Brief:
First, I want t' point out that thar be already a review o' this product, and I concur with EMRR’s opinions. Ahoy! However, I received this kit as a prize from the Fantasy Rocket Photo Contest, and felt that t' least that I could do is write a review. Begad! When EMRR offered me t' Snipe as a replacement for t' advertised kit (which was a no-show), arrr, arrr, it didn’t take me long t' warm up t' this nice sized, 24mm cluster rocket. Blimey! Aye aye! I haven’t built many clusters, and thought this one would be fun on a trio o' E9s.

Construction:
T' Snipe is 2.6” in diameter and 58.5 inches long (actual measurement - t' instructions say its only 56”). Ahoy! T' main tube is 30” long, me bucko, t' payload bay is 15”, and t' plastic nosecone is 13 inches. Ahoy! T' three rounded fins remind me o' a template that Estes used t' provide in their Designer’s Special, and which I had used many years ago for a rocket I built for me daughter. Blimey! T' fins, payload bulkhead, and two centerin' rings are all 1/8” ply. While t' fins were very neatly cut, t' rings were slightly rough. Aye aye! This, however, isn’t a problem. Arrr! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! There are three long 24mm motor tubes, ya bilge rat, me hearties, which are long enough t' handle any available 24mm motors. Avast, me proud beauty! T' recovery system consists o' an 18” steel cable, ~9’ length o' ½” elastic, arrr, and a 28” nylon chute. Ya scallywag! T' cable is pre-attached t' t' front CR and has a loop on t' other end. An eyebolt is used t' attach t' elastic t' t' payload bulkhead plate.

This is an easy rocket t' build. Begad! Aye aye! T' instructions are on one double-sided 8 ½” x 11” sheet and are generally adequate. Avast! Arrr! I first built t' fin can per t' instructions. Well, matey, blow me down! I did this while I was workin' on a bigger project and went ahead and glued on both rings. Begad! Arrr! I normally don’t glue on t' aft rin' until I’ve had a chance t' add internal fillets, but wasn’t payin' attention this time. Unfortunately, arrr, shiver me timbers, matey, t' fins only have ½” tabs, ya bilge rat, which are nay long enough t' reach t' motor mount assembly. Arrr! Havin' had mid power rockets with both through t' wall and surface mount fins, I know that internal fillets would have been a good idea on this rocket. Begad! It was suggested that I could glue on t' fins, arrr, me bucko, add internal fillets, and notch t' forward CR so t' motor mount would slide in. Ya scallywag! However, I found that one o' t' notches would interfere with t' steel shock cable that was pre-installed. Therefore, ya bilge rat, I punted.

T' fin slots are nay pre cut, but were pre-marked. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I didn’t trust t' markin' so I double checked them, matey, findin' that they were very accurate. Avast! T' slots were easy t' cut with a sharp Exacto knife. Ya scallywag! I inserted t' motor mount and then glued t' fins on with hefty doses o' t' black rubberized CA. Ya scallywag! Since t' fin tabs are only about half as long as t' fins, I was able t' partially extract t' mount and gain access t' t' back o' t' tabs. I formed thin rolls o' LocTite epoxy putty and laid them against t' fin tabs. Blimey! Ahoy! I used a long thin screwdriver, matey, dipped in rubbin' alcohol, t' compress them against t' fin joints. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I have never tried this before, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, only time will tell whether it was a good idea.

T' payload assembly was typical, arrr, consistin' o' a coupler, pre-drilled bulkhead, and eyebolt hardware. Well, blow me down! Blimey! For motor retention, I cut t' head off a small bolt and epoxied it into t' gap betwixt t' three motor tubes. Begad! A small washer and a bolt should hold t' three motors nicely.

Finishing:
I filled t' fins with Fill ‘n Finish and gave it one coat o' white primer. Arrr! Begad! For t' first time, I tried plasti-kote Fleck Stone. Avast, me proud beauty! I got t' ‘Manhattan Mist’, me bucko, which is gray with black and white spots. This is interestin' stuff. Arrr! It spurts out o' t' can like a giant ‘raspberry’ and leaves a coatin' that looks like a stone surface. Avast! Maybe nay optimal for rockets (too rough), shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but interesting. Arrr! I bought this brand over t' competitor because it be cheaper, only t' find that you also need a sealer, shiver me timbers, which t' competitor includes. Avast! After some testing, I used Testor’s clear acrylic over t' Fleck Stone finish. Finally, me bucko, me hearties, t' add some contrast, arrr, I painted t' nose cone with Rustoleum Hammered Gold.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I used t' parachute that was supplied with t' kit and a home-made protector made from a car air bag. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I wrapped tape around three E9-4’s and then installed t' nut and washer t' hold them in. Aye aye! For ignition duties, I used three Igniterman igniters. Begad! These long igniters are easier t' prep, and provided an added guarantee o' reliable ignition. Blimey! They are overkill for these BP motors.

T' kit weighed in at 22 oz on me home scale and Rocksim said it would be about 28 oz with t' E9s (I didn’t have t' motors t' weigh it loaded). Begad! Blimey! T' launch was slow and thar was a slight wobble in t' first 20 feet until t' rocket came up t' speed. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It easily reached 1000 ft, and ejection appeared t' be just before apogee. Arrr! T' stock chute seemed fine. Well, blow me down! T' rocket banged into t' side o' a metal barn, but was undamaged.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Even though this is a standard 3FNC rocket, shiver me timbers, its stylin' is somewhat unique due t' t' curved fins and long nosecone. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It was easy t' build, shiver me timbers, but t' fin tabs should be long enough t' touch t' motor mount assembly. Arrr! Barrin' this, t' instructions should have told you t' wait t' glue in t' aft CR until you have added internal fillets. T' flight on t' E9s was cool. Avast! Avast! Blimey! Three F’s should really rock!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5