Brief:
Tube Rocket, shiver me timbers, with transition

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

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

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, matey, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, t' give it an "exotic" touch. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. 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. Blimey! I used a G64-4w, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, me hearties, since it was a larger diameter. Avast! Begad! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! After passin' it through RSO, shiver me timbers, and puttin' it on t' pad, it was time t' witness t' moment o' truth. It lit instantly, and whistled off the pad. Avast! T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. Well, blow me down! It drifted a little ways, arrr, matey, but was recovered. Upon recoverin' it, it be found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. Ya scallywag! T' simplest and quickest remedy was t' "pop" it back out. Blimey!

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

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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