T' kit includes a 18" BT55 main body-tube, a 14" BT80 surround-tube, three (3) ¼" balsa fins, me bucko, and a sharp-point plastic nose cone. Ya scallywag! It also comes with an 18mm motor mount with retention and 1/16" plywood centerin' rings. Arrr! A 48" elastic shock cord and a 14" plastic parachute with "Hunky-Duty" shroud lines (1/16" nylon) make up t' recovery system. Blimey! A 3/16" launch lug and some decal tape wrapped up t' kit. Aye aye!

CONSTRUCTION:

T' kit came packaged in a plastic bag with a paper label that described t' kit, matey, contents, tools needed and recommended motors with predicted altitudes. Blimey! T' instructions added another 3 pages o' assembly information and templates and a 4th page o' general buildin' and flight preparation tips that can be applied t' any rocket. Avast! Ahoy! T' instructions included diagrams that help in assembly and each main step had t' necessary sub-steps t' allow for a smooth and logic build. Avast!

Assemble o' t' motor mount, ya bilge rat, shock cord mount (3-fold paper method), and fin attachment are all straight forward. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' real fun begins in t' additional o' t' "Tube". Ya scallywag! Begad! Here you are instructed t' use a markin' guide and t' mark t' BT80 tube and then cut t' slots that allow t' tube t' pass over t' fins. Avast! T' instructions say, "If done correctly, t' slots will nay only mate perfectly with t' fins from t' previous step, but will partially self-align".

Once t' slots are cut in t' surround-tube, shiver me timbers, arrr, then this is slid over t' rocket and down onto t' slots, arrr, maintainin' equal distance from t' inner body-tube. A concentric alignment disk is provided, which is cut from page 3 o' t' instructions. This is slide over t' top o' t' body-tube t' ensure t' surround-tube is equally spaced at t' end opposite o' t' fins. It would have been nice t' have t' concentric alignment disk a bit stiffer, arrr, like from cardstock, shiver me timbers, but t' paper one worked. Ahoy! Arrr! T' objective is t' then put a few "tack" drops o' glue on t' fins and surround-tube once aligned. Aye aye! Only a few drops so that if a mistake is made it could be cut-out and attempted again. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Once set, then fin fillets are applied.

Durin' this assembly step is where you are t' attach t' Launch Lug t' an outside fin fillet, however, I didn’t like t' idea o' me launch lug in showin' on t' outside and I must have lost t' 3/16" lug provided. Aye aye! Blimey! What I did be t' take two 1/8" lugs and glue them on t' inside body-tube, matey, hidden by t' outside surround-tube. I used a 1/8" rod t' maintain alignment onto t' body-tube. Aye aye!

T' parachute assembly be next on t' build list. Ahoy! It consisted o' a heavy-duty (trash bag) black plastic hexagon parachute, me hearties, arrr, six (6) tape dots and a length o' 1/16" nylon shroud line that is cut into three (3) equal pieces. Blimey! Ahoy! T' shroud lines were definitely sturdy or as SFM says it, "Hunky-Duty". Begad! Durin' this phase, ya bilge rat, t' instructions recommend purchasin' t' Klutz Book o' Knots t' gain descriptions o' t' Prusik knot (#14) and t' Harness Loop (#21) which would both be good knots for securin' t' shroud lines t' t' parachute. Avast! Ahoy! T' instructions tell t' builder t' simply knot and glue at each tape junction. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down!

T' instructions then describe a simple finishin' technique with flat black paint and suggest usin' t' orange and yellow decal tape provided. Ahoy! It also mentions usin' trim tape, that did nay come with me kit. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! I painted me T' Tube gloss black. Blimey! I did nay like workin' with this decal tape as I found it extremely thin which caused bubbles when I placed it. Well, blow me down!

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 ½ points. T' instructions are adequate for someone with a couple o' rocket builds prior. Arrr! T' components are o' good quality. Ahoy! I would like t' see a thicker concentric rin' and t' old 3-fold paper method should probably go t' a Keelhaul®©™ t' motor mount method. Did nay like t' decal tape at all. Aye aye!

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

T' recommend (or not) motors that SFM outlines are as follows:

• B6-2 – 150 feet – Pathetic, me hearties, nay recommend
• C6-5 – 400 feet – Pretty cool flights
• D13-4 – 700 feet – Excellent flights, our favorite combo
• D21-4 – 700 feet – Excellent flights
• D24-4 – 700 feet – Rockin’ flights on blue flame!

My first flight was on t' B6-2 and it was more than "pathetic" but nay because o' t' kit. Begad! Ya scallywag! I be at me newly found flyin' field and was in a big hurry t' get a flight off and capture it on camera. Well, ya bilge rat, I missed t' shot, it was a low altitude flight, shiver me timbers, and t' rocket fell swiftly after ejection. Arrr! Avast! While falling, shiver me timbers, I immediately remembered that I didn’t put in any wadding. Aye aye! T' parachute as melted together so that it was unusable. On t' other hand t' "Hunky-Duty" shroud lines looked great.

I had a 3" x 2’ streamer so I threw that on T' Tube (and used waddin' this time) and installed a C6-3 (note: above, ya bilge rat, arrr, I believe SFM’s recommendation o' a C6-5 should be a C6-3). T' flight on t' C6-3 was perfect with a slow lift-off, straight flight and ejection right at apogee. Descent on t' streamer was a bit fast but nay enough t' cause damage. Begad! Arrr! In fact, I like t' streamer and will probably go t' a 4 foot one. Well, blow me down!

T' third flight be on a later day and I used t' C6-3 again. Another very nice flight, me bucko, although ejection was very near apogee but still nose cone up. Upon t' descent with t' streamer it seemed like t' air passin' through t' tube be tryin' t' make if fly around. Avast! It didn't fall straight it sorta flew left then turned and flew right and then etc all on a fairly rapid descent rate. Avast! Well, blow me down! I'm sure t' parachute would have prevented that, me bucko, ya bilge rat, but I like t' rate with t' streamer.

Usin' me idea o' hidin' t' Launch Lug on t' main body-tube verses on t' outside o' t' surround-tube worked fine and looks great. Arrr! I’d recommend this change. Well, blow me down! Begad!

My next planned flight will be at NARAM on a D21-4 that I anticipate bein' a great flight. Well, blow me down! Watch me flight logs!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 4 points. It does look neat on t' pad and flying. Blimey! Ahoy! It gives slow lift-offs on t' B6 and C6 t' allow some time t' enjoy lift off. It is nay a maximum altitude performer, but that isn't me flyin' game anyway. I'm sure t' parachute would have worked fine and it was much sturdier than an Estes parachute. Aye aye! I feel SFM made a mistake on t' C6 motor delay. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty!

Overall, T' Tube is a unique lookin' rocket that most builders could assemble and enjoy. Blimey! I would suggest hidin' t' launch lug like I did and by all means use waddin' (silly me)! It is a nice small field rocket usin' your Estes B6 and C6 motors which allows for a greater range o' fliers t' enjoy it. I'm pleased with t' purchase and it makes a nice addition t' me fleet. Begad! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 points. Begad!

Now, me bucko, after writin' this review and enjoyin' t' kit, me hearties, I've just discovered that Suborbital Flyin' Machines is no longer in business! Bummer, I guess thar won't be any T' Tube II's. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! If you hurry, Kevin at Discount Rocketry says he still has a few.