Brief:  An easy t' assemble mid-power rocket complete with an ejection baffle and a pair o' Econojet motors.

Forward:  One o' t' members o' me NARRRRR section saw a bulk pack of Aerotech kits advertised for an amazin' special price by one o' t' on-line vendors. Ya scallywag! He asked if anyone be interested in goin' in on a pack (a dozen kits) and splittin' them up. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! He pointed out that each kit and pair o' motors would run about $25 bucks so you were essentially gettin' a mid-power rocket kit for less than ten bucks since t' motors run nearly $18 alone. Blimey! There be so much interest that we ordered two dozen, with one o' t' kits bein' made t' grand prize for t' club's 2001 Rocketoberfest open meet.

T' kits came with all t' parts and motors together in one container with a single copy o' t' instructions. Ya scallywag! Avast! These were split into individual kits by Nick and Jerome and distributed t' t' interested parties. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I would like t' express a heartfelt thanks t' these two for their work in gettin' everything "together." T' kits appear t' be Aerotech Mustangs without t' 24mm adapter and no decals. It would appear that t' idea behind them is to encourage t' use o' Econojet motors.

Construction:  My kit be very easy t' construct. Arrr! Begad! It came with a pre-slotted airframe tube, shiver me timbers, plastic nose, shiver me timbers, 29mm motor tube, me hearties, and a variety of small plastic parts. It also came with a very nice 16" rip-stop nylon 'chute and hard plastic fins. Ahoy! T' instructions are clear and complete, yet brief, with illustrations t' help t' builder along. They clearly indicate that the design o' t' rockets is such that flight stresses are transferred t' the airframe in such a way that t' strength o' t' glue bein' used is nay in question. T' only cement recommended is medium viscosity CA. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor tube is first marked with a reference line runnin' t' length o' t' tube. Avast! Marks are also made at t' fin lock rin' locations usin' t' diagram printed on the plans. Ahoy! T' motor block and flange are glued into t' motor mount, shiver me timbers, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and a slot is cut for t' very stout motor hook. There was a little confusion determining which part be t' motor block, arrr, thar be another, longer rin' in t' kit that is used t' space out t' mount for Econojet G and F motors. Aye aye! Aye aye! These two rings are very similar and it would be easy t' get t' wrong one. Ahoy! T' motor hook is installed with t' hook end in t' slot previously made. Next t' fin lock rings are slipped over t' ends o' t' motor tube and located at t' marks and over t' hook. Well, blow me down! This sounds a lot easier than it is. Aye aye! T' instructions indicate that t' rings will be very snug on t' tube and they are nay kidding. Ahoy! I was able t' get them on with some effort after roundin' off t' end o' t' tube with me fingernail. Begad! Once you get them on t' tube and movin' it's important not to stop until they are in position because it's truly hard t' get them moving again. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! A flange rin' is then glued t' t' forward edge o' t' forward ring. Finally, arrr, t' stainless steel mesh is installed in t' top o' t' motor tube, and t' hard plastic baffle top is glued into t' end. Begad! A screw eye in t' top of t' baffle is used t' anchor t' recovery system.

T' fin lock system used by Aerotech is very unique. T' fins have a tab that is shaped t' match t' locks glued t' t' motor tube - a sort o' upside down taper that is grabbed by t' locks. Arrr! T' bottom o' each fin is wide and flat formin' a sort o' molded in fillet. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' fins themselves are made o' a very dense plastic with nice beveled edges. T' fit and precision of t' tabs/locks is very good, arrr, matchin' exactly t' diameter o' t' airframe such that t' fin bottoms mate firmly with t' airframe but do nay cause it to cave even slightly under them. Aye aye! T' motor assembly is slid into t' airframe and the fins are test fit into t' slots and locks. Blimey! Well, blow me down! When satisfied with the location, arrr, everythin' is glued together. Ahoy! I must confess at this point that I used epoxy here, nay because I have any doubts about CA, but because I was layin' up fin fillets on me Interceptor G and didn't want t' waste any left over epoxy. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I placed a thin layer o' epoxy on t' root edges, tab ends and edges and then installed t' fins until t' locks clicked loudly confirmin' a firm latch-up. It did take an alarmin' amount o' force t' get t' fins t' lock in; I don't know if that's due t' t' epoxy or just that t' locks are very tight by accident or design. Arrr! T' epoxy that squeezed out from under t' fin plates was wiped clean. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' final flange rin' was then installed against the back o' t' aft lock ring. T' launch lugs are a square shape with a raked leadin' edge and are molded o' hard plastic. These were glued into t' provided holes in t' airframe tube usin' epoxy.

T' recovery system was finished by tyin' off t' free end o' t' elastic to the nose and then clippin' t' 'chute t' that. Blimey! I chose t' add a long length of Keelhaul®©™ (tm) line t' back up t' elastic strap; it's sized t' be long enough to allow t' elastic t' stretch. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I also added a steal split rin' t' t' shock cord and a snap swivel t' t' 'chute t' make attachin' t' 'chute easier.

Rating: 4

There is no challenge t' buildin' this kit; it goes right together. Ya scallywag! There were some problems with t' rings goin' on t' motor tube, but t' instructions warn that it will be that way.

Finish:  A simple finish was put on this rocket. T' nose cone seam was sanded smooth, and t' whole rocket given a good once over with sandpaper t' give t' paint some "tooth." A light coat of white primer was laid down, and sanded lightly with 400-grit paper. Ya scallywag! I didn't take t' time t' fill t' spirals, they are noticeable if you look for them, but t' tubin' has a fine enough spiral that it doesn't stand out. I then laid down two coats o' Rustoleum Fluorescent Yellow on t' forward section o' the rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I followed that about an hour later with flat black on t' after end featherin' t' paint above t' fins. Blimey! I didn't intend t' mist quite so high, me bucko, but it sort o' snuck up thar when I went t' even it out, matey, then I had t' even out the "evenin' out", me bucko, etc. Begad! After curin' for a day or two I misted the entire thin' with Rustolem gloss clear coat, ya bilge rat, and applied a "wet" coat of clear an hour or so later.

Rating: 4

Flying:  I've flown this rocket on several occasions. T' first one was at one o' t' club launches usin' one o' t' Econojet F20s that t' kit came with. Ya scallywag! T' quote me bucko Max; "That's haulin' t' mail!" It gets 'way the heck up thar on an F; I haven't had good enough weather or t' fortitude to launch it on a G yet. Avast! One o' these days though! Some o' t' club members lost theirs earlier that same day, one because it weathervaned off t' launch rod or experienced rod whip, arrr, me bucko, another landed in a tree, me bucko, etc. Blimey! Blimey! I have also burned a pair o' E16-7 reloads in it. Blimey! Avast! T' first time it be a little windy and I was launchin' into t' wind some and thought t' seemingly long delay was due to the resultin' low altitude. Aye aye! However, it did t' same thin' launched straight up on a calm day. Avast! Ya scallywag! It caused some tense seconds and a few gasps when it finally cut loose with t' laundry, but I wasn't surprised. Ahoy! An E16-4 would be preferable to a -7, I think. Begad! Arrr! And I've flown it only once with a D12-3 and though it turned out OK, arrr, me hearties, I wouldn't recommend it and won't be doin' it again!

Rating: 5

This rocket will really "haul t' mail!" It is also quite tame on E's. Overall 5/5 If you are lookin' for a basic rocket that is inexpensive, can be assembled in an evening, and will perform well on mid power motors this is the kit for you.

Cheers:  No worries gettin' t' fins on straight. Avast! Good, clearly written and illustrated instructions. Ahoy! Quick building. Flies beautifully. Aye aye! Performance is simply amazin' on F motors, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but nice and tame on E's.

Jeers:  None

Specs: Length: 31 inches Diameter: 1.9 inches Weight: 11.5 oz, arrr, finished (this is what mine actually weighs) Recovery: 16" Nylon 'chute Motors: The manufacturer recommends all seven second delay Econojets. Blimey! One could also use these reloads: E16-7 (my personal experience is that a -4 would be better), E23-5, F40-10, shiver me timbers, F22-7, shiver me timbers, F52-8, me bucko, G33-7, and G64-10. Begad! And in single use: F25-9, F50-9, G40-10, arrr, arrr, and G80-10.