Brief:
T' BSD 3" Horizon is a wonderful kit designed for t' builder new t' high power rocketry. Ya scallywag! It flies on 29mm SU or RMS motors from G t' low H power. This was me first HPR rocket.

Construction:
T' kit went together very easily with extremely clear, well written, and detailed instructions, includin' many black and white photos o' t' build process. Blimey! Construction starts with assembly o' t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' kit includes a nylon recovery strap that is t' be epoxied t' t' motor mount, then the forward centerin' rin' notched t' fit over t' recovery strap is epoxied t' the front o' t' motor mount. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I deviated from this by drillin' two 1/4" holes in t' forward centerin' rin' spaced t' fit a 1/4" stainless steel U-bolt. I installed t' U-bolt with nuts and washers on both sides o' t' centering ring. Ya scallywag! Epoxy was then coated onto t' nuts t' hold them securely. Arrr! T' front centerin' rin' was then epoxied in place. Avast, me proud beauty! Epoxy fillets were then added t' both sides o' t' centerin' ring. Blimey! I then attached 15ft o' 1/4" tubular Keelhaul®©™® with pre-sewn loops on t' ends usin' a quick link t' t' U-bolt assembly. This completed t' motor mount assembly since I be just fittin' t' aft centering rin' so internal fin fillets could be added. Arrr! Blimey! Before installation o' t' motor mount, me bucko, fin slots need t' be cut. BSD provides guide lines for t' fin slots, but t' builder must cut them. Avast! Blimey! I found this t' be easy with a sharp hobby knife and actually enjoyable. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' motor mount is then epoxied in place except the rear centerin' rin' is only fitted in place until after curin' be complete. T' aft centerin' be then carefully removed. Begad! Blimey! Before installin' t' fins, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I put sharp double airfoils on t' leadin' edge usin' a disk sander. Arrr! Blimey! T' fins were tacked in place usin' 10 minute epoxy followed by addin' thick fin fillets inside usin' 30 minute epoxy mixed with milled fiber t' provide a very strong joint. Begad! Blimey! T' aft centerin' rin' be then epoxied in place and fin fillets added similarly t' t' internal ones. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Although BSD provides motor retention using blind nuts, I used an Aero Pack retainer and epoxied it in place usin' JB Weld as directed by Aero Pack. A loop in t' Keelhaul®©™® recovery strap 18" from t' nose cone end was created usin' CA t' tack it. Keelhaul®©™® strin' was then wrapped around this joint and all coated with epoxy t' provide a parachute anchor point. Avast! Avast! Construction was then complete. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Quick links are used to attach t' parachute and t' Keelhaul®©™® recovery strap t' t' nose cone.

Finishing:
Elmers Fill 'n' Finish was used t' even out t' fin fillets and sanded to smoothness with 400 grit sandpaper. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Blimey! Two coats o' gray Krylon primer with sandin' in betwixt followed by wipin' down with a tack cloth were applied. It was then painted with three coats o' Rustoleum Gloss White. Avast! Avast! Blimey! T' rocket be then masked off so that t' front 6" be left unmasked. Ahoy! Blimey! Three coats of Rustoleum Gloss Black were applied t' this front section and t' nose cone. After dryin' for two days, me hearties, t' vinyl decals were added. Begad! These are o' superb quality. Finally, arrr, it was sprayed with two thin coats Rustoleum Crystal Clear.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
My first flight ever was with a G64-7W. I had help assemblin' t' motor, me bucko, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but the flight went off without a hitch. Ya scallywag! It be quite a thrill t' see me first flight work so beautifully. Begad! It was t' perfect delay too. Arrr! While this rocket has now flown many times on G64s, ya bilge rat, this rocket really loves a H128-M or H165R. Avast! It really moves out!

Recovery:
As previously mentioned, ya bilge rat, I changed t' recovery strap t' 1/4" tubular Keelhaul®©™®. I felt t' nylon BSD provides would eventually burn through, ya bilge rat, but thar's no chance o' that happenin' with t' Keelhaul®©™®. I feel t' U-bolt I installed provides a more secure mountin' for t' recovery system. Avast! Arrr! On t' first few flights, matey, I thought t' included 24" chute provided too fast a descent, so I have now changed t' 28" SkyAngle which I reef slightly. Avast, me proud beauty! T' drift is a bit further, however, I like t' descent rate much better. Avast, me proud beauty! T' 24" chute would work for windier days, but for days when the wind is less than 10 mph, me hearties, it's too small.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a really great kit. Arrr! It flies beautifully on rather inexpensive reloads and scoots on low H power. Although I made some modifications, these were purely me preference; it would still be a great flier built stock. Begad! Blimey! This is an ideal first HPR kit.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5