Brief:
Tube Rocket, me bucko, ya bilge rat, with transition

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

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

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

I teamed up with a friend o' mine, arrr, me bucko, me hearties, and we loaded up an H128-M for it. Ahoy! Arrr! After a few problems with igniters, she took t' t' air, me hearties, t' about 1200 feet. The chute deployed right on cue, and I had t' walk a little further, but it was an impressive flight, nonetheless. Begad!

I flew t' rocket again about a year later, ya bilge rat, on a G64, me hearties, and then an H128. Both flights were flawless. Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I'd suggest this kit for t' intermediate flyer, as it requires a little patience t' build, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but if built right, it will reward you with some good flights. This kit always gets attention at our launches. It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5