Brief:
Scale HPR parachute recovery rocket.

Construction:
Components include:

• 2 4" diameter body tubes
• 29mm motor tube
• thick fiber centerin' rings
• plastic nose cone and boat tail
• 1/4" plywood fins
• 36" nylon chute
• bungee shock cord
• 1/2" brass launch lugs

I like t' way this went together. Begad! First off, arrr, t' kit was designed t' have a 38mm motor mount and I asked Public Enemy for 29mm and he made t' mods t' t' fins for me. Aye aye! T' instructions were complete and easy t' follow. Ahoy! I liked t' method o' fin construction. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! They are glued directly t' t' motor tube before t' motor tube/boat-tail assembly is glued t' t' airframe which makes it easier t' complete a sturdy connection. Arrr!

A nylon strap is included t' be glued t' t' motor tube for t' recovery (in typical fashion). More on that later. Aye aye! Blimey!

T' instructions direct you t' fill t' completed boat-tail with foam for rigidity. Blimey! Since I used a 29mm mount and will never be able t' put more than and "I" impulse in it, matey, I did nay fill it. Blimey! I did use blind tee-nuts for motor retention that were nay included with t' kit. Arrr!

My glue o' choice these days is System 3 epoxy which I used exclusively throughout construction.

T' upper canards are attached by first markin' t' location and then removin' t' outer layer o' paper on t' airframe.

T' last thin' that I did in t' construction phase be t' drill small holes through t' airframe and secure t' nose cone onto t' payload bay with small screws, arrr, shiver me timbers, that was a nice touch. Blimey!

Finishing:
T' finishin' was straightforward. Well, blow me down! After filling, sanding, and primer, shiver me timbers, I used white semi-gloss paint from a rattle can. Avast! Several coats o' white later and it was dry time. Arrr! Aye aye! T' only decal that came with t' kit was t' lettering "U.S. Avast! AIR FORCE" in high quality 1" lettering. Arrr! But that's not quite enough for this kind o' rocket, is it? I went t' t' ROL website for more information and found a WORD document for a 3" Bullpup. Begad! I scaled that up to 4" and printed it on self-adhesive decal paper and applied them. After several flights over many months, arrr, shiver me timbers, I be so impressed with t' look o' this one that I needed a more realistic look. Begad! Well, me bucko, blow me down! I used black automotive pin stripin' and thin cut lengths o' silver monokote for t' rings around t' airframe. When those were applied, matey, me hearties, I masked off and hand painted some o' t' red details on the side. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I am very happy with t' overall look o' t' finished product. The ONLY thin' that could be improved upon would be more scale data included with the instructions.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
This rocket flies great - straight and true. Avast! T' first flight was at NYPower 2000 on an H238 for me Level 1 certification attempt. Begad! I first purchased a Nomex® heat shied from one o' t' many vendors in attendance, shiver me timbers, arrr, next I built t' reload and waited in line. Well, blow me down! On t' first attempt, me hearties, I did nay pack t' 'chute properly. It did separate at apogee normally but t' 'chute was tangled. Arrr! Always make sure you have t' proper packin' prior t' a certification flight. Fortunately, the rocket was undamaged as a result o' me ignorance.

For me second attempt, I asked for guidance from our club president. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! That flight be flawless. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Since then it has had numerous flights on 29mm H's and I's.

Recovery:
I indicated what was included for recovery in t' beginnin' o' this review, I made some modifications out o' both preference and necessity. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I did eliminate the bungee cord and I replaced it with tubular nylon. But, matey, ya bilge rat, it wasn't quite as simple as that. Begad! Blimey! On one particular flight, t' ejection charge burned through the nylon strap that was glued t' t' motor tube. Apparently, arrr, arrr, I did nay make sure that t' strap was clear o' t' top o' t' motor tube (my mistake). The rocket fell from t' heavens without a chute. IT fell quite a way too because it happened on t' I-200 flight. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! With crossed fingers, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I retrieved t' two sections and t' me relief, NO damage was incurred. (WHEW!) I wasn't goin' to allow that t' happen again so I crafted a bulkhead out o' 1/4" plywood , secured an eyebolt in t' center and glued it down inside t' airframe. While I was makin' mods t' t' recovery, me hearties, I ditched most o' t' bungee and replaced it in two parts. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Part one was t' replace t' shock absorbin' section. I used an 8' section o' t' bungee and threaded it into a 12' piece o' tubular nylon, attached a quick link t' t' end and hooked it t' t' eyebolt in t' bulkhead. T' section from t' chute t' t' nosecone is a 12'-14' piece if tubular nylon without t' internal bungee. Blimey! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This rocket is a nicely priced kit for t' strength o' materials provided. Arrr! Arrr! I would rather have t' price reduced and use me own detailin' materials t' make. I feel that it leaves some o' t' creative license t' me. T' copper launch lugs are a small part o' t' total kit but very nice. Well, blow me down! I didn't like t' bungee cord but that was easily rectified. Well, blow me down!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5