Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

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

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight be in March o' 2001. Aye aye! I used a G64-4w, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, since it was a larger diameter. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. Well, blow me down! After passin' it through RSO, and puttin' it on t' pad, it be time t' witness t' moment o' truth. 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. It drifted a little ways, but was recovered. Aye aye! Avast! Upon recoverin' it, matey, me bucko, ya bilge rat, it be found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. Avast! Begad! T' simplest and quickest remedy was t' "pop" it back out. Avast!

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

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

I flew t' rocket again about a year later, shiver me timbers, on a G64, and then an H128. Both flights were flawless. Ya scallywag! Ahoy!

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5