Brief:
T' BSD Apache is a sleek, single stage high power sport rocket with boat tail and elliptical fins designed for high performance flights. Aye aye! T' description on the BSD website includes, "this is a 'builder's kit' where previous (high power) rocket buildin' experience is highly recommended". Aye aye! T' Apache would also be a good candidate t' be modified for hybrid use.

Construction:
T' kit has t' followin' parts:

• 1 16.75" x 4" plastic nose cone
• 1 10.5" long plastic boat tail that reduces from 4" t' 2.5" (a modified nose cone with some o' t' tip and shoulder cut off from both ends)
• 1 34" x 4" airframe body tube
• 1 17" x 4" payload body tube
• 1 17" x 38mm motor tube
• 3 match sanded 3/16" birch plywood elliptical shaped fins
• 2 4" x 38mm centerin' rings
• 1 3" x 38mm centerin' rin'
• 1 4" coupler and bulkhead plate
• 2 eye bolt assemblies
• 1 15' x 9/16" tubular nylon
• 1 36" x 1" nylon shock cord strap
• 1 45" parachute
• 1 3/16" quicklink
• 1 1/2" launch lug
• 1 pair o' rail buttons
• 1 motor retention system (blind nuts, arrr, me hearties, bolts, me bucko, and clips)
• High quality vinyl decals
• Instruction manual
• Fin alignment guide

This is me third HPR kit I've built and t' first one with a boat tail. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I had been lookin' for new challenges and t' Apache did nay disappoint...in fact, I was quite impressed! I inspected all parts (includin' all small parts were packaged separately in plastic bags) and read through t' instructions before starting. And speakin' o' instructions, BSD sets t' standard by includin' thorough documentation with extremely useful pictures and diagrams to walk you through t' installation. Ahoy! Ahoy! Just because t' Apache is a builder's kit doesn't mean that you should be left in t' dark on how t' build it! I also have t' admit that I was tempted t' "reverse engineer" t' motor mount construction so that I could foam t' boat tail with PML's expanding foam, however I built it stock, matey, me bucko, usin' 30-minute epoxy for t' entire build, along with BSD's milled fiber added t' t' mix for t' fin fillets.

T' build starts with puttin' t' motor mount into t' boat tail. I started by thoroughly washin' and sandin' t' outside *and inside* o' t' boat tail before epoxyin' anythin' so that t' epoxy could get maximum bite. Begad! Ya scallywag! There also is a LOT o' sandin' for the 3" CR and one o' t' 4" CRs because their outer diameters need t' fit flush against t' aft end and inside t' boat tail, respectively. Arrr! A belt sander (or at t' very least an orbital sander) is a MUST, matey, otherwise it would take forever t' do this by hand! And t' speed up t' process o' reducin' t' aft (3") centerin' rin' outer diameter, me bucko, I used a jigsaw t' eliminate t' bulk of t' excess wood, then a combination o' orbital sander and hand block sander to brin' it into t' desired shape (2.5" diameter). Begad! Well, blow me down! Care must also be taken when epoxyin' t' aft centerin' rin' t' t' boat tail if you install the included blind nuts in t' motor retention system, ya bilge rat, as epoxy can run into the threads and close t' holes. Aye aye! Foreseein' that as a potential problem, I CA'ed a couple short 3/16" launch lugs on t' back o' blind nuts t' ensure a clear openin' for t' hex bolts yet allow t' epoxy t' flow around for maximum adhesion t' t' boat tail. Small notches were cut into t' boat tail t' allow the aft centerin' rin' with t' blind nuts t' fit flush against t' boat tail as well. Well, blow me down!

T' fin slots are marked on t' boat tail but you are left t' cut t' slots yourself, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, which is standard for all BSD kits. A Dremel or sharp X-Acto knife is suggested for cuttin' t' slots, matey, matey, however, I found that a standard razor blade utility knife easily cut through t' plastic boat tail in only 3 or 4 passes. Just as easy as cuttin' slots in kraft paper tubes! T' shock cord is attached to t' eyebolt in t' upper CR and t' main airframe tube is epoxied onto the boat tail. Once t' tubin' is attached, arrr, arrr, t' remainder o' t' build is pretty much like any other HPR...attachin' and filletin' t' fins followed by attachin' t' coupler, me bucko, bulkhead, eyebolt, and nose cone. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' nose cone has a bit o' a loose fit too but I happened t' have a couple o' plastic rivets left over from me BSD Thor t' secure it from accidental separation. Blimey! You also don't want t' forget t' drill 1/16" vent holes in both t' main airframe and payload tubes--that step isn't mentioned in t' instructions but anyone buildin' a kit this advanced would know t' drill them!

BSD kits comes with both launch lug and rail buttons. I only installed the rail buttons, mountin' one where t' boat tail attaches t' t' main airframe and t' other a couple inches forward o' t' CG. Aye aye!

If I had any complaints about t' Apache construction is that it's nay ready for dual deployment out o' t' box. BSD does have additional documentation available (not included with t' instruction manual) on how t' convert the Apache but it requires t' purchase o' an additional 10" airframe tubing, coupler, shiver me timbers, and bulkhead plus epoxyin' t' payload coupler and bulkhead differently than in t' kit's instructions, effectively lengthenin' t' rocket by that additional 10". Begad! Blimey! I however, think with such a long main airframe (34" tubin' plus t' 10.5" boat tail), I'd prefer have to--and still might sometime in t' future--cut a 10" piece off t' existin' airframe and addin' t' coupler and bulkhead so that t' Apache remains t' same length. T' Apache is a very (over)stable design so this additional equipment would require little adjustment t' keep it that way. Also by shortenin' that main airframe, it would be easier t' paint--handlin' an almost 4 foot long section of rocket can be challengin' t' get an even finish on!

Finishing:
This is where BSD kits shine, and I mean that in both t' literal and figurative sense! T' glassine coated tubes are ready for paint and have negligible spirals t' fill. Begad! I prepped t' fins with slightly diluted Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish and then sanded them smooth. Avast! A couple o' coats o' primer with sandin' in betwixt has these tubes lookin' near perfect before sprayin' Krylon Gloss White on t' tubes, matey, Cherry Red on t' nose cone, and a few stripes plus a single fin with True Blue. Begad! Lastly, matey, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, I provided a little accent t' t' blue stripes with 1/8" metallic silver automotive pinstriping. Arrr!

But what really defines a BSD kit as bein' different from others though is the high quality vinyl decals included. T' Apache comes with 2 large red "APACHE", shiver me timbers, 2 small black BSD logos, 2 vent, 1 CG, and 1 CP decals. Blimey! Ya scallywag! All of which isn't a third as many decals that come with t' BSD Thor kit, but this design doesn't need that many decals t' make a similar visual impact! Applying the decals is easy although you only get one chance t' get it right. Avast, me proud beauty! Simply peel off t' thick backin' paper and then lay t' decal with t' translucent adhesive paper onto t' tubing. Gently smooth out t' decal so t' avoid any air bubbles and then slowly peel off t' adhesive paper. T' high quality vinyl does nay need clear coatin' for any (additional) protection. Ahoy! I also had a custom vinyl decal made locally because I wanted t' dedicate this rocket to someone who was largely responsible for me interest in rocketry. Begad!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
BSD recommends a H128 for t' first flight and says that t' Apache loves I211s. I however am partial t' t' easy prep o' t' Pro38 motors so I went with the H153 for its first flight. Liftoff be perfect with plenty o' oomph t' get it airborne yet have a majestic quality about it. T' sleek (although overstable) design prevented it from weathercockin' significantly as it continued upward t' a guesstimate o' 1400 feet. Arrr!

Also, shiver me timbers, I've read a while back that t' Pro38 motors are known for generating a lot o' heat. Ahoy! I can now confirm that as t' paint was blackened, bubbled, & even peeled off in spots on t' aft end durin' post-flight inspection. Wow!

Recovery:
A big handful o' dog barf (cellulose wadding) was loaded betwixt t' motor and the nylon strap/tubular nylon with a 45" parachute attached. Begad! Blimey! (All o' the kit documentation and information on BSD's website indicate that t' Apache comes with a 36" parachute.) Considerin' that me Thor recovers comfortably usin' t' very same 45" parachute yet weighs more than a full pound more than t' Apache, I reefed t' shroud lines by tyin' them about 10" from where t' lines attach t' t' shock cord.

That was a smart decision for such a windy day. Avast, me proud beauty! Ejection was at apogee but the chute took an extra second or two t' open. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Blimey! T' reefed lines brought it down comfortably yet quickly. It certainly would have drifted a lot further if I hadn't tied t' lines! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Apache has a beautifully simple shape that hides a challengin' HPR build. It requires more effort t' build than most HPR kits out thar but you are rewarded for that effort. This is definitely NOT a kit for anyone just getting into HPR but it has great flexibility in that it can be flown on H motors with motor ejection or converted t' dual deployment for Js (or Ks with t' 54mm option!) I would consider t' Apache a good choice for a Level 2 certification as long as t' person signin' off on your certification doesn't have a problem with high altitude flights. Avast, me proud beauty!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5