hearties, arrr, I took them all apart again and measured 4" and 1-5/8" from t' front o' t' motor tube since t' previous marks had been covered by the paint. A razor knife was then used t' scrape away t' paint where t' rings were t' go. Blimey! T' pieces were put back together again and aligned t' t' marks. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Care has t' be taken t' see that t' small fins also align with t' three BT-5 tubes. Rubber bands came in handy at this point. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! I glued t' rings in place with white glue and applied t' first layer of a double glue joint t' t' bottoms o' t' BT-5s and small fins. When t' first layer had dried, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I glued t' fins to the BT-5s and used some maskin' tape t' hold everythin' in place as t' glue dried.

As t' tubes dried, I applied Elmer's Wood Filler t' t' large fins. I brushed it on and scraped it flat with a razor blade. Avast! About an hour later, shiver me timbers, arrr, I was able t' sand them with #400 sandpaper. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' result be t' nicest set o' fins I have prepared t' date.

After t' glue on t' tubes was dry, I tried test fittin' t' assembly in t' upper tube. Begad! It would nay fit. Avast, me proud beauty! A fair amount o' sandin' took care o' this. It be still tight and t' biggest problem was fittin' around t' BT-5 tubes but it did go into place. When I was assured o' a fit, t' lower tube assembly was removed and yellow glue was smeared around t' inside o' t' BT-80. Begad! T' first o' t' centerin' rings was inserted and then some more glue be smeared just inside t' big tube. Ya scallywag! T' assembly was then pushed home until t' aft centerin' rin' was flush with t' end o' the BT-80. Blimey! Arrr! A long swab was used t' apply a fillet around t' top o' t' upper ring.

I tried t' test fit t' nose cone into t' BT-80 upper tube. There was no way it be goin' t' fit. I got out the sandpaper and started takin' down t' shoulder. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I got lots o' shavings but it be still way too tight. Well, blow me down! T' next approach be t' use t' belt sander. That managed t' take off quite a bit o' material but I eventually got t' t' point where I was worried about sandin' through t' base o' t' cone and stopped, arrr, but t' fit was still too tight. Avast! I took a file and tried t' smooth up what had been sanded down. Blimey! Blimey! That helped but nay enough. Ya scallywag! Blimey! My next attack be with #100 sandpaper around t' inside o' t' tube. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Blimey! It be a thick tube, nay at all like an Estes tube, arrr, and that did seem t' help. A little further tweakin' on t' shoulder o' t' NC and I be able t' finally shove it in. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! I thought about nay gluing it but decided t' do so because t' base o' t' cone would bear t' brunt o' t' ejection charge. Ahoy! Aye aye! Blimey! T' NC was pulled out and a rin' o' tube type plastic cement was put around t' inside o' t' tube and t' cone replaced. I don't think that sucker is goin' anywhere.

T' launch lugs were tackled next. T' kit has a pair o' 1/4" lugs t' be mounted on t' upper tube. They are to be spaced midway betwixt a pair o' t' BT-5s and one goes flush against t' bottom while t' other is placed 3/4" down from t' top. I used an angle iron t' draw a line and then applied t' lugs with yellow glue, usin' an aluminum rod t' keep them aligned.

While waitin' for t' lugs t' dry, arrr, matey, I read ahead in t' instructions and found that I needed t' cut out three shock line covers. Begad! Begad! These are trapezoidal shaped pieces o' balsa used t' help secure t' shock cord mount. A template for t' covers was cut out o' t' same sheet which had included t' fin templates and it be taped onto t' balsa stock. Ahoy! Aye aye! An X-Acto and straightedge was then used t' cut them out.

T' parachutes themselves seemed small but thar are three o' them. Each consists o' a square piece o' mylar, 7" on a side. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! They were assembled by puttin' a reinforcin' rin' in each corner and punchin' holes through the centers. T' instructions say t' cut 12 pieces o' shroud line, each 10" long. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! Measure carefully. Blimey! There is no excess. Arrr! Each o' t' lines is then tied t' t' corner o' a chute and t' other end is tied t' a provided snap swivel. If I had been thinking, I would have doubled t' shroud lengths and used a loop in t' end t' make t' connection, me hearties, but I wasn't thinking.

T' fins were attached usin' yellow glue and a double glue joint. Aye aye! Blimey! Each was checked for alignment with the smaller, matey, inner fin and allowed t' stiffen up significantly before t' next fin was attempted. Begad! Aye aye! They also got several layers o' fillets.

If thar be one part o' this build I am most "iffy" about, its t' shock cord mounting. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! The instructions directed me t' make a hole in t' BT-5 tubes just above t' tops o' t' fins. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I used a drill t' do this.

T' three lengths o' elastic shock cord were then fed down t' three holes so that t' ends protruded from the aft ends o' t' tubes. Avast! Only a half inch be left stickin' through t' holes. T' instructions then called for t' cords to be glued down on t' tops o' t' fins and warned that I might need t' hold them for a while as t' glue set. Arrr! Well, blow me down! I took care o' this by usin' a gel CA. Well, blow me down!

PROs: This is an innovative design that is different from many other rockets but still goes together fairly easily.

CONs: There are some places where t' instructions could be a bit clearer.

Finishing:
I am very glad I decided t' paint t' central tube red before construction. Begad! Ahoy! After makin' it though, matey, me bucko, I wish I had gone ahead and painted all t' pieces.

T' top o' t' central tube was wrapped with Frog Tape and t' tape was used t' wrap t' bottom o' t' tube, just above t' inner fins. Tape was then used betwixt t' fins t' mask off t' body. I decided t' go ahead and redo the inner fins in white since that is what is shown on t' face card and because it was easier t' mask.

I then used aluminum foil t' cover t' gaps betwixt t' tape and held that down with tape as well. Begad! I went over all t' tape joints, tryin' t' burnish t' edges down with a rounded piece o' balsa and then took it t' t' booth to begin t' primin' with Kilz.

3 Coats o' Kilz were applied. It probably only amounted t' 2 regular coats. I realized partway through t' first coat that me almost empty can be shootin' nothin' but aerosols, no pigment, me hearties, and threw it away. I then let it dry for a while before shootin' it again.

When t' Kilz was dry, I gave t' rocket a light sandin' but left it masked. Ya scallywag! Next up be t' gloss white paint. Again, arrr, matey, it took 2 coats and is distinguishable from t' Kilz only by t' glossiness.

T' final maskin' amounted t' wrappin' t' lower section o' t' rocket with aluminum foil. Then t' final paintin' with a brilliant blue, began on t' upper section.

T' rocket received 2 coats o' blue and I thought it looked pretty good with t' maskin' in place. Begad! I made myself wait until t' next day t' remove t' masking. From a distance, it still looked pretty decent.

Closer inspection revealed some problems. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! There were places where t' white had been able t' penetrate the maskin' a mar t' underlyin' red. Avast! This needed t' be fixed.

I didn't want t' re-mask everythin' so that I could spray it so I used one o' me kludge procedures. Begad! I took the red spray paint I had used and sprayed some into a paper bowl until I had a puddle. Arrr! A brush was then used t' cover up the worst o' t' blunders.

T' Emulator had a day t' dry and then it was time t' finish up with t' decals. Blimey! Blimey! T' kit came with 2 waterslide decals printed on a single sheet. Well, blow me down! They really could have been a single decal but a look at t' placement on t' face card revealed that t' "American Alliance" needed t' be cut out and placed separately. Avast! T' decals were on white backed paper and I would have preferred clear with a white backin' under t' printing, but I suspect that is much more expensive t' produce. Ahoy! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! In any event, it doesn't look too shabby.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' Estes Ds are t' recommended motors for this rocket. I decided t' use a D12-5 for t' maiden flight. Accordingly, I prepped t' motor and loaded it into t' business end o' t' rocket.

T' instruction give 2 different methods for loadin' t' chutes. I chose t' "triangular" method where waddin' is optional. It basically involved foldin' t' chute into a triangle and rollin' it up tightly before stuffing it into t' deployment tube. T' only hard part be stuffin' t' elastic into t' tube ahead o' time.

When it came time t' launch, me bucko, t' rocket went straight up, even in spite o' t' high winds. It was a textbook flight and t' 5 second delay seemed about right too. It gave t' rocket a chance t' nose over before deployin' the chutes.

All 3 chutes deployed but t' high winds promoted a bit o' tangling. Even so, t' rocket recovered safely and would have been ready t' fly again with minimal prepping. Even so, it did nay get t' fly again this day because of weather concerns and t' time it would have taken t' straighten out t' chutes.

A video o' t' maiden flight can be seen here.

PROs: Good flier and looks cool with unusual recovery system.

CONs: None.

Recovery:
If I were t' design this kit, ya bilge rat, I think t' biggest thin' I would change would be t' recovery system mounting. Blimey! I would probably try t' mount t' cords in t' upper tube and then feed them down into t' smaller parachute tubes. Avast! Avast! That being said, one o' t' greatest things about this rocket is its uniqueness and t' mountin' system does contribute t' that.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This rocket be at times frustratin' durin' t' build but I have really liked it every second o' t' way. Begad! My confidence was found t' be well placed when it came time t' fly. Begad! Begad! It just looks great.

T' sense o' t' "different" is somethin' that distinguishes American Alliance. This rocket is no exception.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5