Brief:

I wanted a 3" BSD THOR ever since they first came out. I really like the idea o' havin' smaller, ya bilge rat, me bucko, shiver me timbers, high performance rocket. Blimey! After doin' a couple of scratchbuilt HPR rockets, me bucko, I felt that buildin' a kit would be a nice break from designin' rockets and chasin' parts for them. Ahoy!

This rocket is 3" in diameter, matey, matey, and stands 64" tall. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It has six fins and is dual deployment capable. My completed rocket weighed 5lbs 1oz ready to fly when configured for dual deployment.

Construction:

T' 3" BSD THOR comes in two variations, one in 38MM and t' other in 54MM. I chose t' 38MM version because it was a little easier on t' wallet. Blimey! Blimey!

T' basic kit includes t' followin' components:

• 1 x 3" plastic nosecone
• 1 x 17" airframe tube
• 1 x 10" airframe tube
• 1 x 24" airframe tube
• 1 x 17" 38MM motor tube
• 3 x 6" airframe couplers
• 2 x 4" airframe couplers
• 2 x 3" bulkheads
• 3 x 3" t' 38MM centerin' rings
• 6 x 1/8" plywood fins
• 2 x 1" nylon straps 45" long w/ grommets
• 1 x 25' section o' 9/16 tubular nylon
• 1 x 30" parachute
• 1 x Decal set
• 1 x Instructions manual and fin template

T' kit also included one ¼ x 20 eyebolt, arrr, one 3/16" quick link, two 6-32 T-nuts, two 6-32 screws, arrr, two motor clips, matey, eight reusable plastic rivets and two rail buttons. Aye aye! Aye aye! I be impressed with all t' components. They were of good quality. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! BSD seemed t' think o' everythin' one would need t' complete and fly this rocket. My only complaint is that one o' t' decal sheets seemed to have been stepped on. They were crinkled, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and thar was dirt and fuzz in between t' vinyl decal and backin' sheet. Blimey! This was a minor annoyance that proved t' be no big deal.

I started by buildin' t' motor mount first, epoxying the front and middle centerin' rings t' t' motor tube. At this point, arrr, matey, I decided t' replace t' nylon recovery strap with 5' o' tubular Keelhaul®©™. I did this because a 3" airframe is too small t' get in and replace a nylon cord if it became heat-damaged. Blimey! After that be complete, t' motor mount was installed in t' booster section airframe. Begad! I cut t' fin slots, and ran in to my first gotcha. Avast! T' instructions say t' cut t' slots 3/16" wide, however the fins are only 1/8" thick. I carefully cut in 1/8" wide fin slots in t' positions and spacin' called out in t' directions. Next I installed all the fins, ya bilge rat, which went smooth. I left off t' aft centerin' rin' so that I could do internal fillets on t' lower fins. Begad! I installed machine inserts in the rear-centerin' rin' so I could use me PML motor retainer instead o' the supplied motor retention. Well, blow me down! I felt that t' PML retainer would be an easier solution for retainin' t' variety o' 29 and 38MM motors that I would be flying this rocket on. Well, blow me down! This be me personal preference, arrr, and is nay a din' on t' kit or its components. Well, blow me down!

When all t' filletin' was complete, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I tried t' install t' rear-centering ring, and ran in t' another gotcha. Aye aye! Aye aye! I had cut in t' lower fins 3/16" from the end o' t' tube per directions. Blimey! Arrr! T' aft centerin' rin' was ¼" thick, arrr, so it would nay seat flush with t' end o' t' bodytube. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' solution ended up bein' cuttin' groves in t' t' backside o' t' aft centerin' rin' to let t' fin in t' it, me hearties, and allow it t' seat flush with t' end o' t' body tube.

With t' booster section complete, I moved on t' to electronics bay and payload section. Begad! I decided t' hold t' payload section to the electronics bay with 8-32 screws instead o' t' supplied plastic rivets. Again, this be due t' personal preference, is nay a din' on t' kit or its components. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I don't have t' fingernails or patience t' use plastic rivets. I drilled screw holes in t' airframe and couplers, shiver me timbers, and hardened t' edges with thin CA. Begad! After t' CA be dry, an 8-32 tap be run through each hole t' thread it. Ahoy! This creates nice smooth clean threads in t' cardboard. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' rest o' the build focused around settin' up t' electronics bay for use with me Missile Works RRC2 altimeter.

Finishing:

When t' build was complete, all t' bodytube spirals and woodgrain were filled with Elmer's Fill ‘N Finish prior t' primering. I chose t' go with t' stock color scheme, shiver me timbers, so t' booster section was painted yellow and t' altimeter bay and payload section were painted black. Arrr! Once the paint was dry, t' decals were put on. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Decalin' was a real pleasure, as BSD's decals are top notch. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Once t' decals were applied, ya bilge rat, t' rocket received a clearcoat finish. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' finished rocket gets a “10" on t' gawk scale

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:

Flight day did nay go as planned. Blimey! My initial plan was t' fly it single deploy on an H-128, then an H180, arrr, me hearties, and finally dual deploy on a J-350. Avast, me proud beauty! I smartly found out that t' 4" deep bay in t' booster section is just too small for a good length o' harness, heat pad, matey, me bucko, and parachute too. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It was also very difficult to just get in 15' o' harness, shiver me timbers, heat pad and streamer for dual deploy. Avast, me proud beauty! I scrapped t' H-128 and flew it dual deploy on t' H-180. Ahoy! This flight be great! I had planned on flyin' it on a J-350 next, shiver me timbers, but low cloud cover nixed those plans.

Recovery:

T' flight be good and straight, but t' recovery was nearly a disaster. Well, blow me down! The main and drogue harness got tangled together. Begad! T' chute managed t' get un-tangled enough t' open up and save t' ship. Blimey! I attribute t' tangling problem t' flyin' dual deploy on a smaller motor. Aye aye! I feel that if it had more fall time before t' mains deployed, t' airframe components would be better separated, matey, ya bilge rat, lessenin' t' chance o' a problem. Arrr! Arrr! While I'm talkin' about recovery, the parachute that BSD supplies with t' kit is too small. Begad! My rocket weighs 5lb, shiver me timbers, 1oz ready t' fly. Begad! Begad! That translates t' a 30 FPS decent rate with t' stock 30" chute. I replaced t' stock chute with a 48" chute t' lessen the possibility o' landin' damage.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:

I really like BSD's rockets. This be me first kit from them, and it won't be the last. Ahoy! BSD makes it clear in t' directions that this kit is for the experienced flier, and I'd agree with that. Avast, me proud beauty!

Some PROS:

• Included hardware, i.e. Aye aye! rail buttons, motor retention is great.
• Decals are top quality! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! None better!
• Finished kit flies straight and looks impressive
• Kit be priced within reach

Some CONS:

• Parachute too small
• Errors in t' directions
• Parachute bay in t' booster section could be bigger.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

T' followin' excerpt is from "Extreme Rocketry". The intention is t' allow guests t' get a basic feelin' about a kit. We strongly suggest that you get a copy o' t' referenced Extreme Rocketry and read the entire article. Ya scallywag! Begad! Inside you will find many helpful hints in construction as well as other useful information. Aye aye! Blimey! For more information, use t' link above.

• "T' 3 inch THOR be t' little brother o' t' original 4 inch THOR offered by BSD."
• "...visually identical t' t' 4 inch version, shiver me timbers, but differs in some structural details."
• "...includes either a 38mm or 54mm motor mount..."
• "T' kit compes packaged in a sturdy cardboard box, ya bilge rat, with t' smaller parts o' t' kit seald in plastic bags."
• "All t' neccessary components t' complete t' kit are included, short o' adhesives, paint, ya bilge rat, me hearties, sandpaper, etc."
• "...five couplers ...the kit uses t' extra couplers t' make much of the length o' t' tube double-walled for additional strength."
• "Most o' t' steps include either a black & white photograph or a drawing..."
• "Some o' t' photographs could have been a bit better..."
• "...I discovered a problem - t' middle centerin' rin' was in the middle o' t' forward fin slots! ... I contacted Mark (BSD) t' dicuss this with him,... Blimey! He got back t' me later that day... Begad! t' instructions were indeed incorrect,... T' next day, me bucko, matey, he contacted me t' say that new instructions were in t' mail and t' ask what parts I needed t' have replaced... My hat is off to Mark for promptly recognizin' and fixin' t' problem, me bucko, as well as his attitude in workin' with me on t' problem."
• "...I was surprised by how solid t' tubes felt after installin' the extra couplers as internal reinforcements."
• "... adapt t' kit for dual deployment. Ahoy! T' instructions include additional information t' assist t' builder with this adaptation."

This looks t' be a fine kit from BSD. It is hybrid compatible which allows for many motor options. T' manufacturer is reported t' be very helpful and stood behind his product when a mistake was found. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' only negative mentioned is that t' tubes were nay pre-slotted. This may nay even be a negative dependin' on t' builder.