Brief:
Tall 4 inch 3FNC rocket built t' be compatible with hybrid motors. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I picked this rocket specifically out o' t' LOC catalog when I be shoppin' for me level 2 project. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! It has a 54mm motor mount, and is dual-deploy ready. Avast, me proud beauty! It also comes complete with a drogue and main parachute.

Construction:

• Plastic nose cone
• 1 4 in payload bay tube
• 1 4 in LOC avionics bay kit (6 inch long version)
• 1 4 in main airframe tube
• 1 54mm motor mount tube
• 3 Motor mount centerin' rings 4in-54mm
• 1 Recovery harness mount centerin' ring
• Recovery hardware
• 3 Fins (1/8 in plywood)
• 1 1/2 in launch lug
• 1 50 in main parachute
• 1 18 in drogue
• 1 overflow tube
• 2 lengths o' shock cord - 1/2 in elastic

In retrospect, me hearties, shiver me timbers, this was a very straightforward build for a high power rocket. Aye aye! T' instructions were minimalist. Well, blow me down! It was my level 2 project, and only me second HPR kit. Ahoy! Even with me inexperience, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I had no trouble with t' instructions. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I built mine with sturdy internal fillets and expandin' foam (courtesy o' PML). Arrr! I was a little disappointed with t' 1/8 in plywood fins. Ahoy! They are pretty flimsy for this size rocket. Begad! Ya scallywag! And mine were warped on arrival. Begad! I had t' apply a caul to straighten them durin' assembly (see photo).

T' regular paper LOC tubes are plenty sturdy for J launches. Ahoy! It would be very straightforward t' glass this project, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but nay really necessary unless you want t' push your luck with t' sound barrier (in which case t' fins would be t' first things t' go).

I replaced t' elastic recovery harness with tubular nylon from What's Up Hobbies. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I never use elastic in HPR.

I added a 54mm Aeropack retainer. Begad! I highly recommend these for a classy looking, easy t' use, reliable retainer. (No, arrr, shiver me timbers, I don't work for t' company).

Finishing:
I did nay do any fancy finishing. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Just spray paint from ACE Hardware. I originally painted t' nose cone bright orange, shiver me timbers, but it flaked right off almost immediately. Aye aye! Blimey! Clearly I have somethin' t' learn about paintin' these plastic nose cones.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
My first flight was me Level 2 certification flight on a J350, me bucko, me bucko, usin' a 54-38 Aeropack adapter. It was also me first dual-deployment. A perfectly good flight. Well, blow me down! T' still picture o' t' launch is a vidcap from the launch video. Arrr! Ya scallywag! This rocket had many excellent flights, mostly on J motors, all dual deployment, some drogueless.

Recovery:
A couple o' hard landings in t' desert due t' me own failings (comin' in under drogue, ya bilge rat, for example) led t' fin fractures. I was able t' repair one, but t' second be too catastrophic. Begad! Since I had foamed them in, I could nay repair t' fin can and had t' scrap t' rocket.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall this is a terrific design. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! A very good level 2 project and a great first dual deployment rocket. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I honestly do nay think it is worth t' price, especially given t' poor quality recovery harness and too-thin fins. Aye aye! It is fairly easy t' build a similar design from scratch, me bucko, me bucko, and remedy these shortcomings, for less money. This kit be actually a major reason I stopped buyin' HPR kits in general and started scratch building.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5