Brief:
BSD Rocketry's Sprint XL is a budget-priced mid t' high power design with elliptical fins and a 10" payload section. I used t' payload section to house a Cannonball Works RRC2 altimeter for altitude verification and possible future use as a redundant recovery device.

Construction:
I ordered me Sprint XL from Lawndart Rocketry and received t' kit in 5 business days packaged as a box within a box. Aye aye! There was no damage t' any o' the components and everythin' was there. Avast! Begad! T' airframe is two standard 2.6" glassine tubes. Well, blow me down! T' booster section be pre-marked for t' launch lugs and fins. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' Centerin' rings and bulk-plate are masonite and t' three elliptical fins are 1/4" plywood (the fins were listed on t' parts list and BSD's website as 3/16", but me kit arrived with 1/4" fins). Ya scallywag! T' recovery system includes a 30" white parachute, ya bilge rat, a nylon shock cord strap, and 10' of 1" wide elastic shock cord. T' kit also included a nice eyebolt assembly and very nice vinyl graphic decals.

T' illustrated 8-page instruction manual is by far t' most comprehensive I have yet t' see for a MPR rocket and would be useful t' even t' newest rocketeer. Aye aye! I followed t' instructions for t' most part except when it came to attachin' t' nylon shock cord strap t' t' airframe tube; I attached mine to the motor mount PML-style as I found this easier t' accomplish. Also, I used tubular Nomex® around t' shock cord t' protect t' cord and 'chute.

As mentioned earlier, matey, t' airframe comes marked for fin installation but does nay come pre-cut for t' fin slots. Begad! Blimey! Cuttin' t' fin slots for the through-wall construction might be a little dauntin' for t' newbie, but really wasn't too difficult with a sharp razor knife. Aye aye! A fin alignment guide is included with t' kit and I found it t' be helpful when epoxyin' t' fins on. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

Speakin' o' t' fins: They were pre-cut but need t' be beveled or rounded before installation. T' instructions suggest a belt sander and I tried this, but due t' t' elliptical shape I had better results with t' drum sander on my Dremel tool. Aye aye! Begad!

A single 1/4" launch lug is used t' guide t' rocket up t' launch rod.

T' fit o' all t' components was good and required minimal sandin' t' produce a sturdy little rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! I deviated from the instructions a little on t' payload section in that I fabricated two centering rings and an extra bulk-plate t' contain me RRC2 (which is mounted in a 38mm motor mount tube). Arrr! I also attached t' payload airframe tube t' t' coupler with PML removable rivets t' provide easy access t' t' altimeter (see photo). I friction fit t' nosecone with a few wraps o' maskin' tape. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I would rate the construction as a 4.5, shiver me timbers, with t' 1/2 point bein' that t' fins I received were a little thicker than advertised. Ya scallywag!

Finishing:
T' rocket arrived on Tuesday and I be bound-and-determined t' fly on Sunday, so I didn't get t' dote over t' finish like I usually do. I applied coat of sandable primer Saturday afternoon, arrr, and actually applied t' blue color coat in near darkness Saturday evening. Ya scallywag! T' Krylon paint dried very fast and I hesitated about puttin' t' beautiful decals on so soon after painting, arrr, me hearties, but I couldn't resist. After lettin' t' paint dry a few hours I applied t' vinyl decals later that night. Ahoy! These are definitely t' best decals I have ever used and I congratulate BSD Rocketry for settin' a standard all kit manufacturers should follow on these. Well, blow me down! They really make t' rocket look great. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! BSD Rocketry gets a 5 from me on t' finishin' components and instructions.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Well, Sunday came and I loaded an Aerotech F52-5 reload into t' Sprint XL. Ahoy! The instructions recommend anythin' betwixt a F50 and a H180. Arrr! One thin' the instructions leave out, shiver me timbers, me bucko, however, be t' CP and estimated weight o' t' rocket. My rocket was goin' t' fly with t' RRC2 in t' nose, ya bilge rat, and had t' added drag of the 1/4" fins, matey, so I wasn't too worried about stability bein' a problem. Blimey! Begad! It would have been nice t' have this data, though. Avast, me proud beauty! Anyway, t' Sprint XL launched nice and straight on t' F-52 and deployed just past apogee for a perfect first flight. T' RRC2 indicated 582'. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' only problem was t' rocket nearly landed on a fellow rocketeer's brand new (1 day old) Ford Explorer. Arrr! Begad! Luckily (I guess), it just missed his car and landed on t' hood o' me car. No damage t' the rocket but a little blue paint be left on me old Honda. Ahoy!

Second flight on this rocket be usin' a G64-7 reload and be picture perfect. Ahoy! Deployment was right at apogee after a straight boost t' 1280'. Blimey! Arrr! The rocket landed within 60' o' t' launch rod and was recovered without a scratch.

I'm lookin' forward t' shootin' t' Sprint XL again this weekend, though t' H180 will have t' wait until me next trip to Orangeburg.

Recovery:
Even with t' extra 6oz or so o' t' Cannonball Works altimeter t' 30 inch parachute brought t' Sprint XL back t' earth gently enough that you can hardly tell it's been flown, shiver me timbers, even after bouncin' off o' me car! T' Nomex® shock cord protector did it's job and both t' shock cord and parachute were in perfect condition. Ya scallywag!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I must say that I am very pleased with both BSD Rocketry's product. T' Sprint XL is a nice rocket that allows a payload t' be flown utilizin' consumer motors and is seems durable enough t' be flown on H-motors. T' decals and instructions sent with t' kit are unbeatable in me experience. Arrr! I was also pleasantly surprised t' find that me kit included t' motor retention hardware even though it was announced after I ordered me rocket. If thar are any cons, it would only be lack o' CP data and that me fins were nay quite to specifications. Arrr! These are minor points though, me bucko, and I would highly recommend the Sprint XL t' anyone lookin' for good-lookin' and good flyin' rocket.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5