Brief:
T' 24mm Long Hourglass is a spool-like rocket that uses many visual cues and construction techniques from Art Applewhite's other designs. Begad! As with all of Art's kits, t' Long Hourglass relies on a high drag design t' limit altitude and create a tumbling, aerobrake recovery for a safe, close return. Begad! Ahoy! And did I mention, arrr, SPOOLS RULE!

Construction:
T' build is like buildin' one o' Art's Delta Saucers inside-out. Well, blow me down! There are only four parts that make up t' Hourglass: cardstock for t' cones, matey, me hearties, top, and bottom, arrr, me bucko, foamboard for t' top and bottom discs, 3.75" long 24mm motor tube, me bucko, and 3.75" motorhook. Well, blow me down! Even though it won't take more than an hour of your time t' build, don't underestimate this kit. It is a challengin' build, especially if you've never built one o' Art's kits before.

You start with cuttin' out and gluin' t' 2 paper shrouds t' form them into cones. Arrr! Next, t' remainin' cardstock is glued onto t' foamboard and let dry. You want t' make sure that thar be enough glue t' cover t' cardstock yet not so much that it causes t' cardstock t' swell or wrinkle. Then, arrr, me bucko, with a sharp new #11 X-Acto blade (or I prefer a razor utility knife), arrr, carefully cut out the 2 discs that will make up t' top and bottom along with t' center holes for the motor mount tube and launch rod/motor clip holes. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! 220/250/320 grit sandpaper may be needed t' help smooth out any rough edges or assist with parts fittin' together. T' motor mount tube has a 1/8" slot cut 1/4" from one end o' t' tube. T' motor hook is inserted into t' tube & held in place with a couple wraps o' clear cellophane tape around t' middle o' the tube.

T' top disc (the one without t' motor hook hole) is glued and filleted onto t' motor tube at t' end where t' motor hook extends into the tube. Returnin' t' t' shrouds, one is slid onto t' tube so that t' large, open end faces t' top disc. Avast! T' second shroud slides on t' opposite way. Ya scallywag! Hold off on gluin' t' shrouds until after t' bottom disc is attached. Avast, me proud beauty! T' shrouds on me kit more than made for a snug fit, me bucko, arrr, ya bilge rat, requirin' some minor trimmin' o' the smaller end and launch rod holes for a proper fit. Avast! Ya scallywag! In communicatin' with Art durin' t' build, he assured me that this be an early production mistake and has already been fixed in current kits. Begad! With t' top disc and both shrouds in place, a small rin' o' white glue is smeared ont eh aft end o' t' tube and the bottom disc is fitted into place so that it lines up with t' launch rod and motor hook holes until ~1/16" o' t' motor tube is exposed out t' aft end. Arrr! That small bit o' tubin' then receives a fillet o' white glue for support.

Once t' discs are dry, matey, t' shrouds need t' be attached t' t' discs. Makin' sure that t' launch rod holes are all lined up, t' shrouds are filleted t' t' discs and around t' center o' t' rocket t' each other.

Finishing:
Typical o' Art's products, no paintin' is required, which I know is a big plus for some rocketeers out there...although that means that you have t' make a color selection at t' time o' placin' your order. Begad! Art does suggest that you clear coat t' entire model t' help protect it from t' elements. Before clear coatin' (or painting) though, shiver me timbers, white glue needs t' be smeared along t' exposed edges o' t' foamboard, matey, as t' chemicals in t' paint will dissolve t' foam! And even if you choose nay t' paint t' Hourglass, shiver me timbers, it's still a good idea to seal t' foam. Avast! Ya scallywag! I've built several o' Art's products and have nay clear coated any o' them but I still took t' time t' seal t' foam edges. Well, blow me down! If I had one complaint (and it's very minor, really!) about t' Long Hourglass, it's that not all o' t' surfaces are colored t' match. Begad! (Although in retrospect, I certainly could have used t' leftover cardstock t' accomplish this--without havin' t' resort t' paint it!)

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' Long Hourglass is designed for 3.75" 24mm motors like t' Estes E9 and Ellis Mountain E10-6. No spacer is included for shorter (2.75") motors, but t' ensure t' rocket's stability, arrr, I think Art (and I) would suggest that you build/fly/use t' (standard) 24mm Hourglass rocket if you want t' use those shorter motors.

I have learned from buildin' and flying many spools, that spools (and all high drag rockets) perform best when combined with low thrust, long burn motors. With their light mass (less than 1oz for t' Long Hourglass), they don't need much t' get off t' launch pad but they need a steady source o' thrust t' keep them up in t' air. Begad! T' end o' t' thrust phase and apogee occur pretty much simultaneously. Blimey! Unlike t' graceful, ya bilge rat, arrr, direct downward glide o' Art's saucers and Qubits though, spools almost always go into a rapid end-over-end spinnin' tumble.

Although it isn't on t' recommended motor list, I decided t' be a brave soul and fly me Long Hourglass for t' first time on an AeroTech SU F21-4W with the ejection charge removed. Begad! Ya scallywag! With t' Copperhead ignitor readied with some maskin' tape, t' Long Hourglass be set on one o' t' mid power pads. It pleasantly ignited on t' first try and zipped off t' pad t' well over 300 feet.

Recovery:
Not only is thar no recovery system t' prep, arrr, but thar's nothin' that can fail either! Even on windy days, me hearties, you can expect t' have short walks t' recover the Long Hourglass.

At t' very end o' t' thrust phase, ya bilge rat, t' rocket went into a rapid spin, which really surprised almost everyone watching. Begad! There be no danger o' it comin' back with any problems though as it then tumbled slowly back t' the ground end over end and landed impressively close t' t' pad. Unfortunately, we launch off o' an asphalt surface so one o' t' discs and shrouds bent slightly from t' impact. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' damage was minimal enough so that it can safely fly again...and on another F21 at that!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
With t' bright neon colors and paper shrouds, thar's no doubt that this is a true Art Applewhite design. Avast! Unlike some o' t' spool rockets I have previously scratchbuilt, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' Art Applewhite Long Hourglass is designed t' last.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

For a bit more on t' 24mm Long version o' t' Hour Glass, matey, arrr, check out Dick Stafford's review here