(08/25/08) T' Madcow Scooter™ is a classic-looking, shiver me timbers, stubby rocket with t' capability o' flyin' on D12's. Ahoy! Blimey! From another view, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' Scooter™ is a 29mm, mid-powered, solid-construction rocket that can reach 2,260 feet on a G64.

Overall, ya bilge rat, t' Scooter™ is an easy rocket t' build and other than t' balsa nose cone it finishes just as easy. You can do a lot with your paint schemes and still incorporate t' checker-board and name decals. On Madcow's website, the Scooter™ has an attractive yellow/black paint scheme (far right), arrr, shiver me timbers, matey, whereas, I chose different colors. Arrr! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty!

T' rocket includes a pre-slotted 17" long, 2.2" diameter body tube. Add t' that, three through-the-wall laser-cut plywood fins and a 4.4" long balsa nose cone t' make up t' 22" length. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Blimey! The recovery system includes a Keelhaul®©™® shock-tether, a nylon shock cord, a Nomex® parachute protector, matey, ya bilge rat, and an 18" rip-stop nylon parachute.T' remainder o' parts include laser-cut plywood centerin' rings, eye-bolt (with nut and washers), a 29mm motor tube, two 1/4" launch lugs, and lastly water-slide decals. (parts picture t' left courtesy o' Madcow)

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed in a small booklet o' 4 pages. This is a very easy rocket t' build and a nice introduction t' mid-power rocketry. T' techniques used are described well in text and thar are some illustrations to ensure understanding.

T' instructions say t' use 5-minute epoxy throughout t' build, however, I built mine with wood glue (other than the fin fillets). Begad! Aye aye! Blimey!

T' motor mount is built first. Ahoy! Aye aye! It is a typical build but care must be taken t' follow t' instructions so the through-the-wall fins fit correctly. Aye aye! T' Keelhaul®©™® shock-tether is tied around t' motor tube and fed past t' upper centerin' rin' through a notch.

T' fins are next and as mentioned they are through-the-wall mounted t' t' motor tube. Easy stuff here especially with t' pre-slotted body tube.

T' nose cone is assembled next. Begad! Ya scallywag! Madcow suggests addin' nose weight if needed t' have your CG at 20.75" from t' nose tip. Since I be shippin' this t' NARAM-50, arrr, I didn't want any surprises so I filled the bore hole in t' nose cone with BB's, me hearties, poured in some Gorilla polyurethane glue, and added t' eye-screw and plywood bulkhead. Well, blow me down! Apparently I added a lot o' weight since me rocket weighed in at 10.2 ounces verses Madcow's estimate o' 6 ounces.

Normally for balsa nose cones I use many, many coats o' Plasti-Kote Primer and sand in betwixt each coat. Well, blow me down! For the Scooter™ I used DecoArt's Multi-Purpose Sealer. Begad! I used about 3 coats o' it by applyin' it with a foam brush and sandin' inbetween coats. Then I used Plasti-Kote Primer on t' whole rocket, sandin' in-between coats t' get a smooth finish. Ya scallywag! Avast! Blimey! This be followed by using Krylon's white and red paint.

I must have done a good job (and I did) because many commented on how smooth t' nose cone looked. Blimey! One person said it looks like it is plastic.

T' decals were then applied and voila'... a good lookin' Scooter™.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 5 points. Begad! Build sequence and quality/fit o' parts was excellent. Instructions are simple and easy t' follow. Decals make for a nice finish, especially t' checker-board one. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty!

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Madcow lists a whole slew o' recommended motors rangin' from D12-5 and E9-4 (with 24mm adapter) up t' G40-7 and G64-7. Avast! They indicate that t' D12-5 should get about 500 feet altitude while t' G64 should push t' Scooter™ to 2,260 feet.

As mentioned earlier, Madcow indicates that t' rocket should weigh about 6 ounces with a CG at 20.75" from the nose tip.

My finished rocket weighed in at 10.2 ounces with a CG at 10" from t' nose cone. Arrr! My attached RockSIM has a mass object t' simulate me finished rocket. Begad! Begad! If you use this for testin' you may need t' adjust it for your finished rocket.

I shipped this rocket t' NARAM since I was only goin' t' be thar a day or so. Begad! Begad! This plan included buyin' motors at the site. When I arrived on Thursday afternoon I was able t' buy a two-pack o' F23-7's.

T' first flight went off perfectly. Ahoy! Nice and straight. Well, blow me down! From me angle t' ejection looked t' be perfectly at apogee. RockSIM says a 6-second delay would be optimal. Avast, me proud beauty! Look at this awesome shot (left) that Chris Taylor took from his great site NARAM LIVE! You can click on it t' enlarge it.

T' rocket landed about 150 yards from t' launch area. I took a picture o' it on t' ground (below) showin' off the RocketChutes.com Tie-Dye parachute that I used. (I replaced t' 18" rip-stop nylon 'chute provided by Madcow with this 18" rip-stop 'chute... Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! performance would be equal). Avast! Notice t' Nomex® parachute protector.

T' second flight was on t' other F23-7. Begad! Blimey! Caught this one on t' me camera's video (so nay t' best quality). Interestingly, t' flight was again perfect and it landed within inches/feet o' t' previous flight!

T' next day, arrr, arrr, I purchased an Aerotech G77-7 t' fly t' Scooter™. T' wind was carryin' rockets into the neighborin' area and I didn't want t' loose this one, matey, me bucko, so I reefed t' 'chute about half-way up t' shroud lines. Begad! Ahoy! (I seem t' do this on a lot o' rockets). Arrr!

I didn't say it, but one o' t' observers said (without intendin' t' make t' pun), "Boy that really scooted on that Redline!". Begad! And it did. Begad! RockSIM says t' about 2,050 feet. T' deployment was early, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but recovery system held together and t' rocket recovered nicely. Arrr!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, shiver me timbers, I would rate this rocket 4 ½ points. T' Keelhaul®©™® to nylon shock cord system is excellent along with t' Nomex® parachute protector and nylon parachute. Well, blow me down! Arrr! There is no motor retention. Well, blow me down! Ahoy!

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. Arrr! I would recommend it as an excellent transition kit from low-power t' mid-power. I also prefer this "size" o' rocket and look forward t' many flights. Ya scallywag! Some might din' it for t' balsa nose cone, however, I don't mind finishin' them and they are easy t' repair when dinged. Blimey! I would like t' see a motor hook added t' further support me recommendation for it t' be a transition kit. Ya scallywag! Addin' t' 24mm adapter wouldn't be a bad idea either.

All-in-all, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I would say that t' Madcow Scooter™ is an excellent kit.