Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

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

I didn't get any instructions for this kit, ya bilge rat, as it was a Beta test. Ahoy! But I had an idea o' how t' build it. Ya scallywag! Avast! I looked at t' basic parts. I got a vision o' how to build it in me head, then I got t' work. Aye aye! It is relatively easy for the intermediate flyer t' build. 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. Ahoy! I used sprin' clamps t' help clamp t' portions together, ya bilge rat, so that I could ensure a good bond betwixt couplers. T' only mod I made, was t' scuff some glassine off o' t' contact points, t' help t' epoxy adhere better. I used basic 5 and 15 minute epoxy. Everythin' went together without a hitch. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! 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, ya bilge rat, matey, like I did on me rocket, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, matey, shiver me timbers, t' give it an "exotic" touch. I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. Aye aye! 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! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I used a G64-4w, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, shiver me timbers, since it was a larger diameter. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. Ahoy! Blimey! After passin' it through RSO, me bucko, me bucko, and puttin' it on t' pad, it was time t' witness t' moment o' truth. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It lit instantly, shiver me timbers, and whistled off the pad. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! It drifted a little ways, but was recovered. Upon recoverin' it, arrr, it was found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' simplest and quickest remedy be t' "pop" it back out. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey!

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

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

I flew t' rocket again about a year later, on a G64, 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, but if built right, me hearties, it will reward you with some good flights. Aye aye! This kit always gets attention at our launches. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5