Brief:
Tall 4 inch 3FNC rocket built t' be compatible with hybrid motors. Avast! I picked this rocket specifically out o' t' LOC catalog when I was shoppin' for me level 2 project. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It has a 54mm motor mount, and is dual-deploy ready. 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, ya bilge rat, this was a very straightforward build for a high power rocket. T' instructions were minimalist. Well, blow me down! It was my level 2 project, me bucko, and only me second HPR kit. Arrr! Even with me inexperience, I had no trouble with t' instructions. Ahoy! I built mine with sturdy internal fillets and expandin' foam (courtesy o' PML). I was a little disappointed with t' 1/8 in plywood fins. Aye aye! Avast! They are pretty flimsy for this size rocket. Blimey! Avast! And mine were warped on arrival. Aye aye! I had t' apply a caul to straighten them durin' assembly (see photo).

T' regular paper LOC tubes are plenty sturdy for J launches. It would be very straightforward t' glass this project, me bucko, 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. Arrr! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! I never use elastic in HPR.

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

Finishing:
I did nay do any fancy finishing. Ahoy! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Just spray paint from ACE Hardware. Begad! I originally painted t' nose cone bright orange, shiver me timbers, but it flaked right off almost immediately. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! 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, ya bilge rat, matey, usin' a 54-38 Aeropack adapter. It be also me first dual-deployment. Avast! Ahoy! A perfectly good flight. Begad! T' still picture o' t' launch is a vidcap from the launch video. 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, for example) led t' fin fractures. I was able t' repair one, but t' second be too catastrophic. Begad! Avast! Since I had foamed them in, me bucko, matey, 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. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! A very good level 2 project and a great first dual deployment rocket. Ahoy! I honestly do nay think it is worth t' price, especially given t' poor quality recovery harness and too-thin fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Blimey! It is fairly easy t' build a similar design from scratch, matey, arrr, and remedy these shortcomings, matey, for less money. Begad! This kit be actually a major reason I stopped buyin' HPR kits in general and started scratch building.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5