Brief:
T' Deltie Thunder is a single stage boost glider design. Ya scallywag! T' glider is a triangle shape with a profile type fuselage that divides t' triangle in the middle. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' rocket booster hooks onto t' glider at t' nose o' t' glider and pulls it skyward. Ahoy! At ejection t' booster separates and returns via parachute while t' glider slowly circles back t' earth

Construction:
T' kit contains one main body tube, arrr, laser cut 1/4" balsa sheetin' for the wings, horizontal stabilizer, and two side fins. A balsa nose cone is included as well as fin two reinforcement pieces and two nose reinforcement/booster hooks. Aye aye! Blimey! There is an elastic shock cord, a black plastic parachute kit, and an eye screw for t' nose cone attachment. Avast! Ahoy! T' kit includes a 3/16" launch lug and some balance clay for t' nose section.

T' instructions are sparse t' say t' least. Begad! What is thar be easy to follow and if you have built t' smaller Deltie, detailed instructions are not really needed. Ahoy! No templates are needed as t' balsa is all very nicely laser cut. Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' Deltie Thunder is easy t' build. No special tools are needed. Begad! I found the balsa in me kit very soft although this makes for a light weight glider, arrr, it is too fragile in me opinion. I sanded t' balsa wings and vertical stabilizers round at t' leadin' edge and trailin' edges.

Everything lines up nicely, and t' kit was finished smartly usin' CA glue and Elmer's white glue. If you have any rocket buildin' experience you can finish this kit up in just a few hours.

Finishing:
Full paint on a glider this size could add a lot o' unwanted weight. Arrr! I gave the glider and booster some trim colors with a day glo orange paint pen then painted it all over usin' two coats o' Aero Gloss model airplane dope thinned 50%. This adds very little weight yet adds water resistance and needed stiffness. There be no forward motor block, so I cut a 1/4" piece off of a spent Estes D12-3 engine casin' and glued it into t' booster, allowin' the engine t' extend 1/2" from t' end. T' instructions do nay say anything about this at all but it is a good idea. Aye aye! Ahoy! You could also use a wire type motor lock. Ahoy! Ahoy!

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' only recommended motor is a D12-3. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! You will need waddin' t' protect the booster's parachute and shock cord. Arrr! My shock cord burned through or broke on the first launch. Blimey!

T' Deltie Thunder will require a long 3/16" launch rod. I bought a nice 50" steel rod from t' local machine shop. Blimey! Since t' glider hangs below t' booster you will need t' prop t' booster up. Avast! I used a 24" piece of 2" x 2" pine (cut from a regular 2x4). T' glider is pretty big and if thar be any wind you will need a good sturdy launch pad.

My glider required all o' t' clay supplied for t' nose weight and a little bit more after that! I made numerous test glides, first t' get it to glide nicely straight ahead and land smoothly, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me hearties, then t' get it t' circle slightly by addin' clay t' one wing. T' first test glide broke t' nose off.

T' first launch was very nice, some curves durin' boost but overall nominal.

Ejection occurred at a slight nose down attitude. Aye aye! This is a hold your breath moment because t' glider can hang up on t' booster or t' shock cord can wrap around t' glider's nose or wing.

On this flight however, t' glider separated nicely and began a nice fast glide with a left hand circle. After two or three big circles, shiver me timbers, t' bank angle increased close t' t' ground and t' nose dropped causin' it t' impact the landin' area with a higher than nominal velocity. Blimey! Begad! T' forward fuselage completely separated from win' section at t' joint despite a carbon fiber reinforcement.

Recovery:
T' shock cord broke at t' mount, however, me bucko, me bucko, thar was no damage t' t' booster and all components were recovered. Aye aye! T' glider's fuselage broke apart from forward wing. It needs heavier balsa in this area or side doublers. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Also, matey, ya bilge rat, there was a strange round burn through hole in t' right forward portion o' t' wing. It was extinguished with ground crew's water bottle on scene. Begad! T' accident investigation team has nay concluded what caused this but speculation is that it be caused by main engine burn residue durin' glider separation.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Deltie Thunder is a good flyin' kit and is easy t' build. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! Builders will need t' carefully test fly t' glider in some nice tall grass in order t' get it just right. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! Fly it does and if you do nay put a little clay on one win' to make it turn, ya bilge rat, you will probably never get a chance t' launch it a second time. It would be a good idea t' put a mailin' label somewhere on t' win' or at least write your phone number on t' glider.

T' main problem with this kit be t' fuselage nose area ahead o' t' wing really needs strengthening. T' only other con, me hearties, and it is a small one, is the motor mount. No engine block rin' is supplied in t' kit.

T' coolest part o' t' Deltie Thunder be t' spectacular flights you can put on! People love t' watch it fly. Ya scallywag! Use a big field because it's a big glider. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! Do nay fly in high winds. Wait for a calm early mornin' or late afternoon when t' wind dies down.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5