Brief:
Tube Rocket, ya bilge rat, matey, with transition

Construction:
I received t' package, arrr, and t' kit was well packaged. Begad! It included 2 main body tubes, a 3.1”x 34” long tube, and a 2.14” x 12” body tube, as well as nose cone, transition, motor mount parts. It also comes with (6) 3.1” Tube couplers, me bucko, me hearties, which are used for t' fins. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! They are pretty durable. As well as (2) ½” diameter launch lugs. Begad! Begad! T' only common thin' is the assembly o' t' Motor mount, and t' shock cord anchor system. Begad! Well, blow me down! I did not receive any instructions, me bucko, but I had some idea as t' how t' build it. I constructed t' entire motor mount assembly usin' 5-minute epoxy. Aye aye! Avast! I requested a 29mm motor mount, shiver me timbers, which is what he sent me.

I didn't get any instructions for this kit, as it be a Beta test. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! But I had an idea o' how t' build it. Blimey! Avast! I looked at t' basic parts. I got a vision o' how to build it in me head, me hearties, then I got t' work. Arrr! Begad! It is relatively easy for the intermediate flyer t' build. T' tube couplers are butted against each other, as well as t' airframe. Begad! Once you get t' first coupler on, t' rest o' them are simply butted into place. Blimey! I used sprin' clamps t' help clamp t' portions together, shiver me timbers, so that I could ensure a good bond betwixt couplers. T' only mod I made, arrr, me hearties, was t' scuff some glassine off o' t' contact points, t' help t' epoxy adhere better. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! I used basic 5 and 15 minute epoxy. Ahoy! Everythin' went together without a hitch. Begad! Arrr! I cant really give any con's about this kit.

Finishing:
Pros: It is rather easy t' come up with exotic ideas for paint schemes, for instance, like I did on me rocket, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, me hearties, t' give it an "exotic" touch. Begad! Begad! I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. Aye aye! Cons: If you want t' paint t' inside o' t' couplers, me bucko, arrr, it will be extra work for you.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight was in March o' 2001. I used a G64-4w, me hearties, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, since it was a larger diameter. Avast! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. Ahoy! Avast! After passin' it through RSO, and puttin' it on t' pad, it was time t' witness t' moment o' truth. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! It lit instantly, and whistled off the pad. T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. It drifted a little ways, but was recovered. Upon recoverin' it, shiver me timbers, it be found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. Arrr! T' simplest and quickest remedy be t' "pop" it back out.

Next up, I loaded her up with a G125-5t. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! A pass through RSO and she be on t' pad within 5 minutes. Well, blow me down! Blimey! After t' usual countdown, matey, t' motor lit, and it practically exploded off t' pad, and up to about 750 feet. Begad! Blimey! T' chute deployed, and it had a flawless recovery. Aye aye! Blimey! No problems with t' tubes this time. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

I teamed up with a friend o' mine, and we loaded up an H128-M for it. Well, blow me down! Arrr! After a few problems with igniters, me bucko, she took t' t' air, ya bilge rat, t' about 1200 feet. The chute deployed right on cue, and I had t' walk a little further, shiver me timbers, but it was an impressive flight, nonetheless. Aye aye!

I flew t' rocket again about a year later, on a G64, and then an H128. Both flights were flawless. Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I'd suggest this kit for t' intermediate flyer, shiver me timbers, as it requires a little patience t' build, me bucko, arrr, but if built right, matey, it will bounty you with some good flights. Ahoy! Blimey! This kit always gets attention at our launches. Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5