Brief:
First, me bucko, I want t' point out that thar be already a review o' this product, and I concur with EMRR’s opinions. Begad! However, me bucko, 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. Ahoy! When EMRR offered me t' Snipe as a replacement for t' advertised kit (which be a no-show), shiver me timbers, it didn’t take me long t' warm up t' this nice sized, arrr, me hearties, 24mm cluster rocket. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I haven’t built many clusters, ya bilge rat, 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”). Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' main tube is 30” long, t' payload bay is 15”, and t' plastic nosecone is 13 inches. Blimey! Arrr! T' three rounded fins remind me o' a template that Estes used t' provide in their Designer’s Special, me hearties, and which I had used many years ago for a rocket I built for me daughter. T' fins, payload bulkhead, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and two centerin' rings are all 1/8” ply. Ya scallywag! While t' fins were very neatly cut, t' rings were slightly rough. Well, blow me down! This, me bucko, however, isn’t a problem. There are three long 24mm motor tubes, me hearties, arrr, which are long enough t' handle any available 24mm motors. Begad! T' recovery system consists o' an 18” steel cable, shiver me timbers, ~9’ length o' ½” elastic, and a 28” nylon chute. T' cable is pre-attached t' t' front CR and has a loop on t' other end. Ya scallywag! An eyebolt is used t' attach t' elastic t' t' payload bulkhead plate.

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

T' fin slots are nay pre cut, but were pre-marked. Blimey! I didn’t trust t' markin' so I double checked them, me hearties, matey, findin' that they were very accurate. Begad! T' slots were easy t' cut with a sharp Exacto knife. 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 be able t' partially extract t' mount and gain access t' t' back o' t' tabs. Avast! I formed thin rolls o' LocTite epoxy putty and laid them against t' fin tabs. Well, blow me down! I used a long thin screwdriver, dipped in rubbin' alcohol, me hearties, matey, t' compress them against t' fin joints. I have never tried this before, matey, me hearties, me bucko, only time will tell whether it was a good idea.

T' payload assembly was typical, consistin' o' a coupler, pre-drilled bulkhead, and eyebolt hardware. Blimey! For motor retention, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I cut t' head off a small bolt and epoxied it into t' gap betwixt t' three motor tubes. Well, blow me down! 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. For t' first time, me hearties, me bucko, I tried plasti-kote Fleck Stone. I got t' ‘Manhattan Mist’, which is gray with black and white spots. This is interestin' stuff. Avast! Blimey! It spurts out o' t' can like a giant ‘raspberry’ and leaves a coatin' that looks like a stone surface. Well, blow me down! Maybe nay optimal for rockets (too rough), shiver me timbers, but interesting. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I bought this brand over t' competitor because it was cheaper, me bucko, me bucko, only t' find that you also need a sealer, which t' competitor includes. Blimey! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! After some testing, matey, I used Testor’s clear acrylic over t' Fleck Stone finish. Begad! Finally, arrr, me hearties, t' add some contrast, 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. Blimey! I wrapped tape around three E9-4’s and then installed t' nut and washer t' hold them in. Well, blow me down! For ignition duties, I used three Igniterman igniters. These long igniters are easier t' prep, arrr, and provided an added guarantee o' reliable ignition. Begad! 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). Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! T' launch was slow and thar was a slight wobble in t' first 20 feet until t' rocket came up t' speed. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! It easily reached 1000 ft, ya bilge rat, and ejection appeared t' be just before apogee. Begad! T' stock chute seemed fine. Blimey! T' rocket banged into t' side o' a metal barn, arrr, but be undamaged.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5