Brief:
Tube Rocket, me bucko, with transition

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

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

Finishing:
Pros: It is rather easy t' come up with exotic ideas for paint schemes, matey, for instance, like I did on me rocket, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, arrr, me bucko, t' give it an "exotic" touch. I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! 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 was in March o' 2001. Begad! I used a G64-4w, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, me bucko, since it be a larger diameter. Blimey! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. Ahoy! After passin' it through RSO, and puttin' it on t' pad, it was time t' witness t' moment o' truth. Avast! It lit instantly, and whistled off the pad. Arrr! T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, arrr, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. Ya scallywag! It drifted a little ways, but was recovered. Aye aye! Upon recoverin' it, it was found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' simplest and quickest remedy was t' "pop" it back out. Avast, me proud beauty!

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

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

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, as it requires a little patience t' build, me hearties, but if built right, it will reward you with some good flights. Well, blow me down! This kit always gets attention at our launches. It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5