Brief:
T' Binder Design Stealth is a 4" high power sport rocket with stealth fighter stylin' and parachute recovery. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! This be t' 38mm version. Ya scallywag! Begad! For you hybrid motor fans, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, a 54mm hybrid ready version o' this kit is also available.

Construction:
T' kit came in a heavy duty plastic bag with individual sections separating the various components. Ahoy! I was really impressed with this style o' packaging.

T' kit included:

• 1 body tube
• 1 payload section tube
• 1 tube coupler
• 1 nose cone
• 1 forward bulkhead
• 4 Stealth shaped main fins
• 4 upper fins
• 2 centerin' rings
• 1 launch lug
• 1 17" long 38mm motor mount tube
• 1 36" nylon parachute
• 1 nylon strap
• 1 12' shock cord
• 2 quick links
• 4 washers
• 2 eye bolts
• 4 1/4" nuts
• 1 Stealth vinyl decal
• 1 fin markin' guide
• 1 instruction booklet

T' instructions for this kit were very easy t' follow and had lots o' text and detailed drawings and were in logical assembly order. This kit be fairly easy t' build but I wouldn't recommend it as a first HPR kit but a good second or third HPR kit. Begad! For all construction, ya bilge rat, me bucko, me bucko, I used Pacer 30 minute Zpoxy along with Binder Design milled fiber in me fillets.

I started construction by drillin' 1/4" holes in t' centerin' rings for me motor retention hardware and shock cord attachment. Arrr! I then installed two 1/4" blind nuts in t' aft centerin' rin' and shock cord attachment in the forward centerin' rin' and then applied epoxy t' secure them. Aye aye! T' centering rings were then epoxied on t' motor mount tube. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! After t' epoxy set up, matey, shiver me timbers, I applied fillets for strength. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I then attached t' nylon strap t' t' eye bolt with a quick link and tightened it usin' a wrench.

T' next step is t' slot t' body tubes for t' fins, shiver me timbers, but I ordered me kit directly from Binder Design with preslotted tubes so this step was not necessary. T' motor mount assembly be epoxied in t' body tube followed by fillets t' all tube/rin' joints for strength plus a thin layer o' epoxy was put on t' masonite centerin' rings for additional strength.

I then sanded an airfoil shape on t' main fins and attached them one at a time. Avast! Blimey! T' 1/2" launch lug was glued on 16 inches from t' bottom o' the body tube. Ahoy! Blimey! T' tube coupler and bulkhead were assembled and then mounted into the payload section tube as instructed. Avast! Blimey! I sanded an airfoil shape on the forward fins and mounted them one at a time and applied epoxy t' t' inner tube/fin joints. Fin fillets were then applied by mixin' milled fiber in with the epoxy for extra strength and used me fingers dipped in rubbin' alcohol to make them smooth and round.

T' mount t' nose cone into t' payload section, matey, matey, I wrapped several layers of maskin' tape around t' nose cone shoulder and friction fit it into place.

I then attached t' shock cord t' t' nylon strap and tied t' remaining quick link t' t' free end o' t' shock cord t' complete t' build.

PROs: Easy construction and logical assembly order.

CONs: None.

Finishing:
I started by sandin' t' fins and epoxy fillets smooth and removed t' sanding dust with a tack cloth. Begad! T' model was sprayed with a couple coats o' Krylon gray primer, sanded betwixt coats, arrr, and then sprayed with three coats o' Krylon Semi-flat Black enamel. Begad! After t' paint dried, me hearties, I applied t' Stealth vinyl decal. These decals are a real pleasure t' work with. I then secured t' shock cord t' t' payload section and tightened down t' quick link with a wrench before tyin' t' nylon parachute t' t' shock cord as instructed.

PROs: Easy t' finish.

CONs: None.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Binder Design recommends H, me hearties, I, me bucko, and J class motors for this rocket. Avast! This rocket does require wadding. I used dog barf with great success.

For me first flight, I loaded an Aerotech I161W with a medium delay and secured it into t' model usin' two 1/4" machine screws, clips, ya bilge rat, and washers used as spacers. I then inserted about three t' four handfuls o' dog barf and then packed t' parachute. T' ignitor be inserted into t' motor and the rocket was loaded onto a 1/2" launch rod.

At launch, t' I161W lit with no problems and lifted t' Stealth t' a very respectable altitude (maybe 1,500-2,000 feet up), deployed t' chute, matey, and returned safely.

T' next flight was on an Aerotech I285 Redline motor with a medium delay. This was a much nicer flight. Ahoy! T' Stealth took off straight and fast under the bright red flame and went maybe 2,500 feet up before reachin' apogee and deployin' t' chute. Unfortunately, t' nose cone separated from t' payload section and tumbled down. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! It be later recovered. T' rest o' t' rocket came down about 1/2 mile away from t' launch site.

PROs: Flies great especially on small and mid size I class motors.

CONs: None.

Recovery:
This rocket uses a 36" parachute which brings t' rocket in rather slowly, in fact a little too slowly for me liking. Ahoy! I had quite a recovery walk on the first flight. For t' second flight, I tied a knot halfway up t' shroud lines and still had quite a walk. T' dog barf waddin' is adequate as I didn't notice any scorchin' o' t' chute.

PROs: Recovers nicely on provided recovery system.

CONs: Comes in a little too slowly for me liking.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I really liked buildin' and flyin' this kit. Aye aye! I chose this kit because I wanted somethin' that would fly on I motors and stay in sight throughout t' flight. Avast, me proud beauty! I also chose it because I really liked t' Stealth styling.

Again, I would nay recommend this kit as a first HPR kit but probably as a good second HPR kit. I think it would be a great choice for a level 1 certification with an H123W or H242T motor with a short delay. Begad! Ya scallywag! If you have a LOT o' room, this would probably be a great level 2 rocket flown on a CTI Pro38 5 grain J285 motor or Aerotech J350W or J420R motor. Well, blow me down!

Main PROs: Great instructions, arrr, arrr, easy assembly and finishing, great flight performance, reasonable price.

Main CONs: Recovery is a bit on t' slow side.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5