Brief:
Designed for t' advanced builder and sport flyer, me hearties, t' Galaxy is a 4" dia. High Power Rocket with a retro look. Avast! It comes with unique aluminum nozzle and motor retainer and rail buttons! Fly it on an H or I for your Level 1 certification, and then stick a J or K motor in it for your Level 2 flight and watch it scream.

Picture courtesy o' Binder Design

Construction:

Kit includes:

• cut and sanded 3/16" aircraft quality plywood fins
• high strength airframe tube and couplers
• centerin' rings
• bulkhead plate
• high quality hardware package (includin' rail guides)
• 54 mm motor tube
• plastic nose
• computer designed and cut vinyl decals
• 60" premium nylon X-parachute

With t' instruction manual bein' very thorough, all you need t' be able to do is read left t' right. T' longest part o' this project was t' buildin' of the aft section. Begad! T' fin can assembly allowed for t' buildin' o' great internal fillets, ya bilge rat, t' slower I went produced terrific results. As the instructions tell you, ya bilge rat, t' care that you take durin' these steps will insure a well built and solid rocket. I found that a hand sander and dremel came in very handy.

I used t' Slim Line motor retainer that was included with t' kit. I am sold on these, and plan on usin' them in all future rockets. Aye aye! It is sleek, matey, easy to use and assemble, me hearties, matey, stronger, me hearties, and better lookin' than maskin' tape. I originally planned on usin' motor ejection, so I stayed away from t' optional avionics kit. Aye aye! Begad! However, arrr, now I know I am ready for electronics so it will save me a lot o' walkin' in t' future. Ya scallywag!

I took me time and made sure that t' rocket be goin' t' be solid because I wanted t' be able t' use t' maximum recommended motor, me hearties, a K550W. T' rocket weighed in at 4.0 lbs. Arrr! loaded and ready t' go (sans motor).

Finishing:
I had built this stock, me hearties, so me intentions were t' finish it exactly as shown in the instructions. Well, blow me down! After sandin' and prep, shiver me timbers, I applied two coats o' primer followed by three coats o' finishin' paint, arrr, usin' chrome paint for t' entire rocket. Ahoy! Avast! T' nose cone tip was finished in red gloss paint. Well, blow me down! Binder Design provides excellent decals t' finish t' rocket and give it a great look. Blimey! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! On top of that, me bucko, arrr, since this was t' first Galaxy ever sold, me hearties, Mike provided t' me a '#1' decal.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Picture courtesy o' Binder Design    

Flight:
My level 2 certification flight was set for a Tripoli Launch in Walcott, shiver me timbers, IA. There were 5 NARRRRR levels 2 or higher certified flyers thar & they all helped me in some way in preparin' for t' flight. Avast! Blimey! T' day was about as perfect as you could have. Havin' obtained me LEUP earlier this summer and just passed the test for Illinois explosives. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I be ready for me first 54MM motor, arrr, me hearties, a J415. Rocksim had t' rocket reachin' apogee at 6273 feet.

Havin' built t' motor and installed into t' rocket, me bucko, I was ready t' pack the recovery system. Avast! Usin' motor ejection and a single chute I knew that it was goin' t' be a little risky, however t' great weather that day convinced me that I be goin' t' be fine. With no electronics on board, ya bilge rat, this was goin' t' be a straight ahead launch. Avast!

As I mentioned, me bucko, me bucko, me hearties, t' rocket is quite impressive when finished and I believe this was t' only Level 2 launch o' t' day so it attracted a fair amount of attention. It was loaded on t' rail and we were ready t' go. With he wind comin' at about 5 miles an hour out o' t' NW, I adjusted t' angle o' t' pad to take advantage o' t' wind and keep t' rocket out o' t' neighborin' corn field.

It looked great liftin' off t' pad, straight as an arrow with no wobbling whatsoever. T' Galaxy took all that t' J415 would give her.

Recovery:

I was able t' see t' separation and chute deployment. Well, arrr, blow me down! As t' rocket descended, I told myself that next time I would be usin' electronics and dual deployment. Ahoy! Comin' down from 6300 feet, thar be a little more drift than I would have liked. Avast! It was headed for t' corn field. Avast! I thought t' myself, "Here we go again...walkin' corn rows." I smartly got up on t' roof of me van and then grabbed a set o' binoculars t' get a good line o' sight. After an hour and 20 minutes I be able t' locate t' Galaxy near t' adjacent farm house.

Other than a little dirt and mud, t' rocket be in perfect condition. Returnin' t' t' launch area, shiver me timbers, people were surprised that I be able t' find it & equally amazed that t' rocket went as high as it did while landing without a scratch. Arrr! It was one o' t' more memorable flights o' t' day and I was certified Level 2.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Binder Design Galaxy is a rocket that you will nay only have fun building, but enjoy it more watchin' it scream off o' t' launch pad. Arrr! I can't wait t' see what Mike comes up with next in his "Fisher Premium" series o' kits. Aye aye!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5