Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

Construction:
I received t' package, and t' kit was well packaged. It included 2 main body tubes, shiver me timbers, a 3.1”x 34” long tube, and a 2.14” x 12” body tube, as well as nose cone, transition, ya bilge rat, motor mount parts. Avast, me proud beauty! It also comes with (6) 3.1” Tube couplers, which are used for t' fins. Ahoy! They are pretty durable. As well as (2) ½” diameter launch lugs. Avast! T' only common thin' is the assembly o' t' Motor mount, and t' shock cord anchor system. I did not receive any instructions, me hearties, but I had some idea as t' how t' build it. Ya scallywag! 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. Avast! Blimey! But I had an idea o' how t' build it. I looked at t' basic parts. Ahoy! Blimey! I got a vision o' how to build it in me head, ya bilge rat, then I got t' work. Arrr! Blimey! It is relatively easy for the intermediate flyer t' build. Arrr! T' tube couplers are butted against each other, as well as t' airframe. Arrr! Blimey! Once you get t' first coupler on, me bucko, t' rest o' them are simply butted into place. Arrr! Blimey! I used sprin' clamps t' help clamp t' portions together, matey, 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. Ahoy! Blimey! I used basic 5 and 15 minute epoxy. Begad! Everythin' went together without a hitch. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I cant really give any con's about this kit. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

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

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

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, but if built right, it will bounty you with some good flights. Aye aye! This kit always gets attention at our launches. Ahoy! It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5