Brief:
Tall 4 inch 3FNC rocket built t' be compatible with hybrid motors. Well, blow me down! I picked this rocket specifically out o' t' LOC catalog when I was shoppin' for me level 2 project. It has a 54mm motor mount, me hearties, and is dual-deploy ready. Aye aye! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! It also comes complete with a drogue and main parachute.

Construction:

• Plastic nose cone
• 1 4 in payload bay tube
• 1 4 in LOC avionics bay kit (6 inch long version)
• 1 4 in main airframe tube
• 1 54mm motor mount tube
• 3 Motor mount centerin' rings 4in-54mm
• 1 Recovery harness mount centerin' ring
• Recovery hardware
• 3 Fins (1/8 in plywood)
• 1 1/2 in launch lug
• 1 50 in main parachute
• 1 18 in drogue
• 1 overflow tube
• 2 lengths o' shock cord - 1/2 in elastic

In retrospect, this was a very straightforward build for a high power rocket. Arrr! Blimey! T' instructions were minimalist. Ahoy! It be my level 2 project, and only me second HPR kit. Ya scallywag! Even with me inexperience, I had no trouble with t' instructions. Begad! I built mine with sturdy internal fillets and expandin' foam (courtesy o' PML). Avast! I was a little disappointed with t' 1/8 in plywood fins. Avast! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! They are pretty flimsy for this size rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! And mine were warped on arrival. I had t' apply a caul to straighten them durin' assembly (see photo).

T' regular paper LOC tubes are plenty sturdy for J launches. Ya scallywag! It would be very straightforward t' glass this project, but nay really necessary unless you want t' push your luck with t' sound barrier (in which case t' fins would be t' first things t' go).

I replaced t' elastic recovery harness with tubular nylon from What's Up Hobbies. Avast, me proud beauty! I never use elastic in HPR.

I added a 54mm Aeropack retainer. Aye aye! Ahoy! I highly recommend these for a classy looking, matey, easy t' use, reliable retainer. (No, I don't work for t' company).

Finishing:
I did nay do any fancy finishing. Begad! Ahoy! Just spray paint from ACE Hardware. Ahoy! Aye aye! I originally painted t' nose cone bright orange, me hearties, but it flaked right off almost immediately. Clearly I have somethin' t' learn about paintin' these plastic nose cones.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
My first flight was me Level 2 certification flight on a J350, me hearties, usin' a 54-38 Aeropack adapter. It was also me first dual-deployment. Avast, me proud beauty! A perfectly good flight. Avast, me proud beauty! T' still picture o' t' launch is a vidcap from the launch video. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Blimey! This rocket had many excellent flights, mostly on J motors, matey, all dual deployment, some drogueless.

Recovery:
A couple o' hard landings in t' desert due t' me own failings (comin' in under drogue, arrr, for example) led t' fin fractures. Well, blow me down! I was able t' repair one, me bucko, but t' second was too catastrophic. Begad! Since I had foamed them in, I could nay repair t' fin can and had t' scrap t' rocket.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall this is a terrific design. Ahoy! A very good level 2 project and a great first dual deployment rocket. I honestly do nay think it is worth t' price, matey, especially given t' poor quality recovery harness and too-thin fins. Avast, me proud beauty! It is fairly easy t' build a similar design from scratch, and remedy these shortcomings, shiver me timbers, me bucko, for less money. Avast! Aye aye! This kit be actually a major reason I stopped buyin' HPR kits in general and started scratch building.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5