Brief:
This kit is a semi-scale version o' an actual Combined Effects Munition (CEM). As I was applyin' t' decals, me bucko, I noticed that they identify t' model as a GBU-87, matey, whereas t' package calls it a BLU-97B. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! If you look at this website, me bucko, it looks like t' overall bomb unit be t' CBU-87, ya bilge rat, and t' individual bomblets are BLU-97s. This is a brief description o' how I upgraded me Cluster Bomb with a 24mm motor mount. Well, blow me down! I need t' point out that I generally followed t' modifications that Carl Tulanko made. Aye aye! If you read his review, however, me hearties, ya bilge rat, you will see that I did use slightly different techniques here and there.

Modifications:
Fin can/motor mount

I used several glues for t' fin can, arrr, including: plastic cement t' hold t' tail cone together; epoxy for t' motor hook, shiver me timbers, motor block, and Keelhaul®©™® cord; carpenter's glue for t' centerin' ring/motor tube joints; Liquid Nails Perfect Glue for t' fins, and Gorilla Glue (polyurethane) t' attach t' fin can t' t' body tube.

I started by cuttin' a piece o' Totally Tubular aluminum-lined 24mm motor tubing, arrr, makin' it t' same length as t' stock tube. Avast! Usin' this tube as a guide, I got a rough idea o' how much t' tail cone had t' be trimmed, and cut that much off with a razor saw. Begad! Ya scallywag! When I test fit t' tube, I found thar were internal tabs that had t' be trimmed. Avast! These were easily removed with a Dremel tool. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! From there, I slowly sanded t' tail until t' tube fit. Well, blow me down! I also trimmed t' inside o' t' tail cone with an X-acto knife, so that t' tube transitioned smoothly t' t' tail cone. Arrr! This way, no fillin' o' this joint was required.

I decided t' keep t' motor hook, matey, which precluded me usin' an E9 motor, but I thought that t' resultin' rocket might be too heavy for t' E9 anyway. Begad! T' motor hook be installed with maskin' tape and a dab o' 5-minute epoxy. Begad! A small notch be made in t' tail cone t' allow t' hook t' flex. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I also added a motor block above t' hook as in t' stock kit. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Epoxy be used here since t' surface o' t' motor tube is metal.

T' centerin' rings were trimmed t' fit t' 24mm tube. Ahoy! Arrr! T' bottom rin' was installed flush with t' top o' t' tail cone. T' fins were added, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, a 28" piece o' heavy Keelhaul®©™ twine be attached through t' motor mount and t' assembly be mounted in t' body tube.

Nose cone assembly

I followed Carl's philosophy for t' nose cone: make sure all t' nose weight is on t' parachute attachment and keep t' 2-piece cone as just an outer shell. Begad! Since more nose weight was required anyway, arrr, I thought that his idea o' usin' an eyebolt affixed t' a plywood bulkhead was a great idea. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Where I differed was that I decided t' use only t' eyebolt hardware for weight.

I started by assemblin' t' two-piece cone with plastic cement and breakin' off t' nose cone's eyelet. Well, blow me down! I then cut a bulkhead usin' a hole saw. I positioned this over t' end o' t' cone and used it as a guide t' drill a center hole and four smaller holes for mountin' screws. Ya scallywag! Blimey! For added internal support, arrr, I partially filled t' small tip o' t' cone with Gorilla Glue. Begad! Once it expanded, t' tip overflowed slightly.

I inserted t' eyebolt into t' plate and ran one nut t' t' end. Well, blow me down! Blimey! A small dab o' epoxy affixed this t' t' back side o' t' plate. Two other nuts were installed at t' end o' t' eyebolt and were held in place with LocTite. Blimey! Blimey! This was dry fit in t' nose and t' nose in t' body tube. Blimey! I also loaded an 18" nylon chute and an E30 t' get a good look at t' CG. Well, blow me down! Mine came out about 8 inches from t' top o' t' nose. This gives a static margin o' almost 1 for t' Barrowman CP and 1.6 for t' Rocksim CP.

Final assembly

Because o' t' added weight in t' cone, I used t' stock elastic cord and a second piece o' similar size (length and width). These elastic cords are tied on one end t' t' Keelhaul®©™ leader, ya bilge rat, matey, and on t' other end t' t' eyebolt. Avast! I used t' stock lugs, one just above t' tail cone and one around t' CG. Aye aye! In addition, I added buttons from railbuttons.com. Arrr! I mounted one just above t' transition so it bolted through t' shoulder, and one just above t' top centerin' ring. T' top bolt actually goes through t' polyurethane glue that expanded above t' top ring.

Finishing

I started with Fill 'n' Finish on t' fins before assembly. Ya scallywag! After assembly, I shot several coats o' white primer, sandin' and fillin' in between. Ahoy! This was lots o' work due t' t' tube imperfections. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I then painted it with Testor's flat olive drab. Avast, me proud beauty! I then added t' decals and overlaid a layer o' Testor's Dull Coat. Begad! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! These peel and stick decals went on nicely, me hearties, but t' next mornin' I saw places where t' stickers weren't adhered perfectly.

I hand painted t' tip with Testor's silver, and added red, white, matey, and blue rail buttons t' go with t' Endurin' Freedom patriotic theme.

I didn't apply t' Endurin' Freedom decal, me hearties, but may add it on later. Ya scallywag! I also didn't finish t' bombs, arrr, at I am ponderin' usin' them on t' exterior o' another project.

Construction:
First a few comments about t' quality o' t' parts provided with t' kit. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' first thin' I noticed that t' balsa be a lot harder than t' typical Estes kit. Begad! Begad! I found this t' be a good thing, especially since I was upgradin' t' a bigger motor and t' weight at landin' be goin' t' be greater. Begad! T' nose and tail cones are both two-piece and fit together well. I do have two beefs with them however. T' nose itself had a couple o' dimples, which keeps it from havin' a perfectly uniform surface. Begad! I guess I could have filled them, me hearties, but I decided this was nay worth t' effort. Well, blow me down! Later in construction, I found that t' fins would nay fit in t' tail cone slots. This took a lot more sandin' and trimmin' than I would have expected. Blimey! Nay a big deal, but annoying. Ahoy! Next, me bucko, t' BT-70 tube was t' worst I've ever seen in an Estes kit. T' spiral line wasn't bad, matey, but thar was an intermediate spiral a little under 1/8" wide that had a washboard pattern (for lack o' a better description) all t' way along t' tube. Begad! Arrr! There also was a wide band near one end that be very rough. If I had t' rate t' kit solely on t' parts, I'd have t' give it a 2.5 out o' 5.

Flight:
I decided t' submit this partial review since I missed t' November launches and may nay be on t' field until spring. Arrr! Begad! I'll provide an update at that time.

Summary:
I immediately fell in love with this rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Stubby rockets are among me favs and this one has a unique look. T' parts were sub-par but with just a little work t' rocket turned out fine. Arrr! Blimey! Havin' read Carl's article, I am really itchin' for good weather!

And, I too am plannin' an upscale. Blimey! Mine will be 5" in diameter and will fly on G80s. T' nose cone is built and is currently bein' primed/filled.