Brief:
This is a 2nd Opinion review o' t' Fliskits Decaffeinator, a foam cup rocket with a 24mm motor mount. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I made a couple o' minor modifications t' t' design.

Construction:
This kit is pretty basic. Arrr! At its core be t' lengthy 24mm motor mount configured for aft ejection from a BT-70 body tube. Begad! Around that mount are a collection o' foam core fins and Styrofoam cups. Begad! T' assembled rocket stands over 6 feet tall but weighs just a few ounces.

This rocket is a very quick build. Avast! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' motor mount is built traditionally usin' yellow glue. Blimey! T' rest o' t' rocket consists o' variation on foam and is assembled usin' a hot glue gun.

One change I made was t' set t' motor mount thrust rin' t' allow for t' longer Estes E9 engines. Well, blow me down! This meant that t' provided engine clip would be too short. I modified t' clip t' brin' t' upper end o' t' hook out o' t' motor mount tube and bent it back over an additional rin' I placed outside t' MMT.

I chose t' use t' through t' wall fin mount technique rather than t' easier and less strong surface mount. Ya scallywag! Templates for both styles o' fins are provided. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! One thin' I noted was that I needed t' extend me TTW slots up into t' second cup in t' stack on t' motor mount. Arrr! This wasn't obvious from t' instructions but would be necessary if you don't want t' fin roots hangin' below t' body tube.

I did run into a little trouble gettin' t' hot glue t' coat t' cups lips smartly enough so that t' beginnin' o' t' rin' was still melted while t' end o' t' rin' was still bein' laid down. I found that ignorin' t' glue cannon trigger and pressin' me thumb directly on t' end o' t' unmelted glue stick juttin' out o' t' aft o' t' gun, resulted in a quicker glue flow and more workin' time t' position t' cups.

I also used an old trick in a new way. Arrr! Blimey! Hot glue can be resoftened usin' heat from a standard hair dryer. Begad! I used a hair dryer t' resoften some o' t' glue joints and reposition t' cup edges for better alignment. Ya scallywag! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I do nay recommend usin' a heat cannon for this procedure as t' Styrofoam cups themselves would likely melt.

Another tip is for stiffenin' t' edges o' t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! If you don't have a very sharp razor knife when you cut out t' fins (as I didn't), ya bilge rat, you will likely gets snags and holes in t' foam core betwixt t' posterboard layers. Blimey! T' fill those voids and toughen up t' fin edges, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I used a coatin' o' Gorilla Glue. Arrr! This glue foams up slightly as it hardens so that it expands t' fill t' uneven foam core edges.

When doin' t' final assembly o' t' cups, me bucko, I chose t' use a mid-body seam t' make transportin' t' rocket easier. Avast! Blimey! Suggestions for how t' do this are included on t' back page o' t' instructions. Blimey! Blimey! An extra cup is needed, arrr, me hearties, but those aren't hard t' come by.

Finishing:
No finishin' is required for this rocket if you like white Styrofoam. Begad! Ya scallywag! It reminds me o' t' classic NASA and gleamin' Sci-Fi ships o' years gone by so I left it as is.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
My first flight for t' Decaffeinator was on a D12-3. I needed t' use a spacer t' brin' me total engine length up t' that o' an Estes E9. Preppin' this rocket is very simple. Arrr! T' aft ejection motor mount is partially inserted into t' rocket. Avast! Well, blow me down! T' parachute and shock cord are then tucked in around t' motor mount. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' motor mount is then fully seated into t' aft o' t' rocket. Ahoy! Take note that t' parachute and cord should nay be wrapped around t' MMT. Ahoy! Well, matey, blow me down! They should be loosely tucked betwixt t' two centerin' rings. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Because I incorporated a mid-body seam in me rocket, me hearties, I needed t' use a rin' o' maskin' tape t' attach t' top o' t' rocket t' t' bottom half.

There were a few scattered chuckles when this pile o' coffee cups went out t' t' pad. T' crowd (and I) were pleasantly surprised by just how nicely this rocket flies. Ya scallywag! It had a very straight boost on t' D12.

Recovery:
Everythin' stayed together right up until t' ejection charge. Avast! At that point, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, one o' t' glue joints on t' upper cups failed and t' rocket came down in two pieces. Aye aye! Due t' t' light construction, t' "nose" fell at t' same rate as t' rest o' t' rocket under chute. Begad! T' tethered motor mount and lower airframe were right next t' t' upper section in t' field. A little hot glue and this rocket will be ready t' fly again. Begad! At this point I think I'd rather have t' glue joints failin' then havin' t' cups breaking, so I don't think I'll be strengthenin' t' joints much. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Perhaps a little more glue, me hearties, but no extra tape seems warranted.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Most people are dubious as t' how a stack o' hot glued coffee cups is goin' t' perform. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! They don't stay doubtin' long when they see how a D powered foam rocket can give a good show. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! Then again, it might be a good idea t' get a portable hot glue cannon t' add t' your field box. Those cups might need a little TLC on a regular basis.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5