Brief:
T' Hangtime is a rocket offered by ASP specifically for duration competitions. Avast! Well, blow me down! They offer versions in 13, me hearties, 18 and 24mm outfitted for either streamers or parachutes. This review is o' t' 18mm streamer version.

I'm nay much into competitive rocketry except as a spectator but I occasionally decide t' give simple events a try. I built this one for an informal contest me section is puttin' on.

Construction:
Construction begins with markin' t' fin and launch lug lines on t' body tube. Ahoy! Blimey! T' instructions provide a template o' t' type where you set t' end o' t' BT on a circle and mark t' appropriate lines. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I tend t' prefer t' wrap-around templates myself but this one be certainly serviceable. Blimey! Blimey! A door frame was then used t' extend t' lines. Blimey! Blimey! A tick mark be placed 1/4" from t' end on each o' t' fin lines and 3" from t' end on t' lug line. Aye aye! Blimey! T' lines were then extended usin' a door frame.

This kit does nay provide precut balsa. You get a sheet o' stock material and a template you cut out and use t' mark out t' fins. Ahoy! T' lines were transferred t' t' balsa with a ballpoint pen and then t' fins were cut out usin' a steel ruler and razor knife.

Next comes some reinforcement o' t' forward end o' t' rocket. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Some thin CA is wicked into t' first 1/4" or so o' t' BT. After it has cured, ya bilge rat, me hearties, it is sanded smooth. A 1/16" deep notch is then cut into t' end o' t' BT linin' up with one o' t' fin lines. Arrr! Blimey! T' purpose o' this notch is t' accommodate t' recovery system.

T' instructions go into exhaustive detail as t' t' best method o' streamlinin' t' fins into a teardrop shaped profile. All well and good but its way over me interest level. I settled for roundin' t' leading, me bucko, outside, shiver me timbers, and trailin' edges.

T' instructions say t' install t' fins 1/4" forward o' t' aft end. They also say t' use CA. Ya scallywag! This made things almost too easy.

When t' CA had set, arrr, I almost began t' fillet t' fins with yellow glue but I stopped and actually read t' instructions again. Filletin' does nay take place yet nor is glue recommended.

T' kit comes with a length o' Keelhaul®©™ thread. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! T' next step is t' cut off a 6" piece o' t' Keelhaul®©™ and set it aside for later. T' length that is left is tacked down with CA along t' root edge o' t' fin aligned with t' notch cut earlier. Ahoy! You need t' use a wire or somethin' similar t' hold t' Keelhaul®©™® straight and in place until t' CA sets up. Arrr! T' instructions recommend usin' an accelerant but I had none handy.

T' instructions call for t' filletin' t' be done with CA, me bucko, presumably thick CA. Blimey! I was interested in givin' this a try but inspection revealed that all mine had hardened up due t' leavin' t' cap off. T' instructions also make provisions for filletin' t' fins with yellow glue and I adopted this approach, matey, arrr, goin' very slowly and buildin' t' fillets up over several layers.

One activity that could be completed while t' filletin' was goin' on be t' installation o' t' launch lug. Well, blow me down! Arrr! It is mounted with its aft end 3" from t' bottom. It was secured with CA by means o' slidin' t' lug onto an aluminum rod, applyin' t' CA t' t' lug and then pressin' t' rod and lug into place on t' marked line. Avast! T' rod was helpful in gettin' it t' line up straight. It be withdrawn once t' CA set up.

T' nosecone is extremely thin and light vacuformed plastic. It comes in two pieces, ya bilge rat, t' ogive and t' base. T' instructions say t' use a razor knife t' drill a small diameter hole in t' base, matey, just big enough t' pass t' Keelhaul®©™® thread through. Ahoy! T' thread is then knotted. Avast, me proud beauty! I added a dab o' glue t' keep it from pullin' out.

T' two pieces o' t' NC are then fitted together and glued. I used liquid plastic cement very sparingly. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! I suspect it would be easy t' melt through t' plastic.

Finishing:
I sealed t' fins o' t' Hangtime with 3 coats o' sandin' sealer. Avast! Blimey! I sanded betwixt t' 2nd and 3rd and after t' last coat.

I realize that many contest models are flown "naked" but I never liked t' looks o' unfinished rockets. Since I am nay a big competitor, I decided I wanted t' go ahead and give it a simple finish. Aye aye! I wanted this t' get done with a single coatin' o' spray paint and no primer. Ya scallywag! In order t' cover up t' pencil marks, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I chose black.

Before paintin' though, I used some maskin' tape t' cover up t' external Keelhaul®©™ shock cord. I then sprayed t' black.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I got this rocket for a friendly competition in me local NARRRRR section. Aye aye! T' event be t' be a B impulse streamer duration competition. Avast, me proud beauty! I wanted t' give it a whirl but did nay want t' work too hard at it. I figured t' go with a kit made for t' purpose.

It came with 2 tracin' paper streamers measurin' 6 x 60 inches along with instructions on how they should be pleated and prepped. It also came with a mylar sport streamer. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I dutifully folded t' streamer and packed it usin' some tips from some real contest fliers. Well, blow me down! Blimey! For t' competition, ya bilge rat, I chose a B6-6. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I just knew I had a shot at this one.

There is no thrust ring. Avast! You just run tape around t' motor and t' BT and set it off.

5, matey, 4, ya bilge rat, 3, me hearties, shiver me timbers, 2, 1, ignition. Begad! Arrr! It took off up t' rod and a few feet later went squirrelly, arrr, loopin' all over t' sky but never very high. Aye aye! When it stopped thrusting, arrr, it plopped t' t' ground. Begad! A few seconds later came t' ejection pop. Avast! Aye aye! It blew t' NC but t' streamer stayed put.

Checkin' it out, shiver me timbers, t' streamer was nay in too tight. Well, blow me down! Begad! It pulled out easily.

Chan Stevens tells me that gettin' a Hangtime t' be unstable is quite an accomplishment. Later in t' afternoon, it passed a swin' test.

T' only damage was t' me pride and t' t' singed streamer. Arrr! Begad! T' humiliation and pressin' RSO duties precluded another flight.

Recovery:
Gravity is very effective at returnin' this bird t' earth. Avast! I cannot say how well t' steamer works since mine never deployed.

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
I think this one has potential but cannot swear by me one flight. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Maybe I had a damaged motor. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Maybe t' rocket gods were angry with me. I dunno.

It is, however, me bucko, fairly tough and has survived t' humiliate me another day.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5