(08/25/08) T' Madcow Scooter™ is a classic-looking, stubby rocket with t' capability o' flyin' on D12's. Avast! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! From another view, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' Scooter™ is a 29mm, mid-powered, solid-construction rocket that can reach 2,260 feet on a G64.

Overall, t' Scooter™ is an easy rocket t' build and other than t' balsa nose cone it finishes just as easy. You can do a lot with your paint schemes and still incorporate t' checker-board and name decals. On Madcow's website, the Scooter™ has an attractive yellow/black paint scheme (far right), ya bilge rat, whereas, I chose different colors. Avast! Ahoy!

T' rocket includes a pre-slotted 17" long, arrr, shiver me timbers, 2.2" diameter body tube. Ahoy! Add t' that, three through-the-wall laser-cut plywood fins and a 4.4" long balsa nose cone t' make up t' 22" length. The recovery system includes a Keelhaul®©™® shock-tether, me hearties, ya bilge rat, a nylon shock cord, arrr, ya bilge rat, matey, a Nomex® parachute protector, and an 18" rip-stop nylon parachute.T' remainder o' parts include laser-cut plywood centerin' rings, eye-bolt (with nut and washers), arrr, a 29mm motor tube, arrr, two 1/4" launch lugs, and lastly water-slide decals. Blimey! Well, blow me down! (parts picture t' left courtesy o' Madcow)

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed in a small booklet o' 4 pages. Blimey! Blimey! This is a very easy rocket t' build and a nice introduction t' mid-power rocketry. T' techniques used are described well in text and thar are some illustrations to ensure understanding.

T' instructions say t' use 5-minute epoxy throughout t' build, me hearties, however, I built mine with wood glue (other than the fin fillets). Aye aye! Well, me hearties, blow me down!

T' motor mount is built first. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! It is a typical build but care must be taken t' follow t' instructions so the through-the-wall fins fit correctly. Avast! Blimey! T' Keelhaul®©™® shock-tether is tied around t' motor tube and fed past t' upper centerin' rin' through a notch.

T' fins are next and as mentioned they are through-the-wall mounted t' t' motor tube. Aye aye! Ahoy! Easy stuff here especially with t' pre-slotted body tube.

T' nose cone is assembled next. Aye aye! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! Madcow suggests addin' nose weight if needed t' have your CG at 20.75" from t' nose tip. Blimey! Since I was shippin' this t' NARAM-50, I didn't want any surprises so I filled the bore hole in t' nose cone with BB's, poured in some Gorilla polyurethane glue, and added t' eye-screw and plywood bulkhead. Apparently I added a lot o' weight since me rocket weighed in at 10.2 ounces verses Madcow's estimate o' 6 ounces.

Normally for balsa nose cones I use many, many coats o' Plasti-Kote Primer and sand in betwixt each coat. Avast, me proud beauty! For the Scooter™ I used DecoArt's Multi-Purpose Sealer. I used about 3 coats o' it by applyin' it with a foam brush and sandin' inbetween coats. Arrr! Then I used Plasti-Kote Primer on t' whole rocket, shiver me timbers, sandin' in-between coats t' get a smooth finish. Ahoy! This was followed by using Krylon's white and red paint.

I must have done a good job (and I did) because many commented on how smooth t' nose cone looked. Begad! Begad! Blimey! One person said it looks like it is plastic.

T' decals were then applied and voila'... Begad! Begad! a good lookin' Scooter™.

Overall, arrr, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 5 points. Build sequence and quality/fit o' parts was excellent. Aye aye! Instructions are simple and easy t' follow. Decals make for a nice finish, ya bilge rat, especially t' checker-board one. Aye aye!

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Madcow lists a whole slew o' recommended motors rangin' from D12-5 and E9-4 (with 24mm adapter) up t' G40-7 and G64-7. Arrr! They indicate that t' D12-5 should get about 500 feet altitude while t' G64 should push t' Scooter™ to 2,260 feet.

As mentioned earlier, matey, Madcow indicates that t' rocket should weigh about 6 ounces with a CG at 20.75" from the nose tip.

My finished rocket weighed in at 10.2 ounces with a CG at 10" from t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! My attached RockSIM has a mass object t' simulate me finished rocket. Avast! If you use this for testin' you may need t' adjust it for your finished rocket.

I shipped this rocket t' NARAM since I was only goin' t' be thar a day or so. Avast! Blimey! This plan included buyin' motors at the site. When I arrived on Thursday afternoon I was able t' buy a two-pack o' F23-7's.

T' first flight went off perfectly. Begad! Begad! Nice and straight. Blimey! Ahoy! From me angle t' ejection looked t' be perfectly at apogee. Begad! RockSIM says a 6-second delay would be optimal. Blimey! Aye aye! Look at this awesome shot (left) that Chris Taylor took from his great site NARAM LIVE! You can click on it t' enlarge it.

T' rocket landed about 150 yards from t' launch area. Ahoy! Begad! I took a picture o' it on t' ground (below) showin' off the RocketChutes.com Tie-Dye parachute that I used. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! (I replaced t' 18" rip-stop nylon 'chute provided by Madcow with this 18" rip-stop 'chute... Begad! performance would be equal). Notice t' Nomex® parachute protector.

T' second flight was on t' other F23-7. Caught this one on t' me camera's video (so nay t' best quality). Interestingly, t' flight be again perfect and it landed within inches/feet o' t' previous flight!

T' next day, I purchased an Aerotech G77-7 t' fly t' Scooter™. T' wind was carryin' rockets into the neighborin' area and I didn't want t' loose this one, matey, so I reefed t' 'chute about half-way up t' shroud lines. (I seem t' do this on a lot o' rockets).

I didn't say it, me hearties, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but one o' t' observers said (without intendin' t' make t' pun), matey, "Boy that really scooted on that Redline!". Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! And it did. Avast! RockSIM says t' about 2,050 feet. Blimey! T' deployment be early, but recovery system held together and t' rocket recovered nicely. Blimey! Ya scallywag!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 4 ½ points. T' Keelhaul®©™® to nylon shock cord system is excellent along with t' Nomex® parachute protector and nylon parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! There is no motor retention. Ahoy!

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. I would recommend it as an excellent transition kit from low-power t' mid-power. Begad! Blimey! I also prefer this "size" o' rocket and look forward t' many flights. Ahoy! Blimey! Some might din' it for t' balsa nose cone, ya bilge rat, however, I don't mind finishin' them and they are easy t' repair when dinged. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I would like t' see a motor hook added t' further support me recommendation for it t' be a transition kit. Begad! Blimey! Addin' t' 24mm adapter wouldn't be a bad idea either.

All-in-all, shiver me timbers, me hearties, me bucko, I would say that t' Madcow Scooter™ is an excellent kit.