Brief:
This is a great sport scale kit that can be easily modified for dual deployment.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 1 4" nosecone
• 1 17" payload bay
• 1 34" airframe
• 4 1/4" plywood fins
• 1 tube coupler
• 1 laser-cut bulk head
• 3 laser-cut centerin' rings
• 1 54mm motor mount tube
• 1 36" parachute
• 1 tubular nylon shock cord
• Vinyl decals
• Motor retention, rail buttons, and assorted hardware

Added for dual deployment:

• 3 bulkplates
• 1 1/4" U-bolt
• 1 tubular nylon shock cord
• 1 24" drogue chute
• 1 70" main (saved t' stock chute for a later project)
• 2 chute protectors
• more assorted hardware

T' instructions were well written and photographed. Ya scallywag! There was a parts list included, and each part be crossed off showin' that BSD had checked t' make sure that all t' parts were there.

T' assembly order made sense and started with t' motor mount. Blimey! T' centerin' rings were glued on t' t' motor tube, then t' assembly be glued into t' rocket. Well, blow me down! T' fins were next. Avast, me proud beauty! Epoxy was placed along t' root edge and along the edge o' t' fin slots. Aye aye! Each fin be glued in, then fillets applied. T' bulk plate for t' payload bay was glued into t' coupler about 1/2". Avast, me proud beauty! T' nose cone went into t' forward end o' t' payload bay. Ahoy! No instructions were given on how t' hold it on, but thar are instructions about t' removable rivets, arrr, which are nay listed on t' parts list.

That bein' said, shiver me timbers, I tossed t' instructions aside and built it as I would have built a scratch built. T' fin tabs were too long, resultin' in several hours o' sanding. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' forward two centerin' rings were glued with a 40 min epoxy and small pieces o' fiberglass. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' eye bolt was replaced with a U-bolt. Blimey! T' motor tube was then sanded and inserted into t' airframe. Well, blow me down! I tacked t' fins in with super glue then used t' same 40 min epoxy and shredded fiberglass t' do the internal fillets on t' fins. T' fins were foamed with a 2-part expandin' foam. T' motor retention consisted of two inserts, two Allen head screws, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and Giant Leap style clips. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' aft centerin' rin' was epoxied in. Aye aye! Begad! T' fin can is now completed.

T' payload bay was me biggest hurdle as I had never built one before. I cut two airframe bulkheads and one more coupler bulkhead then drilled two holes all t' way through them. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I bolted in two 1/4" threaded rods for the altimeter sled t' rest on. Avast! T' altimeter bay is similar t' a LOC/Precision bay minus t' outside length o' airframe. I attached a U-bolt at either end and a PVC cup for t' main ejection charge.

T' shock cords are tubular nylon. Begad! 20' for t' drogue and 15' for t' main chute.

T' construction was very straightforward and, arrr, by t' instructions, you could get a very nice 4" sport scale to be proud of.

PROs: Fun rocket t' build. Begad! Blimey! Plenty o' room for dual deployment

CONs: Fin tabs were too long.

Finishing:
I finished t' IRIS with red fins and added some detail t' it. Tape can be added t' make t' scale rings on the actual IRIS, shiver me timbers, but I opted nay to. T' decals for t' IRIS name are included but ones for Atlantic Research Corporation are not. I had several sheets o' 1/2" vinyl letterin' in t' workshop so I decided I would make me own. Blimey! I also created t' ARC logo with some clear label paper. Avast, me proud beauty! T' letters were spaced evenly and painted over with black paint. Removin' them be difficult but left very nice lines.

Finishin' this rocket is difficult, me bucko, but nay unable t' be accomplished. Aye aye! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! It definitely needs standard Atlantic Research Corporation decals.

PROs: Challengin' t' finish. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Looks good

CONs: Challengin' t' finish. Begad! Begad! Nay enough detail.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first flight was north o' Billings, arrr, MT, shiver me timbers, in t' middle o' October. Blimey! It be surprisingly warm for Montana. The rocket be prepped for dual deployment usin' a gram o' black powder for each event. T' motor, arrr, shiver me timbers, an I284W, also had an ejection charge. Begad! T' motor was put into a Slimline 54-38 adapter then loaded into t' mount. Blimey! Begad! T' rocket was ready to go.

With t' igniter in place and t' altimeter armed, shiver me timbers, I be ready t' launch. Avast, me proud beauty! After a quick 5 count, I pressed the button. T' I284W came up t' pressure quickly. Begad! T' IRIS ripped off t' pad on a large flame and a pillar o' smoke.

T' dual deployment worked perfectly, me hearties, bringin' it back safely although a little fast. Begad! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' PML 48" chute still seemed small... Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' PerfectFlite miniAlt/WD beeped 2328', arrr, almost 1K feet short o' t' predicted altitude. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I still think it broke 3K.

T' second flight be t' take place at our high altitude site near Twin Bridges, matey, me hearties, me hearties, MT, shiver me timbers, arrr, matey, at t' end o' October. Avast, me proud beauty! The only reason it did nay fly was me own procrastination. Arrr! However, me dad and I flew our Frankenrocket (essentially a stretched PML Tethys) on a K185W t' 6228' for our personal best altitude. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' weather be perfect, me hearties, matey, about 60 degrees and not a cloud in t' sky or enough wind t' ruffle a parachute.

T' second flight did take place on November 10 at t' Twin Bridges site. T' weather was less than perfect: highs in t' mid 40's, me hearties, wind at about 10 mph, and high clouds t' makin' it hard t' see any kind o' trackin' smoke or rocket. T' motor be a J540R. Arrr! T' rocket was mostly prepped from t' previous launch, matey, only needin' t' leads for the charges t' be hooked t' t' altimeter and t' motor inserted.

After another quick 5 count, t' J540R came up t' pressure almost immediately. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' four t' five foot flame was incredible, arrr, pushin' t' IRIS t' 5464'. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! Again, me hearties, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, t' dual deployment worked without a hitch, matey, deployin' our homemade 70" parachute at 700'.

PROs: Very strong rocket that can be launched on a large variety o' motors.

CONs: None.

Recovery:
PROS: Very strong rocket that can be launched on a large variety o' motors.

CONS: None. Avast! Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' BSD IRIS is a very well designed rocket that can easily be modified for dual deployment. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' parachute needs to be larger by at least a foot t' brin' down even t' stock kit. With proper modifications, t' IRIS can fly on many 54mm hybrid motors and maybe some full Ks. Arrr! Blimey! I highly recommend this rocket for anyone who has a little high power experience or a fair amount o' mid power experience. Ya scallywag! Blimey! A solid choice for L1 and L2 cert flights.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5