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. T' kit was purchased at a local hobby shop because o' its ability t' fly on various engines. Arrr! Blimey! This made it possible t' fly multiple times on each launch day. Ya scallywag! Blimey! F and G motors are a good and economical motor for this kit, arrr, but it will handle H and I with no problems. Begad! Blimey! This kit diverged, matey, somewhat, from t' kits that I have been used to. T' airframe was nay pre-slotted. This is somethin' that I have gotten quite spoiled over recently. T' folks at Binder Design made cuttin' fin slots easy by pre-markin' t' airframe with alignment markings. Begad! Blimey! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! They were nay pencil lines, arrr, rather color coded and obvious. Even t' launch lug line had been clearly indicated with a line. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' instructions were clear and concise, matey, making the endeavor simple. All o' t' parts in t' kit, me hearties, matey, 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. Ahoy! Arrr! When I had started t' fillet t' outer surfaces o' t' fins t' t' airframe, me hearties, I used a good sized batch o' 15 minute epoxy and focused on one fin at a time. Begad! First I filled t' angle with a wooden wick t' approach t' correct amount o' epoxy for the fillet. Ya scallywag! I then drew me finger along t' fillet after coatin' me finger with IPA. Blimey! Begad! This provided for a perfectly smooth and consistent fillet. Blimey! They are also about t' raduis o' me finger, shiver me timbers, so they look good. Aye aye! I also did t' same t' the launch lug.

Filletin' t' inside joints o' t' fins, motor mount tube, and t' airframe was accomplished by leavin' t' rear centerin' rin' unglued. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! This made it easy t' remove, exposin' t' areas that needed t' be re-enforced. Arrr! This be done, me hearties, arrr, rather sloppily, me bucko, me bucko, usin' wooden skewers (for shrimp etc.) They were about 10" long and provided just enough epoxy to get it where I wanted it. Begad! I then epoxied t' aft centerin' rin' in place and gave it a massive alcohol induced fillet. Blimey! Just as suddenly as I had finished ... Begad! I realized that I had fogotten t' blind nuts that I was plannin' on using for motor retention. Ahoy! I went t' t' local hardware store and purchased some brass #10 inserts and some socket head screws. Avast! Ahoy! 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, me bucko, grey then white, followed by generous coats o' OSHA Safety Green, me bucko, me hearties, me hearties, and me "Lime Away" be completed.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors ranged from just about anythin' that would fit into a 29mm motor mount. Ahoy! Begad! 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. This looks good and provides for positive retention. Avast, me proud beauty! See t' pics for visual. Aye aye! T' launch day saw many unstable flights o' other rocketeer's Spike kits. Ya scallywag! Binder design be not kiddin' when t' instruction sheet states that experimentation demanded nose weighting. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I had nay built this into t' kit becuase I wanted t' have a wide range o' avaliable motors.

I had marked t' CP, ya bilge rat, first, and second degrees o' stability in paint o' the rocket. 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!

To mark t' center o' gravity, I used temporary "arrows" like you use in t' office for "sign here". Ya scallywag! They are about 150 for a couple o' bucks and add an air o' rocket science t' t' launch. 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. Avast! Another person's previous launch on a G-40 be scary, so I double checked me stability. I loaded t' body tubin' with treated newspaper (blow in insulation) and packed everythin' up.

I added 8 oz. Ya scallywag! I calculated that I would need 12 with a 29/180 or 240. Ya scallywag! 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. Well, blow me down! It be REALLY loose until the last 5mm o' exit from t' body tube. Ahoy! Arrr! It helps t' remove t' mold marks from the nose cone/shroudline mount. Begad! Well, blow me down! Nothin' that a quick exacto knife wouldn't take care of. Avast! It did require several layers o' maskin' tape t' secure.

My rocket be loaded on t' mid power pads and lit on t' first try (a copperhead even!). Ahoy! Straight up and out o' sight. Aye aye! 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, but it was bothersome. Ya scallywag! None the less, I decided t' follow t' kit's instructions and build it as supplied. The shock cord mount was 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 was 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, black elastic that is about 50" long. Blimey! 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. Avast! I then carefully folded t' hanky into a tight ball and placed it on top o' t' cute. Awesome red chalk cloud at recovery. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! Since I followed t' instruction for the mountin' o' t' shock cord, thar was no damage. Even with all o' the preparation for t' chalk, shiver me timbers, arrr, it was still everywhere. But what a nice finish! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This kit is nay one for t' light hearted. Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down! Some kit experience is necessary to make this kit rock solid and inexpendable. I think this kit will survive an auger-in and still launch in half an hour. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! 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! Ahoy! Good job!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5