Brief:
This is a great sport scale kit that can be easily modified for dual deployment.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 1 4" nosecone
• 1 17" payload bay
• 1 34" airframe
• 4 1/4" plywood fins
• 1 tube coupler
• 1 laser-cut bulk head
• 3 laser-cut centerin' rings
• 1 54mm motor mount tube
• 1 36" parachute
• 1 tubular nylon shock cord
• Vinyl decals
• Motor retention, me hearties, rail buttons, me hearties, and assorted hardware

Added for dual deployment:

• 3 bulkplates
• 1 1/4" U-bolt
• 1 tubular nylon shock cord
• 1 24" drogue chute
• 1 70" main (saved t' stock chute for a later project)
• 2 chute protectors
• more assorted hardware

T' instructions were well written and photographed. Aye aye! There be a parts list included, matey, arrr, and each part be crossed off showin' that BSD had checked t' make sure that all t' parts were there. Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down!

T' assembly order made sense and started with t' motor mount. T' centerin' rings were glued on t' t' motor tube, then t' assembly was glued into t' rocket. Ahoy! T' fins were next. Epoxy be placed along t' root edge and along the edge o' t' fin slots. Blimey! Each fin was glued in, then fillets applied. Aye aye! T' bulk plate for t' payload bay was glued into t' coupler about 1/2". Begad! T' nose cone went into t' forward end o' t' payload bay. No instructions were given on how t' hold it on, shiver me timbers, but thar are instructions about t' removable rivets, which are nay listed on t' parts list.

That bein' said, matey, me hearties, arrr, I tossed t' instructions aside and built it as I would have built a scratch built. T' fin tabs were too long, resultin' in several hours o' sanding. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' forward two centerin' rings were glued with a 40 min epoxy and small pieces o' fiberglass. Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' eye bolt be replaced with a U-bolt. Well, blow me down! T' motor tube be then sanded and inserted into t' airframe. I tacked t' fins in with super glue then used t' same 40 min epoxy and shredded fiberglass t' do the internal fillets on t' fins. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' fins were foamed with a 2-part expandin' foam. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' motor retention consisted of two inserts, arrr, two Allen head screws, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and Giant Leap style clips. Begad! T' aft centerin' rin' was epoxied in. Begad! T' fin can is now completed.

T' payload bay was me biggest hurdle as I had never built one before. I cut two airframe bulkheads and one more coupler bulkhead then drilled two holes all t' way through them. Begad! I bolted in two 1/4" threaded rods for the altimeter sled t' rest on. Begad! Blimey! T' altimeter bay is similar t' a LOC/Precision bay minus t' outside length o' airframe. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! I attached a U-bolt at either end and a PVC cup for t' main ejection charge.

T' shock cords are tubular nylon. 20' for t' drogue and 15' for t' main chute.

T' construction was very straightforward and, matey, by t' instructions, matey, shiver me timbers, you could get a very nice 4" sport scale to be proud of.

PROs: Fun rocket t' build. Plenty o' room for dual deployment

CONs: Fin tabs were too long.

Finishing:
I finished t' IRIS with red fins and added some detail t' it. Arrr! Tape can be added t' make t' scale rings on the actual IRIS, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but I opted nay to. T' decals for t' IRIS name are included but ones for Atlantic Research Corporation are not. Well, blow me down! I had several sheets o' 1/2" vinyl letterin' in t' workshop so I decided I would make me own. Avast! I also created t' ARC logo with some clear label paper. Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down! T' letters were spaced evenly and painted over with black paint. Removin' them be difficult but left very nice lines.

Finishin' this rocket is difficult, shiver me timbers, but nay unable t' be accomplished. Arrr! It definitely needs standard Atlantic Research Corporation decals.

PROs: Challengin' t' finish. Looks good

CONs: Challengin' t' finish. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Nay enough detail.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first flight be north o' Billings, ya bilge rat, MT, ya bilge rat, in t' middle o' October. Avast! Blimey! It was surprisingly warm for Montana. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! The rocket be prepped for dual deployment usin' a gram o' black powder for each event. Arrr! Blimey! T' motor, shiver me timbers, an I284W, me bucko, also had an ejection charge. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! T' motor be put into a Slimline 54-38 adapter then loaded into t' mount. T' rocket be ready to go.

With t' igniter in place and t' altimeter armed, I was ready t' launch. After a quick 5 count, I pressed the button. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' I284W came up t' pressure quickly. Begad! Blimey! T' IRIS ripped off t' pad on a large flame and a pillar o' smoke.

T' dual deployment worked perfectly, bringin' it back safely although a little fast. Arrr! T' PML 48" chute still seemed small... Arrr! T' PerfectFlite miniAlt/WD beeped 2328', me bucko, almost 1K feet short o' t' predicted altitude. Begad! I still think it broke 3K.

T' second flight be t' take place at our high altitude site near Twin Bridges, MT, at t' end o' October. Ahoy! Avast! The only reason it did nay fly be me own procrastination. Begad! Ya scallywag! However, ya bilge rat, matey, me dad and I flew our Frankenrocket (essentially a stretched PML Tethys) on a K185W t' 6228' for our personal best altitude. T' weather was perfect, about 60 degrees and not a cloud in t' sky or enough wind t' ruffle a parachute.

T' second flight did take place on November 10 at t' Twin Bridges site. Begad! Avast! T' weather was less than perfect: highs in t' mid 40's, me bucko, me hearties, me bucko, wind at about 10 mph, and high clouds t' makin' it hard t' see any kind o' trackin' smoke or rocket. Well, blow me down! T' motor be a J540R. Blimey! T' rocket be mostly prepped from t' previous launch, only needin' t' leads for the charges t' be hooked t' t' altimeter and t' motor inserted.

After another quick 5 count, me bucko, t' J540R came up t' pressure almost immediately. Blimey! Blimey! T' four t' five foot flame was incredible, pushin' t' IRIS t' 5464'. Again, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me hearties, t' dual deployment worked without a hitch, me hearties, deployin' our homemade 70" parachute at 700'.

PROs: Very strong rocket that can be launched on a large variety o' motors.

CONs: None.

Recovery:
PROS: Very strong rocket that can be launched on a large variety o' motors.

CONS: None. Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' BSD IRIS is a very well designed rocket that can easily be modified for dual deployment. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' parachute needs to be larger by at least a foot t' brin' down even t' stock kit. With proper modifications, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' IRIS can fly on many 54mm hybrid motors and maybe some full Ks. I highly recommend this rocket for anyone who has a little high power experience or a fair amount o' mid power experience. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! A solid choice for L1 and L2 cert flights.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5