Well, ya bilge rat, here's a little product review for t' boys at Aerotech.

Your "Mantis" pad leaves much t' be desired. Begad! It's too big for Estes stuff and too small for t' NCR size mid-power rockets.

Today, I took me NCR Patriot and attempted t' put it on t' Mantis Pad as a static display. Arrr! Aye aye! While t' pad holds it without danger o' tipping, me hearties, it will nay do so in a vertical position. T' swin' arm o' t' pad sways and flexes under t' rocket's weight and t' rod leans about 10 degrees t' one side. Ya scallywag! If t' Patriot were any heavier, I have no doubt that t' pad could never begin t' hold it without some structural failure. Begad! Blimey! As it is, a launch would be out o' t' question as t' blast shield cannot be counted on nay t' rotate under t' weight o' t' rocket and t' flex o' t' swin' arm.

My over-all assessment is that, for t' Mustang, arrr, shiver me timbers, Cheetah, me bucko, me hearties, Arreaux and t' Initiator (the only Aerotech rockets I presently own), t' pad is fine, for anythin' heavier, forget it.

Given that it is too big and bulky t' be o' use with smaller rockets, I rate it unsatisfactory and give it a "3" out o' a possible 10.

A quick test o' t' Vaughn Brothers pad revealed no such short-comings except that, me bucko, arrr, it too, is too bulky for Estes-sized stuff. Avast, me proud beauty! O' course, it was never designed with t' little stuff in mind and perhaps, t' be honest, I doubt that t' boys at Aerotech had large rockets in mind when they designed t' Mantis. But, me bucko, me bucko, shiver me timbers, unless you can get one for free, I don't recommend layin' out any loot for one. There are better values for t' money.