I just finished buildin' t' Six-Pack by Rocket Vision. For those who aren't familiar with it, it uses t' same body tube/nose cone/recovery system as their Mach Buster. T' difference is in t' six tubular fins that provide guidance. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down!

I ordered one o' these for two reasons: One, because like all o' t' other rockets in their fleet, it is really hard-core rugged. I expect t' be able to fly it scores o' times before it needs repair. Ahoy! This leads me t' me second reason, matey, me hearties, it becomes very economical as t' number o' flights eats away at the initial sunk costs o' labor and material. I do aerospace summer camps and travel around t' different schools puttin' on these programs. Aye aye! I'll fly 15 or so rockets in a 90 minute session. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Since I do 10 o' these programs in a five day period, arrr, I need rockets that will remain functional throughout t' week. Begad! So far, Rocket Vision rockets are t' only rockets capable o' doin' that.

Now down t' t' buildin' process. T' box arrived via USPS in about three days time (WA t' CA). Begad! A close examination o' t' contents showed all parts present and ready for assembly. Blimey! I also noted that t' instructions for this kit still carry t' Impulse Aerospace labeling. No problem in that, matey, just a point of interest. Arrr! Avast! Next, shiver me timbers, a quick review o' t' instructions showed that, for t' most part, if you were new t' rocketry, shiver me timbers, arrr, this kit would nay be a good thin' for you to cut your teeth on as I shall explain.

T' details consisted o' an 11 X 17 inch sheet; on one side you have an exploded diagram o' t' rocket and eight little paragraphs describin' the assembly process for each o' t' components. Begad! T' diagram be excellent and the paragraphs were clear and readily understandable. Begad! T' reverse side o' t' sheet listed t' company policy or mission statement, shiver me timbers, a HUGE disclaimer that in a nutshell says, ya bilge rat, "we built a good and safe product but cannot warranty that your mom and dad did t' same, me hearties, be safe!", warranty information, me bucko, matey, a list of kit contents, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, tools required, some flight instructions and a very readable statement o' t' NARRRRR model rocket safety code. Begad! All-in-all, me bucko, everythin' an experienced modeler needs and nothin' more. Ahoy! Aye aye!

For a novice, t' kit lacks t' reassurin' assembly photos that come in Estes type kits. Avast! Nay a big problem really; certainly no problem at all for the builder with several rockets under his/her belt. There is also nay much information on t' use o' assembly jigs or other such tricks. Begad! That would be helpful here because gettin' t' cylinders/fins aligned and held in place until the glue sets is nay easy unless you know a thin' or two. Ahoy! Again, arrr, ya bilge rat, this is why I say that Novice builders may have difficulty with this kit.

Finally, me hearties, it should be noted that while t' materials list includes reference to both 5 and 20 minute epoxy, t' instructions fail t' tell t' builder where to use one and nay t' other. Avast! Avast! In fact, in t' assembly paragraphs, me bucko, no mention of which type o' adhesive t' use is made at all. Well, blow me down! Nor is thar any mention of filletin' these tubes though t' picture that accompanies t' instructions shows fillets betwixt t' fin tubes. Begad! As an experienced builder, matey, me bucko, I know that the 5 minute stuff is for fixin' t' tubes in place and t' 20 minute is for filleting. Aye aye! however, matey, arrr, I recommend puttin' this in t' instructions in t' future. (My instructions were marked Version 1.1 so perhaps this change has already been made)

There be also an addendum about t' shock cord mounting. Well, blow me down! T' instructions called for mountin' t' cord by knottin' one end and then runnin' t' cord through t' BT and lockin' it in place by sandwichin' it betwixt t' BT and the MMT with t' knot extendin' out t' aft end o' t' rocket. Ya scallywag! I liked this idea and used it. T' alternate was t' do an Estes type installation and glue the cord t' t' inside o' t' BT a couple o' inches below t' NC usin' a section of MMT that is provided for this purpose. Arrr! This be t' method described in most of their later kits. Arrr! It's OK, shiver me timbers, but since t' BT is already cramped for space, I prefer t' first method over t' latter.

Another step that was omitted from t' instructions was t' sandin' and shapin' o' t' fins. One could use them as they were packaged but t' square edges and t' thickness o' t' material work together t' make t' bird look clumsy and rough. After sandin' and roundin' t' mouths o' t' fin tubes, a much more streamlined appearance was achieved and drag was reduced considerably. Ahoy! Blimey! No doubt, an experienced builder would see t' do this right from the start. However, me bucko, a novice might nay notice it until t' bird was assembled makin' any such refinements a real pain. Ya scallywag! Blimey! As it was, a few passes with the Dremel sandin' drum and a few strokes with some 200 grt. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! paper and everything was perfect.

T' rest o' t' assembly went together quickly, as these Rocket Vision kits are inclined t' do. Paintin' and flight testin' are set for today and tomorrow respectively. Blimey! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! After thinkin' it over, arrr, I would definitely recommend this kit but with t' caveat that someone would benefit from havin' some experience before gettin' started. Well, blow me down! Blimey! For a newly or a BAR with no recent experience, arrr, this kit may prove a bit frustratin' in that it assumes a degree o' knowledge on t' part of the builder. (A primary example o' this is found in t' lack o' assembly sequencing. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' builder must instinctively know that you begin with t' step listed in t' upper left corner o' t' instructions and follow t' steps around the picture in a clockwise manner. Blimey! Blimey! T' steps are NOT numbered.) Otherwise, matey, it's a very easy kit t' build and it results in an interestin' rocket.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Test flights with this model were without problems. Ahoy! For t' maiden flight, I used a B4-2. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Since t' model is designed for 24mm motors an adapter is required. Well, blow me down! In this case, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I used a spent D motor case with a thrust rin' glued into one end. Blimey! I tape wrapped t' adapter and snugged it in place. I then wrapped tape around one end o' t' B motor t' act as a thrust rin' (a la HP) and wrapped tape around t' B casin' until a snug fit in t' adapter was achieved.

I removed t' Nomex® chute protector and went with standard wadding. Aye aye! I used the Quest waddin' for this rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Unlike t' Estes material which comes folded like toilet paper without a roll, me hearties, t' Quest material is packaged in individual light plue sheets. Ahoy! It has a crisp feel t' it and is much less prone t' burn through and clumping. Aye aye! I loaded three sheets o' waddin' and folded t' chute carefully. Avast! Aye aye! I have found that long and thin ejects easier than short and fat so I fold t' chute accordingly. Well, blow me down!

T' boost was straight and thar be no evidence o' weather cockin' despite of 15 mph winds. Begad! T' chute deployed while t' rocket was still coastin' at an altitude o' approx. 150 feet. Begad! T' second flight was under a C5-3. Ya scallywag! Again, straight boost and deployment before apogee. Ya scallywag! I estimate about 300 feet was the peak altitude. Blimey! T' final flight o' t' day used a C6-7. Aye aye! This time I got more than 400 feet with deployment occurrin' AFTER apogee. Avast!

Recovery:
T' recovery usin' waddin' as opposed t' t' Nomex® protector went without flaws. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I think t' descent is a tad on t' fast side. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I was flyin' over grass but on concrete or dry lake bed I am certain that damage would occur t' the rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' shock cord looked flamed but thar be no evidence o' burn through or excessive scorching. Avast! Blimey! Some small holes were found in t' chute. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Maybe a 4th sheet o' waddin' would prevent that. Otherwise, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, all went well. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main PROs o' this rocket are:

1. It is VERY sturdy. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! You will have t' work at breakin' it.
2. It builds smartly and easily. Begad!
3. It finishes VERY well. Avast, me proud beauty! No fin filling, matey, no spirals t' fill, looks like metal when painted. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty!
4. It flies well on a wide variety o' motors.

Principle CONs are as follows:

1. T' instructions assume experience and prior knowledge.
2. T' Nomex® system is too bulky for t' BT
3. T' rocket is very heavy. Ahoy! Arrr!

There are basically three schools o' thought on rocket durability. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Blimey! One can built them very light and draggy, one can built them with huge chutes and one can build them usin' HD materials and techniques. T' Big Bertha is a primary example o' t' first school. It is very light, shiver me timbers, has high drag and compact fins with a lot o' root area. Begad! Blimey! I've flown mine more that 50 documented times without a single case o' breakage. Ahoy! Aye aye! Blimey! T' second school is represented by t' Big Bertha as well. Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! It comes standard with a large chute and its descent rate is very low. T' third school be t' direction that Rocket Vision designers have chosen. Begad! Blimey! It works quite well but still nay as well as a combination o' methods one and two. T' chief advantage that method three has over t' other two is that power limits must be kept within t' low t' moderate range in t' first two but the sky's t' limit with method three. If it'll fit, arrr, you can use it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Clearly, arrr, me hearties, if power is your thing, then t' rockets from Rocket Vision will nay let you down.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

"Since RJ posted this review we've completely revised our instructions t' make them easier t' follow, shiver me timbers, and we've added online Assembly Guides t' provide photographs o' virtually all t' assembly steps. Avast! Begad! We've also increased t' length o' t' airframes on all our kits in order t' provide more room for t' recovery system." - Janet S. Avast! Hendrickson - Rocket Vision's Director o' Marketing