When I purchased me BSD Thor, ya bilge rat, I knew I would also need t' purchase new motor hardware. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! So I also purchased a 38mm set with a 38-240, 360 and 480 case. Well, blow me down! Begad! I also purchased a PML 54mm t' 38mm adaptor t' allow me t' fly t' 54mm-based Thor on me new hardware. Ya scallywag! Begad! So needless t' say, this be a large outflow o' loot t' venture into t' largest rocket I have built. Avast! Is it t' tallest I've built? No, me hearties, t' Mirage was 87" compared t' t' Thor's 85". Was be t' widest I've built? No, ya bilge rat, me scratch-built Meanie x2 is 5.5" compared t' t' Thor's 4". But t' combination o' height and width made this t' biggest rocket that I have built and that was excitin' as I pulled t' pieces from t' box.

T' kit includes four (4) lengths totallin' 68" o' 4" glassine-coated paper tubin' and a plastic nose cone t' make up its length. Begad! There are two (2) 6" couplers t' connect t' tubes. Blimey! Begad! T' motor tube is a 54mm tube that is 17" long. Well, arrr, blow me down! There are six (6) large, 3/16" thick plywood fins, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, three (3) 1/8" composite centerin' rings, and two (2) 1/8" composite bulkheads. Arrr! T' recovery system includes a 4' x 1" nylon strap and 20' o' 1" wide elastic, matey, a quick link, arrr, two (2) Eye-bolt assemblies, me hearties, me hearties, and a 45" diameter nylon parachute. Arrr! BSD has also started t' provide motor retention hardware which included a pair o' blind nuts, me bucko, me bucko, allen head bolts and retainin' clamps. Well, blow me down! Blimey! There is a 1/2" diameter launch lug provided and a wonderful set o' vinyl and brushed gold decals.

CONSTRUCTION:

This is me second BSD kit (Diablo) and t' 10 pages o' instructions are one o' t' highlights t' a BSD kit. They are illustrated and photo illustrated. Ahoy! They give more than just step-by-step as they provide information on optional dual-deployment configuration, numerous buildin' tips, Level 2, markin' CP, CG and vents, etc. Begad! So even though this is a big rocket (all relative) t' instructions could guide a moderately experienced builder t' a successful build.

I have found that as individuals build more and more high-power rockets they make more and more modifications t' t' kits they purchase. Nay necessarily a negative against t' kit, matey, as they are really tryin' t' employ "favorite" techniques. Avast! T' Thor can be built 100% stock with no modifications and be a perfect Level 2 kit. Avast, me proud beauty! So, me bucko, did I build mine stock? I made only two minor changes. Ahoy! I added a 2nd eye-screw t' t' upper bulkhead and one t' t' nose cone so that I could put a strap from t' bulkhead t' t' nose cone. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I also didn't install t' launch lug and used Blacksky Rail Buttons instead.

As far as t' build goes, it was straightforward and fairly easy. Blimey! Begad! I found that I had t' sand t' inside and outside o' t' three centerin' rings just enough t' take t' black from t' laser cut off t' fit t' tubes nicely. Begad! Other than that all t' parts fit together well.

Follow t' instructions closely because you don't want t' go sloppin' glue around until they tell you t' so that all t' parts fit correctly. This is especially true for checkin' t' fins against t' centerin' rings and verifyin' fit through t' fin slots.

Speakin' o' t' fins and slots, this was, me bucko, in me opinion, t' most challengin' thin' about t' build. Avast, me proud beauty! T' body tube is pre-marked and you must physically cut t' fin slots yourself. Begad! It's nay a terribly difficult thin' t' do, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but as BSD recommends ensure you have a sharp knife. Ahoy! Also be aware t' take your time. Arrr! Ahoy! You will be cuttin' six (6) slots. Avast! T' biggest problem o' installin' t' fins in alignin' t' upper and lower fins. Well, blow me down! BSD provides a fin guide and then suggests usin' a scrap piece o' wood that is "tack glued" t' t' upper and lower fins t' keep them in perfect alignment. Ya scallywag! I used an angled ruler and clamps. Mine did nay come out perfect but nay terrible. Begad! I think I had "slopped" some glue and one o' t' upper fins didn't sit flat against t' motor tube. Blimey! It's nay obvious unless you go lookin' for it, so I moved on.

For fin fillets, arrr, me bucko, I deviated from t' directions and used ProBond glue for initial fillet. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! This does a good job fillin' any gaps betwixt t' fins and t' body tube. Well, blow me down! I then followed that up usin' 30-minute epoxy with then gives a nice smooth fin fillet. Aye aye! I've been usin' this technique on most o' me builds lately. Begad! Arrr! It took a lot o' glue t' do these fillets! (additional comments about ProBond glue)

There is one area that has come t' bother me about t' Thor kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! That be t' bottom o' t' rocket and t' amount o' exposed body tube without support. Arrr! Well, blow me down! There is just about an inch as seen in t' picture. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! This didn't seem t' be a problem until after flight. Avast! Every landin' bent that section in some way or another. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' instructions talk about this area and suggest "to coat t' entire centerin' rin' and inside o' t' airframe tube at t' aft o' t' rocket with epoxy. Ahoy! This will help protect it from heat and impact." Maybe it "helped", me hearties, but it was still a problem for me. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I would suggest (and have no idea how well this would work) takin' a piece o' coupler and gluin' it into t' aft section below t' final centerin' ring. This would effectively double this area and increase its strength.

Finishin' was t' most time consumin' task because o' t' rocket's size. Aye aye! Blimey! Even though I used me standard method for finishin' Kraft paper tubes and also for finishin' plastic nose cones, it just took a while. Aye aye! I also had trouble findin' a stand t' hold it while painting. Arrr! For t' bottom section I took two bar bell weights, me hearties, ya bilge rat, stacked them, and put a 1" in dowel in them. Ahoy! I then took a cap from a can o' primer and punched a hole in it and pushed it over t' dowel. Ya scallywag! T' 54mm motor tube be then held fairly sturdy with this arrangement. For t' top, I tied a rope t' t' eye-hook and suspended it upside down from t' garage ceiling. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! In this manner I was then able t' paint both sections. Begad! BSD has a nice color scheme on their prototype. Ya scallywag! I choose a different color scheme. Aye aye! I painted t' bottom with ColorWorks by Krylon Gold and t' upper section with dark blue paint from Walmart (additional comments about Walmart paint). I then used used Krylon Clear over everythin' t' finish it off. Be sure t' wait a week before puttin' Krylon clear or anythin' over any other paint!

After paintin' I started on t' decals. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! There are a lot and this too takes a lot o' time. Arrr! I applied all t' black decals, but didn't use t' yellow THOR or t' Brushed Gold. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I decided that it would look a lot better with a gold THOR so I contacted BSD about purchasin' a set in Gold. Avast! They were able t' accommodate this request. Ahoy! I will be cleanin' it up after a somewhat rough trip (on t' finish) to/from NARAM-43 and then applyin' t' gold THOR.

T' last thin' I did, which isn't part o' t' kit, me bucko, was t' build up a PML 54 t' 38mm adaptor and install Blacksky Rail Buttons.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. I really can't stress it enough, shiver me timbers, that for this size o' rocket t' instructions would allow less experienced builders t' be successful. Blimey! T' parts quality is good. T' kit comes with motor retention and a wonderful set o' decals. Arrr! Well, arrr, blow me down! Right on! T' other thin' that should be said, is that t' instructions didn't ignore that some may want t' modify t' kit for dual-deployment and then gives recommendations on how t' do that. Begad! Ya scallywag! If we could belay that aft tube damage this would be perfect!

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

As far as flight, arrr, matey, again BSD give clear instructions on preparation and suggest an H123W-S for its first flight. Blimey! Begad! They also recommend t' I154J, I161W, arrr, I200W, me bucko, I211W, J350W, arrr, shiver me timbers, J135W, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and J415W. Ahoy! Blimey! My flights were thoroughly planned for NARAM-43. Ahoy! Begad! My flight plan was an H123W-S, shiver me timbers, then an I161W-M, me hearties, matey, then an I211W-L, then an I357T-M. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I was successful in gettin' all four (4) flights durin' NARAM-43. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Pictured here (a bit blurry) be t' I211 flight. Aye aye! Most impressive. Begad!

My RockSim'd rocket shows this for t' planned flights:

My rocket had a CG at 54.75" from t' nose cone. BSD indicated that CP is 64.75" from t' nose cone (20" from t' bottom). Begad! BSD's web site says t' Thor weighs betwixt 3 and 5 pounds ready t' fly. My finished rocket weighed in at 89 ¼ ounces (5 ½ pounds) without t' motor, me hearties, matey, so t' weight o' me PML adaptor and t' gluin' really seemed t' take t' weight up. Blimey! Two other weight adders were a very large eye-bolt that I screwed into t' nose cone and an small eye-screw in t' upper bulkhead. Well, blow me down! These were added t' allow me t' tie a strap betwixt them, just in case t' nose cone popped off.

My first 38mm flight ever and t' first flight o' t' Thor was on an H123-S. Lift off be slow with relatively low altitude (RockSim says 630 feet). Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' rocket had arched over and be nose cone down upon ejection. Descent was a bit too fast and it suffered its first small dent upon t' bottom edge o' t' body tube.

T' next day, I loaded an I161-M. My first "I" motor. Aye aye! Blimey! It was a bit windy but t' Thor took off and gave a beautiful straight flight. Ya scallywag! I could hear a whistlin' after thrust stopped that I presume t' be from t' gap betwixt t' upper and lower fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Again, t' nose cone be down upon ejection. Arrr! Blimey!

Durin' t' same day, I prepped t' Thor for its I211-L flight. Begad! Begad! T' long delay be a concern, arrr, but a medium seemed too short, so I was stuck in t' middle. Begad! Wow, arrr, shiver me timbers, those 211's are nice. Ahoy! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Deployment was late as it was a couple o' seconds past apogee. Ya scallywag! While comin' done under 'chute t' upper section came loose (I guess I didn't attach t' strap t' t' bulkhead) and fell on its own. Ahoy! Well, arrr, blow me down! Scratched t' paint but no damage.

T' last flight was t' next day on an I357-M. Arrr! Blimey! Great punch off t' pad, me bucko, t' delay be long again by a couple o' seconds, arrr, but it recovered. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

Again all recoveries were fast enough t' dent that bottom section. T' damage picture above is after t' last flight on t' I357. Avast, me proud beauty! I think I will be bumpin' up t' size o' me parachute and I will also be flyin' t' next flights with dual deployment.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, matey, I would rate this kit 5 points. I'll blame t' weight o' me rocket on t' fast descent rate and nay take away on t' rating.

I'd recommend this kit as a good candidate t' do double certification on t' same rocket. Avast! Go ahead and do your Level 1 on an H123, t' switch t' a "J" for your Level 2. Overall, matey, I enjoyed buildin' and flyin' this rocket. Aye aye! I211's will be what I push for (as I am nay Level 2 yet) when flyin' it in t' future. Avast, me proud beauty! T' kit has great instructions and quality components so you can't lose. Ahoy! Avast! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 ½ points.

Agreed on t' tail-damage issue - All new runs o' t' Thor will nay have a "notch" in t' aft fin set - therefore, t' aft rin' is now located nearly flush with t' end o' t' airframe tube This should eliminate this kind o' damage, arrr, with no loss o' strength. Begad! All kits date-stamped from 10/25/01 on will incorporate these changes. Ahoy! Arrr! We found t' same with t' original Horizon and Horizon 54, me hearties, which were changed earlier this year. Ya scallywag! Thanks for your input! - Scott Binder (BSD High Power Rocketry)