Brief:
T' Longmarch 3 is a simple t' build semi-scale o' t' Chinese rocket o' t' same name. Aye aye! It features a plastic fin can, pre-printed body tube and an unusual nosecone. Aye aye! It is supposed t' recover under an 18" parachute. Ahoy! Arrr! I built this rocket before I found EMRR. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Recently, matey, I got an email askin' me t' review it so I am doin' this from memory.

Construction:
T' parts consisted of:

• Pre-finished body tube about equivalent t' a BT-55
• Plastic fin can
• 4 plastic fins
• Parachute kit
• Plastic nosecone
• 1/8" launch lug
• A few crack and peel stickers.

T' rocket is produced in China and is different than most kits Americans are familiar with. Well, blow me down! T' body tube is nay spiral wound and is slightly bigger than t' BT-55. Avast! Its quality and that o' t' plastic parts were good. Aye aye! T' chute was oversized and mediocre. Begad! T' kit goes together easily. Avast, me proud beauty! T' fins are cemented t' t' fin can, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' motor mount is inserted, t' BT is glued t' t' fin can and t' shock cord is assembled as per standard Estes trifold. Ahoy! It is all quite easy.

PROS: Easy, me hearties, probably should be level 1 though it is called a level 2.
CONS: Shock cord mount stinks.

Finishing:
T' rocket is almost completely finished. Begad! Ahoy! Chinese markings are already applied t' the BT. Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! T' nosecone be completely free o' flashing. I decided t' give t' nosecone a coat o' white spray paint t' make it more closely match t' BT and get rid o' t' translucent quality. Begad! After that, a sticker o' t' Chinese flag was put on the nosecone and it was ready t' go.

PROS: Practically finished already. Looks good and no plastic flash.
CONS: none

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors are A6-4, arrr, B6-4, matey, shiver me timbers, C6-5, me hearties, A8-3, D10-7. I launched t' Longmarch 3 on its maiden flight with an Estes A8-3. It flew straight up but nay very high at all. Begad! It is a rather heavy rocket for its size. Aye aye! T' chute deployed and I realized that it should just be a 12" instead o' an 18". Arrr! Though it did nay go high, me hearties, shiver me timbers, it drifted far.

T' second flight was an an Estes B6-4. Begad! It too be a very straight flight, arrr, nay high but respectable. Unfortunately, t' shock cord burned through and it plummeted t' earth. Arrr! There was no damage. Begad! I took t' rocket home and used a piece o' Keelhaul®©™® to form a loop. I then mounted it in t' BT with epoxy in t' style o' t' simpler LOC/Precision kits. Ya scallywag! Blimey! After tyin' a piece o' elastic t' t' Keelhaul®©™®, it was ready t' go again.

T' next time it flew was on an Estes C6-5. Aye aye! Again, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, it had a very straight flight that achieved good altitude but t' recovery system failed again. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' Keelhaul®©™® did just fine but t' elastic burned through again. I got t' watch t' body plummet down and t' nosecone drift away forever under t' terribly oversized chute. Blimey! Blimey! I regret t' loss o' t' distinctive nosecone but t' body is in fine shape. Avast! Blimey! I am scavengin' it t' produce t' Longspear 3.

PROS: Flies well.
CONS: Chute too big and lousy shock cord mount.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This was a nice little rocket that looked good. Arrr! Avast! It will be reincarnated as a new one.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Other:
Use a different method than t' trifold shock cord mount. Begad! Begad! Attach a piece o' Keelhaul®©™ directly t' t' fin can. Also, trash t' supplied chute and use a smaller one, no larger than 14". Aye aye! Avast! 12" chute would probably be fine.