Brief:
Single stage, split-fin HPR rocket. Aye aye! Giant Leap describes it as "T' Sexiest Kit Alive".

Photo courtesy o' Giant Leap    

Construction:
T' kit includes:

• 2 3.0" diameter "non-brittle" phenolic airframe tubes
• 1 8" long airframe coupler
• 2 3.0" bulkheads (plywood)
• 2 coupler bulkheads (plywood)
• 1 plastic boat tail
• 3 large forward fins (G10)
• 3 small aft fins (G10)
• 3 plywood centerin' rings
• 1 38mm motor mount, 24" long
• 2 9/16" by 12' nylon shock cords (w/ pre-sewn loops)
• 2 Keelhaul®©™ shock cord protectors
• 2 Keelhaul®©™ chute protectors
• 1 Slimline retainer
• 1 fiberglass electronics sled
• Various hardware required t' assemble t' recovery system
• 1 set ACME conformin' rail guides
• Talon 3 decal
• Instructions manual in paper and VHS format

I'll state up front that I haven't even taken t' VHS tape out o' t' bag it came in--I wish this be optional as it could reduce t' kit price a bit. Aye aye! T' printed instructions spell out all t' steps fairly well. Begad! Blimey! There are no diagrams, me hearties, so it's important t' read carefully. Blimey! T' only real "gotcha" in t' instructions is that they contain parts lists and steps for both t' basic (phenolic) version and t' upgraded (fiberglass) version. Blimey! Make sure you're readin' t' step for t' version you've got!

T' aft airframe section and t' boat tail come pre-marked for alignment t' ensure t' fins line up right. Well, blow me down! This is good! However, matey, t' markin' is done with a thick black marker, matey, and could be more precise... Well, blow me down! I found it did t' job well enough though.

I chose t' nay use t' included rail guides and instead installed BlackSky-compatible rail buttons. I've heard bad things about metal rail guides, includin' that some clubs have banned them completely. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I don't know if they deserve t' bad rap (I've never used them), matey, me bucko, but I prefer t' buttons anyway.

I do have one construction related gripe: No EZ-Glass sock. Arrr! T' kit is advertised on GL's website as includin' this. Ahoy! It's even listed in t' parts list with t' kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I contacted t' vendor I'd purchased it from, matey, who in turn checked with Giant Leap and thar be no sock for 3" airframes. Begad! Blimey! They did make good on it by sendin' me a length o' t' 4" sock, me hearties, arrr, but GL hasn't changed t' description on their website. Well, blow me down! Since t' EZ-Glass sock wasn't an option for reinforcin' t' airframe, I gave it a single layer o' 6 oz cloth.

One other thing: T' instructions recommend usin' high-temp epoxy for assemblin' t' motor mount. I hadn't thought about that before, but it sure seems like a good idea. I used JB Weld throughout t' MMT assembly.

Finishing:
T' typical finish for t' Talons seems t' be all white with a dark color on t' fin tips. Avast! Ahoy! It looks pretty good even with only primer on it, me bucko, which be t' stage I'm at. Finishin' is pretty normal although you've got a big plastic boat tail t' try t' get paint t' stick t' in addition t' t' nose. Begad! Begad! There is a single "peel 'n stick" decal with "Talon 3" in black.

"Sexiest Kit Alive"? There's somethin' moderately disturbin' about considerin' a rocket kit "sexy". Arrr! Aye aye! There's no doubt that t' design attracts notice.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Giant Leap recommends 10 different Aerotech and CTI motors from t' I200 t' t' J570. For me first flight, matey, I used a Pro38 I205. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I chose this based on some sims I ran usin' other rockets with parameters. Begad! Expected altitude was betwixt 1,500' and 2,000'.

With t' altimeter mounted on t' sled, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' electronics bay gets a bit cramped. Ahoy! I was able t' get an AltAcc, plus t' remote armin' add-on in thar with a bit o' fussing. I double checked everythin' t' ensure I hadn't accidentally pulled a wire anywhere.

No waddin' is needed--the kit comes with Keelhaul®©™ shock cord protectors and chute protectors. T' down side is these are rather bulky items and internal space is at a premium. Be careful how you pack! Also, ya bilge rat, I realized a "flaw" in t' instructions here: T' installation step for t' protectors in t' bottom o' t' airframe assume you're flyin' with only motor-based ejection. Well, blow me down! Avast! If you follow this step, you'll need t' run a longer lead for your drogue charge, me bucko, in order for t' Keelhaul®©™ t' do its job. Ya scallywag! No chutes are included with t' kit, so I used a small military X-form chute for a drogue, shiver me timbers, and a 48" PML chute for t' main. There was barely enough room t' stuff everythin' in. Aye aye! Motor retention is by Slimline motor retainer. I like these! They are a simple and elegant solution, arrr, just be careful you don't lose t' clip!

T' flight be as good as it gets! Nice straight boost (and in a hurry!) with no wiggles, wobbles, or spin.

Recovery:
T' "down" part be as good as t' "up". Avast! Blimey! T' drogue deployed at 1,773' accordin' t' t' AltAcc, me bucko, arrr, and t' rocket descended comfortably t' 600', where t' main deployed. Blimey! Blimey! T' 48" chute seemed t' be just about perfect and t' landin' was quite gentle. T' Keelhaul®©™ did its job as thar be no scorchin' or anythin' t' t' shock cords or chutes. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I wish all me flights ended up like this!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I'm very glad Giant Leap picked up and re-released t' Talon kits. Blimey! Blimey! I've wanted one since t' time ScotGlas made them. Aye aye! I'm definitely not disappointed. Avast, me proud beauty! I feel a bit burned about t' EZ-Glass sock--someone could probably make a case for false advertising, shiver me timbers, but it wouldn't have been a deal killer for me anyway. It was t' Talon I wanted. A chance t' try out that glass sock would have been a bonus.

Overall PROs:

• Cool design!
• Included motor retention!
• Included Keelhaul®©™ chute and shock cord protectors!
• Pre-sewn shock cords.
• Included hardware for electronics bay, me hearties, shiver me timbers, plus quick links, me hearties, etc.
• Flies at least as good as it looks!

Overall CONs:

• No included main or drogue chutes.
• EZ-Glass sock is "vaporware".
• VHS instructions are superfluous.
• Printed instructions contain steps for two versions and can be confusin' because o' this.
• Included metal rail guides may prevent flyin' with some groups.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5