Brief:
This is a simple, me hearties, high reliability, and flexible usage sport flier from DG&A. It is perfect for mid or high power applications and different sized fields. Ya scallywag! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! It is an easy rocket t' certify L1 on due t' t' continuin' quality of DG&A kits. It is a simple 3FNC rocket with parachute deployment. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It is also a kit that can be easily modified t' your needs with DG&A components available through t' web site. Ahoy! Danny is also offerin' rail buttons in red, white, matey, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and blue now, so you can have a patriotic guidance system included with your kit.

Construction:
My DG&A Predator came with t' basics: Plastic nose cone, 2.56" Kraft cardboard tubing, 36" Re-inforced rip-stop nylon parachute, me bucko, 29mm motor mount 12" 2 high strength plywood centerin' rings, shiver me timbers, 3 Baltic birch 5 ply fins, Recovery webbing/harness, Vinyl cut decals, Body tube pre-marked for fins, Easy t' follow instructions, Fin Alignment guide, ya bilge rat, Paintin' guide

T' directions are easy t' understand and include pictures. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' assembly order is easy t' follow for t' beginner or t' experienced rocketeer. Begad! There is a piece o' paper included that will serve as a fin alignment guide for fin attachment. You have t' cut out t' slots on t' body tube for t' fins t' go through. T' fins are then attached t' t' motor tube betwixt t' 2 centering rings. Aye aye! Begad!

I opted t' make 2 design changes in t' rocket. I got a 12" piece o' body tube and 2 extra couplers and bulkheads from Danny. I used t' extra tube t' make an anti-zipper fin can, me bucko, per Stu Barrett's method. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I extended t' pre-marked fin slots t' t' back o' t' tube. Aye aye! I then assembled the motor mount. Arrr! Next I epoxied t' fins t' t' motor mount usin' 3 inch fiberglass tape, 2 layers, and 1/2 hour epoxy. Well, blow me down! This was very strong. I then assembled the bulkhead by gluin' t' bulkplate into t' coupler. Avast, me proud beauty! Next I drilled 6 1/4 inch holes into t' bulkplate after t' glue dried. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I slid t' motor mount into the body tube and epoxied it in place. Ahoy! Avast! T' aft end o' t' motor tube sticks out about 3 inches from t' end o' t' fin can. Aye aye! I wrapped 4 layers o' 1/2 inch 6 ounce glass tape around t' aft end o' t' body tube t' cover up t' three cuts. Begad! I then put 3 layers o' 3 inch glass tape on t' front end o' t' tube in front o' t' fins. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Fillets were then added t' t' fins. Blimey! Begad! Finally, I glued the bulkhead in place. Begad!

I am goin' t' be flyin' this rocket with t' I200's and H268's, ya bilge rat, so it needs to be strong. Plus, by buildin' a fin can, shiver me timbers, you can add what ever length body tube t' t' top for various performance features. You can put a short tube or a real long tube with an altimeter bay on it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! More rocket for less money! Blimey!

Next I made another bulkhead, attached t' webbin' t' it, ya bilge rat, and glued it in the forward end o' t' main body tube. t' webbin' will just hang out t' back end o' t' main tube. Avast! I put a screw through t' top o' t' main body tube to hold t' nose cone on, it is easier t' swap it with another rocket this way instead o' epoxyin' it in. Avast, me proud beauty! That way, me hearties, if you lose another nose cone for t' same size, you can just swap.

I used NHP 5 and 30 minute epoxy for most o' t' construction. Aye aye! I used West Systems resin for t' glass. Blimey! T' fiberglass tape came from t' local hobby shop. I used a sandin' block t' sand t' finish, and Krylon paints. Begad! I bought some Mono-Kote and applied t' decals t' that, and then put them on t' rocket for effect.

Finishing:
I am nay t' best painter, me bucko, so thar be always room improvement on me finish. T' finish came out pretty glossy, me hearties, and I am goin' t' wait until it flies well before I finish painting. T' main tube is bare, but t' fin can is painted. Ya scallywag!

I used t' included pattern t' paint a diagonal pattern on t' tubes that is t' line betwixt t' dual color model Danny has. Ya scallywag! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I opted t' paint t' kit black, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, arrr, white, and red so mine is a little different. Arrr! You can do what you think looks good. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' vinyl decals are really nice. Ahoy! Aye aye!

You can put a wrap o' 3/4 ounce glass on and sand it out and it will get rid o' t' small lines in t' tube, me bucko, shiver me timbers, they don't bother me so I left them. Danny's model looks great up close at t' launches, t' red and white are sharp.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I went t' a small non club launch we had on t' first. I put this rocket through it's paces with a first flight on a G-64(M) t' check stability and then when it flew tried and true, I decided it be time t' hit it with t' big stuff. Begad! Avast! It flew perfect on t' G-64 with just a slight weathercock into t' 10 MPH winds and t' 35 degree temperature. Ahoy! It laid out horizontal at apogee into the winds driftin' down. Arrr! Due t' t' winds, I opted for a 14 inch X-form chute from me buddy Chad Ellis. Begad! Aye aye! It brought it down quick and close, shiver me timbers, no damage, about a 1000 foot flight.

I then loaded it up with a H-268R and then an I-200. Arrr! These are t' big 29/360 motors that have 320 and 330 N respectively. That Redline lit and boom! it be out o' sight in no time. Begad! That huge Redline flame be great. Ahoy! Begad! It must have gone ~4000 feet, we lost sight o' it. It took it about 5 minutes t' come down and drifted about 1/4 mile. Ahoy! Ahoy! Great flight, arrr, no damage, matey, took t' motor in stride. I then loaded it back up with t' I-200(M) and BOOM! same result, way out of sight. Blimey! Arrr! It drifted t' almost t' same spot. Great flights on a great rocket. Ya scallywag! I wish Danny was thar t' see. Aye aye! Well, blow me down!

T' anti-zipper does nay really require wadding, as it acts like a baffle. I did put a little cellulose insulation in for good measure. I have not outfitted this rocket with a slimline yet, I used tape for retention. Aye aye! T' only con about t' rocket is I wish I had put a 38mm in it!

Recovery:
T' flight recovery was great. I only added a smaller chute due t' t' winds and t' altitude obtained. There was no damage at all t' t' rocket.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main pro for this kit be t' quality o' materials. Aye aye! Arrr! They are light enough for mid-power fliers, but heavy duty t' take t' HPR stuff as well. Avast! T' kit is a no-brainer t' put together, due t' t' quality o' t' instructions. Arrr! T' large vinyl decals are also a big plus, arrr, they look great on t' kit. T' only one con has been fixed, matey, Danny upgraded all t' 2.56" kits t' 3.00". Well, blow me down! It is also upgraded t' a 38mm mount. Begad!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5