Brief:
Designed for t' advanced builder and sport flyer, me hearties, matey, t' Galaxy is a 4" dia. High Power Rocket with a retro look. Well, blow me down! It comes with unique aluminum nozzle and motor retainer and rail buttons! Fly it on an H or I for your Level 1 certification, shiver me timbers, 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, shiver me timbers, all you need t' be able to do is read left t' right. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' longest part o' this project was t' buildin' of the aft section. T' fin can assembly allowed for t' buildin' o' great internal fillets, t' slower I went produced terrific results. Ahoy! As the instructions tell you, arrr, t' care that you take durin' these steps will insure a well built and solid rocket. Begad! Begad! I found that a hand sander and dremel came in very handy. Aye aye!

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

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, a K550W. T' rocket weighed in at 4.0 lbs. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! loaded and ready t' go (sans motor).

Finishing:
I had built this stock, so me intentions were t' finish it exactly as shown in the instructions. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! After sandin' and prep, ya bilge rat, I applied two coats o' primer followed by three coats o' finishin' paint, usin' chrome paint for t' entire rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! T' nose cone tip was finished in red gloss paint. Begad! Binder Design provides excellent decals t' finish t' rocket and give it a great look. Avast, me proud beauty! On top of that, since this was t' first Galaxy ever sold, matey, 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, IA. There were 5 NARRRRR levels 2 or higher certified flyers thar & they all helped me in some way in preparin' for t' flight. T' day be about as perfect as you could have. Begad! Havin' obtained me LEUP earlier this summer and just passed the test for Illinois explosives. I be ready for me first 54MM motor, a J415. Rocksim had t' rocket reachin' apogee at 6273 feet.

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

As I mentioned, 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. Begad! Blimey! With he wind comin' at about 5 miles an hour out o' t' NW, me bucko, I adjusted t' angle o' t' pad to take advantage o' t' wind and keep t' rocket out o' t' neighborin' corn field. Begad! Blimey!

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

Recovery:

I was able t' see t' separation and chute deployment. As t' rocket descended, me hearties, I told myself that next time I would be usin' electronics and dual deployment. Aye aye! Comin' down from 6300 feet, thar was a little more drift than I would have liked. Begad! It was headed for t' corn field. 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, arrr, me hearties, t' rocket be in perfect condition. Returnin' t' t' launch area, ya bilge rat, 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! 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. Begad! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I can't wait t' see what Mike comes up with next in his "Fisher Premium" series o' kits. Avast! Blimey! Avast! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5