Brief:
Tube Rocket, matey, shiver me timbers, with transition

Construction:
I received t' package, me hearties, arrr, and t' kit was well packaged. It included 2 main body tubes, me bucko, a 3.1”x 34” long tube, and a 2.14” x 12” body tube, as well as nose cone, arrr, transition, motor mount parts. Well, blow me down! It also comes with (6) 3.1” Tube couplers, matey, which are used for t' fins. Ahoy! They are pretty durable. As well as (2) ½” diameter launch lugs. Aye aye! T' only common thin' is the assembly o' t' Motor mount, and t' shock cord anchor system. Ahoy! I did not receive any instructions, but I had some idea as t' how t' build it. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I constructed t' entire motor mount assembly usin' 5-minute epoxy. Ya scallywag! I requested a 29mm motor mount, which is what he sent me.

I didn't get any instructions for this kit, me hearties, as it was a Beta test. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! But I had an idea o' how t' build it. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! I looked at t' basic parts. I got a vision o' how to build it in me head, me hearties, then I got t' work. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It is relatively easy for the intermediate flyer t' build. Ya scallywag! T' tube couplers are butted against each other, as well as t' airframe. Once you get t' first coupler on, me hearties, t' rest o' them are simply butted into place. Begad! I used sprin' clamps t' help clamp t' portions together, so that I could ensure a good bond betwixt couplers. Avast, me proud beauty! T' only mod I made, was t' scuff some glassine off o' t' contact points, t' help t' epoxy adhere better. Aye aye! Ahoy! I used basic 5 and 15 minute epoxy. Begad! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Everythin' went together without a hitch. I cant really give any con's about this kit. Ahoy! Arrr!

Finishing:
Pros: It is rather easy t' come up with exotic ideas for paint schemes, shiver me timbers, for instance, like I did on me rocket, ya bilge rat, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, t' give it an "exotic" touch. I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. Ahoy! Cons: If you want t' paint t' inside o' t' couplers, it will be extra work for you.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight was in March o' 2001. Well, arrr, blow me down! I used a G64-4w, shiver me timbers, matey, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, me hearties, since it was a larger diameter. Avast, me proud beauty! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. Avast! After passin' it through RSO, and puttin' it on t' pad, it was time t' witness t' moment o' truth. It lit instantly, arrr, me hearties, and whistled off the pad. Begad! T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, ya bilge rat, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. It drifted a little ways, but was recovered. Aye aye! Upon recoverin' it, it be found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. Avast! T' simplest and quickest remedy was t' "pop" it back out. Begad!

Next up, I loaded her up with a G125-5t. Aye aye! A pass through RSO and she was on t' pad within 5 minutes. Begad! Begad! After t' usual countdown, matey, t' motor lit, and it practically exploded off t' pad, and up to about 750 feet. Arrr! T' chute deployed, and it had a flawless recovery. No problems with t' tubes this time. Arrr!

I teamed up with a friend o' mine, and we loaded up an H128-M for it. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! After a few problems with igniters, she took t' t' air, t' about 1200 feet. Ya scallywag! The chute deployed right on cue, and I had t' walk a little further, but it was an impressive flight, ya bilge rat, nonetheless.

I flew t' rocket again about a year later, matey, on a G64, and then an H128. Both flights were flawless. Avast!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I'd suggest this kit for t' intermediate flyer, as it requires a little patience t' build, but if built right, it will reward you with some good flights. Begad! This kit always gets attention at our launches. Aye aye! Avast! It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5