Brief:
Public Enemy Rockets has produced their Gladiator kit in two different sizes. Well, blow me down! T' full size 4" version and the "baby" 3" version. Well, matey, blow me down! T' 3" Gladiator flies on 29mm motors and Public Enemy claims will fly in the F-H motor classes.

Construction:
With t' Peter Graves line from Airplane!, arrr, "So, Joey, do you like gladiator movies?" ringin' in my ears, I ordered me Gladiator kit from Discount Rocketry. Begad! T' kit shipped directly from Public Enemy and arrived with all t' components in good condition and accounted for. Ahoy! Arrr! T' parts included with t' kit are:

• 1 3" x 24" Public Enemy yellow body tube
• 1 29mm motor tube
• 1 RRW heavy duty nose cone
• 2 press board centerin' rings
• 3 HUGE 1/8" plywood fins
• 2 1/4" brass launch lugs
• 1 48" nylon shock cord
• 1 30" nylon parachute
• 1 "Gladiator" vinyl decal

As high power rockets go, t' Gladiator is fairly straight forward. Aye aye! Begad! T' build starts with gluin' t' centering rings t' t' motor mount. Aye aye! I opted t' nay glue on t' aft rin' initially. Aye aye! While I was waitin' for t' epoxy, I marked and cut t' fin slots. Aye aye! After t' epoxy had cured on t' forward ring, I bonded t' shock cord on t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! When this too had set, me hearties, I inserted t' motor mount assembly into t' airframe, bein' careful nay t' block t' fin slots with either t' rings or t' shock cord. Ahoy! I had put tabs o' maskin' tape on t' aft rin' prior t' slidin' t' motor mount in to t' tube so now I was able t' pull t' aft rin' back out allowin' access t' t' space betwixt t' rings and the root edge o' t' fins.

With this much fin, I wanted t' make sure that they were stuck on very well. Begad! After epoxyin' t' fins t' t' motor tube, me hearties, I tacked them in place with gap fillin' super glue. Begad! T' root tabs on t' fins do nay extend all t' way t' the front tip o' t' fin, so I took extra care t' make sure these were tacked straight on t' outside o' t' airframe. I applied heavy epoxy fillets betwixt t' fins and t' motor tube as well as t' t' inside and outside joints o' t' fins through t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Well, arrr, blow me down! After t' filletin' be complete, me bucko, I glued t' aft rin' t' which I had added T-nuts for motor retention back into t' aft o' t' rocket. Arrr! I then glued t' launch lugs into t' seam along t' edge o' one o' the fins. Ya scallywag! Finally, arrr, I attached t' shock cord t' t' nose cone and quick linked on t' parachute.

Finishing:
I tapered t' leadin' and trailin' edges o' t' fins and sanded and filled t' plywood and t' tube spirals. Aye aye! I sprayed down t' whole model with a heavy coat o' Kilz primer and sanded it down again.

Goin' with t' "gladiator" theme, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I decided t' use Rustoleum Hammered Finish bronze with copper accents. Begad! I was quite pleased with t' results o' me careful maskin' and painting. Begad! Arrr! I completed t' look with red pin stripin' tape t' and silver vinyl "gladiator" decals.

T' final step o' finishin' t' Gladiator be t' make sure t' CG matched t' instructions. It took several ounces o' shot in t' nose cone t' get t' balance point t' t' manufacturer's recommendation. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! T' total weight o' the nose cone with ballast be 18 ounces on me model.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I be very excited t' fly me new show piece! I decided t' go for t' gusto and nay wimp out and fly a "little" motor t' start with.

I loaded up a Aerotech H165 Redline. Blimey! I love this motor! Lots o' "oomph" and that pretty red flame! I knew it would be a perfect fit for t' Gladiator.

I built t' motor and loaded it into t' rocket, me hearties, holdin' it in place with bolts and mirror clips. Begad! Well, blow me down! I dumped in several handfuls o' dog barf waddin' and inserted t' nose cone.

I loaded t' rocket onto t' pad and turned me flight card into t' RSO and waited at t' controller for t' LCO to call me shot. When I came up in t' queue, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' LCO counted down me launch and I hit t' button. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' Redline flashed to life and t' gladiator shot up t' 6 foot rod. Aye aye! Right at t' top o' t' rod, it seems that hot gas bypassed t' delay element and ignited t' ejection charge! T' heavy nose cone flew free and whipped t' rocket into several ground level loops, zipperin' t' airframe about 3" and chippin' t' front edge o' one o' t' fins! Unbelievably, matey, matey, this was the only damage! Nay bad for thin ply and an unglassed cardboard tube!

Recovery:
I was quite pleased that t' recovery system held up t' t' unexpectedly sudden ejection.

Usin' a section o' body tube and fiberglass, me bucko, matey, I patched t' zippered area and built up t' fin tip with Bondo. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! The rocket got a fresh paint job. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Copper with metallic blue flames with red pin striping.

T' Gladiator's second flight was much longer that its first. Avast, me proud beauty! I again loaded up a H165R. T' rocket shot off the pad and arced over t' top. Avast, me proud beauty! Ejection be a couple o' seconds after apogee. Ahoy! Upon recovery, arrr, arrr, I was horrified t' see that my patch had ripped off t' top o' t' tube!

Again, I repaired t' airframe, decidin' that this would be t' last time. Avast, me proud beauty! This time, me hearties, I wrapped t' fiberglass all t' way around t' tube. Aye aye! Avast! This time after t' repair, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I painted t' Gladiator as an entry into t' EMRR NasROC contest. Avast, me proud beauty! I am pleased t' report that several flight are now under t' Gladiator's belt with nay further flight damage!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Gladiator is a distinctively styled design that goes beyond 3FNC by stretchin' t' fins nearly t' length o' the rocket. Begad! Blimey! While t' rocket by no means is "stubby", shiver me timbers, it has that appearance from t' length o' t' fins!

I be initially concerned about t' pressboard centerin' rings, but they have held up surprisingly well. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! The components o' t' kit are very good quality. I'm nay sure that I would want t' try and fly t' kit on t' smaller F motors that Public Enemy says can be used with all t' nose weight that was required t' match t' recommended CG.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5