Brief:
Sunward Aerospace LTD's, Tri-Force, look futuristic with it's fin on pod arrangement boasts 9 laser cut fins set on three pods. Well, blow me down! Standin' 14 inches tall and 1.637 inches in diameter, t' Tri-Force is a good looking rocket. Begad! Arrr! It has an 18" plastic parachute.

Construction:
T' Tri-Force kit contains t' followin' parts:

• 1 BT-60 8” Body tube
• 2 Centerin' Rings
• 1 18mm Engine Tube
• 1 Engine Thrust Ring
• 1 Nose Cone
• 1 Screw Eye
• 6 Laser Cut Main Fins
• 3 Laser Cut Edge Fins
• 1 Launch Lug
• 1 18” Parachute
• 1 Strip o' Parachute Reinforcement Rings
• 1 Metal Engine Hook
• 1 Elastic Shock Cord
• 1 Parachute Assembly String
• 3 3” BT-20 Tubes for Pods

All parts in t' instructions were in t' kit. Well, blow me down! T' laser cuttin' o' t' fins is so good, ya bilge rat, that three o' t' small main fins were loose in t' kit and t' tips got damaged in shipment. Begad! Begad! I sent an email t' Sunward informin' them o' the problem and they corrected it immediately with no questions and a nice apology for t' inconvenience.

T' directions for t' rocket are multi step within a step. So make sure t' read all t' pages a few times prior t' t' build. Well, blow me down! Begad! Step one has you cuttin' out t' main tube markin' template then settin' it aside. Blimey! Step two builds t' motor mount assembly. Steps three through nine have you markin' all t' tubes and mountin' t' fins t' t' pods, and them t' t' main body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Step ten mounts t' motor assembly. Well, blow me down! T' thin plywood centerin' rings made this an easy task they slid right into t' tube. Blimey! I did install t' motor mount in t' rocket before I installed t' pods. I think it is easier t' do this when t' main body tube has no fins. You can push t' motor mount in and even t' two tube without t' obstruction o' t' fins. Blimey! Avast! T' laser cuttin' o' t' fins is so shipshape three were already loose in t' kit. Aye aye! They have been replaced no questions. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' only variation I did t' t' kit be I installed t' Sunward BT60 Baffle Kit. When you install t' baffle, matey, keep t' baffle, shiver me timbers, me hearties, moving, in t' tube until it gets where you want it. Avast! If you pause it will stick, like it did t' me. Avast, me proud beauty! T' tube wrappin' templates for t' pods were a little short and I extrapolated t' edge fin line. Basically it is a standard four fin mount pattern. Aye aye!

Pros: Fun Build

Good instructions easy t' follow.

Cons: Tube guides for pods too small

Lots o' fillets t' glue for fins t' deal with. Begad!

Finishing:
I filled t' balsa nose cone and fins with Elmer’s wood filler and sanded. Avast! T' main fins are tiny so I used a padded clamp t' hold them while finishing. Begad! Very little sandin' is needed. Sandin' betwixt the pods is a little tedious. Well, blow me down! Begad! After sandin' I primed and painted t' rocket. Begad! Begad! I did nay care for t' yellow and other colors that were pictured on t' kit so I made t' final color purple. Avast, me proud beauty! No decals supplied with kit. Arrr! Begad! Good lookin' rocket. Aye aye! Avast! Lots o' fillets t' sand for fins.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I prepared t' Tri Force for its maiden launch day before. I built me Tri Force with the recommended baffle so no waddin' is needed. I folded t' parachute and rapped t' shock cord and put it in t' body tube, ya bilge rat, Launch day. Arrr! Wind 5 -10 MPH with gusts o' 15. Clear and sunny, shiver me timbers, it be a great day t' launch rockets. T' first flight o' t' Tri Force be on an A8-5 Estes motor. Well, blow me down! I know t' recommended motor is an A8-3, me hearties, matey, but I did nay have one. Needless t' say with t' winds and t' longer delay, t' rocket went up nicely, but came down like a lawn dart. It hit t' sand and two seconds later t' ejection charge went off. Well, blow me down! Avast! So I do nay think an A8-3 motor would be a good first motor either. Aye aye! T' Tri Force took t' landin' like a lawn dart, shiver me timbers, without any damage. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Nay even t' nose cone. Ahoy! T' second flight was on an Estes B6-6. Avast! This motor was a good choice and put t' rocket around 550 feet and it landed nicely. Begad! The third be on an Estes B6-4. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! This be t' best motor for t' day. Begad! T' rocket flew perfect for t' conditions. Begad! It was windy this day and t' rocket did nay weather cock in any o' t' launches. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' area we where in be too small for any larger engine. But I would say it will handle a C size motor. Ya scallywag! An engine hook is used t' keep t' motors in place.

Pros: This rocket flies very straight.

Shock cord length is appropriate.

With baffle easy t' prepare for launch.

Tough, takes rough landin' without damage.

Cons: Recommended motor nay big enough.

Recovery:
T' parachute be t' right size for t' rocket. T' decent rate is such that t' rocket is nay damaged upon landing. Arrr! Well, blow me down! It even took a lawn dart landin' from about 150 feet and be nay damaged. T' ejection baffle worked perfectly and t' parachute be nay burnt or charred. Arrr!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Pros: T' Tri Force is a good lookin' rocket. Arrr!

Fun t' fly and it flies really good.

Cons: Alignment guides too short t' wrap around t' pod tubes.

Nay really a con but t' thought should be addressed

T' build was fun and a little challengin' on t' patience, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, arrr, due t' all t' fin and pod alignment and gluing. Arrr!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other:
Overall this was a fun rocket t' build and fly. Avast, me proud beauty! I liked t' tube and pod design. T' instructions are straight forward and t' illustrations are good. Avast! T' tube guides bein' t' short, be a minor glitch and be easily corrected. Begad! Arrr! Sunward classifies this as a Skill Level Two. Blimey! Blimey! I would classify it a Skill Level Three build, due t' all the small fins and alignment concerns. Ya scallywag! Begad! Patience is definitely recommended for this build. Aye aye! Ahoy! . Well, blow me down! T' rocket is fun t' watch and is already one o' me favorites. Arrr! I can nay wait t' put a C size motor in it.