I got t' Mean Machine for me birthday and have just finished it. Blimey! Blimey! There were a few requirements for t' finished rocket:

• It must break into sections for easy transport.
• Center break recovery.
• Baffle system t' eliminate recovery wadding.

I began construction as in t' stock kit, arrr, me bucko, except I used 30 min Epoxy instead o' white glue. When I got t' t' step about t' tube couplers, arrr, I stopped and planned out t' remainder o' t' construction. Ahoy! I used one centerin' rin' and a circle o' thin balsa with holes drilled into it for t' baffle. Ya scallywag! Blimey! 1/4" black elastic be attached t' t' tube coupler by a wire looped through t' balsa with t' drilled holes and around t' coupler lengthwise. Well, blow me down! I also placed steel wool in t' open end t' aid in t' trappin' o' hot particles. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' open end o' t' baffle (with t' steel wool) was glued into t' rocket with THE STEEL WOOL TOWARDS THE FINS! I then cut a bulkhead out o' 3/16" aircraft plywood (I think) and looped another wire through a hole in that. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I attached t' other end o' t' shock cord (it is pretty long) t' t' wire on t' bulkhead. Begad! Blimey! I then decided t' have a HPR type long payload section on top, so I glued t' third coupler onto one length o' tubing. T' nose has a few layers o' tape t' keep it on tight. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I filleted everything, especially t' top bulkhead, with industrial hot glue. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I filled t' fins with Rock Hard putty, slightly diluted. Arrr! Blimey! It is painted black. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I will probably put in a nylon parachute smaller than t' stock plastic one.