Brief:
Minimum diameter 54 mm kit. This kit is advertised as a HPR "Almost Ready t' Fly" kit. Arrr! It can be used for either L1 or L2 flights and it is capable o' breakin' mach with t' right motor. Avast! Arrr! It is single stage rocket without frills, however, me hearties, frills can be added at cost as GL offer's a number o' discounted offers t' upgrade t' kit. Aye aye! T' upgrades include G10 fiberglass tubes, me hearties, Keelhaul®©™ shockcord and heat pads for chutes, and Slimline motor retention.

Construction:
I went for t' basic Firestorm 54 and added t' heat pads for t' chutes and a Slimline 54mm motor retainer with 38mm Slimline adapter. Aye aye! I would have loved t' G10 tubes but I decided against it because o' t' cost and me lack o' liquid resources.

Everythin' came just as ordered: standard nose cone, phenolic body tube, Acme Zytec fin can, rail guides, decal, me hearties, matey, parachute shock cord, and an odd double tube retention point t' mount t' shock cord. Aye aye! Arrr! Blimey! Along with t' kit, I received t' requested upgrades o' Slimline components and Keelhaul®©™® heat pads.

I added a few touches o' me own t' t' kit: a 24 inch payload section, matey, an electronics bay, and I changed out t' Acme lugs for Acme rail guides.

T' instructions were two pages and very minimalist, but thar be nay much t' do on this rocket so I guess it's no big deal. I only consulted t' instructions t' find out about t' shock cord mountin' point and any tips that they had for installation.

T' mountin' point is a double tube with a piece o' all thread in it t' attach t' shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! I be concerned about t' all thread cuttin' t' shock cord so I wrapped it first with tape. Blimey! I then had t' figure out a way t' get epoxy down this skinny tube without muckin' t' whole thin' up. I finally used two long soft drink straws and forced t' epoxy down t' straw t' t' correct location and pushed down t' shock cord mount. This was t' biggest challenge o' t' whole build.

T' fins are t' easiest fins in t' world--just some light sandin' and epoxy them on. I used JB Weld for its heat resistant properties. Well, blow me down! T' Slimline motor retainer was also attached with JB Weld.

I used a coupler section, me hearties, ya bilge rat, some basswood, and all thread t' create a electronics bay. I then drilled holes in t' payload bay and used machine screws t' attach t' nose cone t' t' payload bay.

Finishing:
Since I wanted t' fly it t' next day I took it out back t' paint. Avast! Avast! I sprayed it with fluorescent orange paint and went t' bed. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Start t' finish it took me around 3-4 hours for t' entire build. Aye aye! Avast! A decal comes with t' kit, but I would nay buy t' kit because o' it.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I planned on flyin' it t' followin' day but t' weather did nay cooperate. It be a cold and blustery day with winds blowin' 10-15 mph and gusting. Blimey! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I decided against flyin' that day.

A month later, me hearties, t' weather was a perfect 80 degrees and light winds. Well, blow me down! I put it up on a Pro38 I285 and dual deployment usin' a streamer at apogee and parachute at 500 feet. Predicted altitude was just over 4000 feet.

For some reason it took off at a slight angle as it roared off t' pad. This put it way down wind. T' streamer deployed and apogee and I lost it in t' sun. Well, blow me down! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Lucky for me another club member watched it and helped me located it in t' field.

Recovery:
I may have setup t' main deployment wrong as t' charge went off but t' chute did nay inflate and it hit a bit hard. Avast! Luckily, arrr, t' only damage be t' payload bay, matey, which was t' easiest part t' replace on t' whole rocket. Avast! I stopped by Giant Leap on t' way t' t' car (they were onsite at t' launch) and bought a new piece o' tube so I can fly it again next month.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Firestorm 54 is a nice kit even though thar be nay much t' it. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! You could piece it together on your own but Giant Leap has discounted t' prices o' t' components when purchased in kit form.

This bird can fly. I recommend either trackin' devices or very loud beepers as this one can get lost real easy.

T' decal and instructions are lackin' and could be much better.

T' fin can is very strong, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but nay indestructible. I would nay drive over it but it should take many hard landings and come back for more.

T' parts are high quality and you are offered plenty o' options t' upgrade at discounted prices t' higher quality parts.

T' Slimline motor retention worked like advertised. Arrr! No worries about kickin' t' motor with this device.

Giant Leap is good at shippin' on time and a pleasure t' deal with as a vendor.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5