Brief:
T' Solar express from Madcow Rocketry is a mid-power rocket kit that flies on 29mm F and G motors. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! It's a great addition t' an established mid-power fleet, ya bilge rat, and will fly on a wide range o' mid-power motors (or probably even some Hs if you're willin' t' try it). Arrr! Blimey! T' quality o' t' kit is superb, and it's a quick, enjoyable build.

Construction:
T' kit conatins...

• 1 - 2.6" Nose cone
• 1 - 2.6" Pre-Slotted Airframe Tube
• 3 - Laser-Cut Plywood Fins
• 2 - Laser-Cut Plywood Centerin' Rings
• 1 - 29mm Motor Tube
• Keelhaul®©™® and Nylon shock cords t' make t' Recovery Harness
• 1 - Nomex® 'Chute Protector
• 1 - 17" Nylon Parachute
• 2 - 1/4" Launch Lugs
• 1 - Sheet o' Water Slide Decals

T' only modifications I made were t' replace t' launch lugs with rail buttons, and t' add an Aeropack motor retainer. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I also swapped out t' included parachute for a 28" one.

T' fit o' Madcow's parts are exceptional. Begad! Blimey! I was able t' dry-fit t' whole kit together right out o' t' bag.

Construction started with t' attachment o' t' Aeropack retainer. Aye aye! I used JB weld as per Aeropack's instructions. Next,the aft centerin' rin' was epoxied forward o' t' retainer.

Next, shiver me timbers, I ignored t' instructions and installed t' forward centerin' rin' with spacin' equal t' t' lengh o' the fin's TTW tabs... this was a mistake.

I had forgotten t' look at how Madcow has you mount t' shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! You're supposed t' tie t' shock cord around t' motor tube and thread it through a notch in t' forward centerin' ring. Begad! This placed t' shock cord so that it would interfere with t' fin tabs. Begad! Begad! I remedied this by cuttin' t' corners off o' t' forward ends o' t' fin tabs.

T' motor mount was then epoxied into t' rocket, me hearties, followed by attachin' some rail buttons. Ya scallywag! Next was epoxyin' the fins into their pre-cut slots. Avast! Each fin got epoxy fillets, and construction be complete.

Finishing:
Finishin' on this rocket is fairly simple, t' most difficult part bein' t' waterslide decals.

I painted t' nose cone while t' rest o' t' rocket was bein' assembled. Blimey! First, matey, matey, t' NC got a 180 grit sandin' and was washed. Ahoy! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Next came several thick coats o' Rustoleum automotive primer. Avast, me proud beauty! After sandin' that smooth, arrr, t' NC got two coats o' Rustoleum gloss white.

T' airframe recieved t' same treatment as t' NC. Avast! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! It was sprayed with Rustoleum automotive primer, ya bilge rat, arrr, ya bilge rat, then two fins were masked off and it be painted white. Blimey! Blimey! T' maskin' was then reversed and t' unpainted fins were painted blue.

I was smartly tryin' t' get t' rocket finished before a launch, me bucko, so I didn't have time t' apply t' decals. After t' launch, shiver me timbers, I decided t' leave them off entirely.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first flight o' t' Solar Express be at t' Washington Aerospace Club's Fire in t' Sky 2010. Well, blow me down! It flew on a Cesaroni F36 Smoky Sam, arrr, a motor for which RockSIM predicted a flight o' about 650'.

As be t' case with an earlier flight o' me Pemberton Technologies 3FNC, ya bilge rat, this motor seemed t' underperform a little. Blimey! Ejection was late, ya bilge rat, but nay enough t' cause any damage.

T' rocket's next flight was on an AeroTech G64W. Well, blow me down! This flight be much quicker off t' pad than t' last motor, producin' a nice, matey, straight boost t' what looked t' be close t' t' RockSIM-estimated 1800'.

Recovery:
T' 18" 'chute included with this kit simmed out as way too small. Ya scallywag! I switched it out with a 28" 'chute and t' rocket came down at t' right speed for me comfort.

T' first flight landed about 100' or so from t' pad. Avast, me proud beauty! By t' time o' t' rocket's second flight, t' wind had picked up a good amount. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' rocket landed a third o' a mile away.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Solar Express is yet another o' Madcow Rocketry's great products. Arrr! It's easy t' build, flys well on a very wide range o' motors, me bucko, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and is a cool lookin' rocket t' boot. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' only potential con I can think o' is the small size o' t' included parachute, but an established mid/high-power flyer should have a large enough collection of 'chutes t' remedy this.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5