Brief:
Single stage rocket capable o' "I" engine flights with awesome flights on F and G.

Construction:
T' Binder Design kit be complete and in good condition. Avast! T' kit be purchased at a local hobby shop because o' its ability t' fly on various engines. Blimey! This made it possible t' fly multiple times on each launch day. Well, blow me down! F and G motors are a good and economical motor for this kit, arrr, but it will handle H and I with no problems. Ahoy! Aye aye! This kit diverged, arrr, somewhat, matey, from t' kits that I have been used to. T' airframe was nay pre-slotted. Begad! This is somethin' that I have gotten quite spoiled over recently. Avast! Begad! T' folks at Binder Design made cuttin' fin slots easy by pre-markin' t' airframe with alignment markings. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! They were nay pencil lines, ya bilge rat, rather color coded and obvious. Begad! Even t' launch lug line had been clearly indicated with a line. Arrr! T' instructions were clear and concise, me hearties, making the endeavor simple. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! All o' t' parts in t' kit, me hearties, from t' centerin' rings to the plywood fins, were top quality.

I did try a new epoxy fillet method that I had read about somewhere. Begad! When I had started t' fillet t' outer surfaces o' t' fins t' t' airframe, me bucko, I used a good sized batch o' 15 minute epoxy and focused on one fin at a time. First I filled t' angle with a wooden wick t' approach t' correct amount o' epoxy for the fillet. Begad! Begad! I then drew me finger along t' fillet after coatin' me finger with IPA. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This provided for a perfectly smooth and consistent fillet. They are also about t' raduis o' me finger, me hearties, so they look good. I also did t' same t' the launch lug.

Filletin' t' inside joints o' t' fins, motor mount tube, me hearties, and t' airframe be accomplished by leavin' t' rear centerin' rin' unglued. Begad! Blimey! This made it easy t' remove, me hearties, exposin' t' areas that needed t' be re-enforced. Well, blow me down! This be done, ya bilge rat, rather sloppily, usin' wooden skewers (for shrimp etc.) They were about 10" long and provided just enough epoxy to get it where I wanted it. I then epoxied t' aft centerin' rin' in place and gave it a massive alcohol induced fillet. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Just as suddenly as I had finished ... Arrr! I realized that I had fogotten t' blind nuts that I was plannin' on using for motor retention. Avast! I went t' t' local hardware store and purchased some brass #10 inserts and some socket head screws. Blimey! Begad! There were epoxied into minimum diameter drill holes t' ensure a snug and secure anchor.

Minor Con's: 1) No CP/CG information in t' kit; 2) very vague reference to should add nose weight; 3) had t' add a HUGE amount o' weight; 4) shock chord and material; 5) shock chord mount.

Finishing:
A few coats o' primer, shiver me timbers, grey then white, followed by generous coats o' OSHA Safety Green, and me "Lime Away" was completed.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors ranged from just about anythin' that would fit into a 29mm motor mount. Avast! T' construction and components o' t' kit allowed for the impulse o' just about anythin' that I could throw at it.

I utilized me own invention for a motor retainer. Well, blow me down! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! This looks good and provides for positive retention. Ahoy! See t' pics for visual. Well, blow me down! T' launch day saw many unstable flights o' other rocketeer's Spike kits. Aye aye! Ahoy! Binder design be not kiddin' when t' instruction sheet states that experimentation demanded nose weighting. I had nay built this into t' kit becuase I wanted t' have a wide range o' avaliable motors.

I had marked t' CP, arrr, matey, shiver me timbers, first, shiver me timbers, and second degrees o' stability in paint o' the rocket. Begad! Begad! This makes for a visual for t' Pad Safety Manager and helps t' make them think that I know what I am doing. Well, blow me down! Well, me bucko, blow me down!

To mark t' center o' gravity, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, I used temporary "arrows" like you use in t' office for "sign here". They are about 150 for a couple o' bucks and add an air o' rocket science t' t' launch. Ahoy! I had t' add 3 2.5" quick links t' t' nose cone connection point t' get 1.5 degrees o' stability with me chosen single use G-80-7. Another person's previous launch on a G-40 was scary, me bucko, so I double checked me stability. Avast! I loaded t' body tubin' with treated newspaper (blow in insulation) and packed everythin' up. Arrr!

I added 8 oz. Aye aye! I calculated that I would need 12 with a 29/180 or 240. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! The 240 does nay change it because t' additional length is too close t' t' CG/CP.

T' nose cone just did nay want t' fit properly. Aye aye! It be REALLY loose until the last 5mm o' exit from t' body tube. Begad! It helps t' remove t' mold marks from the nose cone/shroudline mount. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Nothin' that a quick exacto knife wouldn't take care of. Blimey! It did require several layers o' maskin' tape t' secure.

My rocket was loaded on t' mid power pads and lit on t' first try (a copperhead even!). Straight up and out o' sight. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! This kit will be a long standin' rocket in me collection.

Recovery:
T' one interestin' and disturbin' aspect o' t' kit was t' shock cord mount. I do understand Binder Design's reasoning, me hearties, but it was bothersome. Aye aye! None the less, ya bilge rat, I decided t' follow t' kit's instructions and build it as supplied. Begad! The shock cord mount be nothin' more than a small diameter launch tube about an inch and a half long that is epoxied t' t' inside o' t' airframe as far down as you can get it, close t' t' upper centerin' rin' on t' motor mount. Binder's reason for this was t' ease o' replacement after a burnthrough. Sounds good t' me. Blimey! It took a little effort and standin' on me head t' get what I thought be a proper bond and amount o' epoxy on t' shock cord mount, me bucko, but it was nay impossible.

T' shock chord is about 3/8" wide, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, black elastic that is about 50" long. Well, blow me down! T' chute is looped and tied 2/3rds o' t' way from t' airframe to t' nose cone.

I tied one corner o' a white hankerchief t' an 8" long strin' and poured about a cup o' construction chalk (red) into t' center. Begad! I then carefully folded t' hanky into a tight ball and placed it on top o' t' cute. Awesome red chalk cloud at recovery. Since I followed t' instruction for the mountin' o' t' shock cord, thar be no damage. Avast, me proud beauty! Even with all o' the preparation for t' chalk, me hearties, it was still everywhere. Begad! Begad! But what a nice finish!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This kit is nay one for t' light hearted. Avast! Ahoy! Some kit experience is necessary to make this kit rock solid and inexpendable. Arrr! I think this kit will survive an auger-in and still launch in half an hour. I am goin' t' purchase another one of these and fiberglass it.

Binder Design has brought us one more awewome kit for a good price. Begad! Good job!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5