Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

Construction:
I received t' package, and t' kit was well packaged. Well, blow me down! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! It included 2 main body tubes, matey, 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, matey, which are used for t' fins. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! They are pretty durable. As well as (2) ½” diameter launch lugs. Ahoy! T' only common thin' is the assembly o' t' Motor mount, matey, me hearties, and t' shock cord anchor system. Avast! Begad! Blimey! I did not receive any instructions, but I had some idea as t' how t' build it. I constructed t' entire motor mount assembly usin' 5-minute epoxy. I requested a 29mm motor mount, which is what he sent me.

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

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I'd suggest this kit for t' intermediate flyer, me bucko, as it requires a little patience t' build, ya bilge rat, but if built right, matey, 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