Brief:
Designed for t' advanced builder and sport flyer, t' Galaxy is a 4" dia. High Power Rocket with a retro look. Aye aye! 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, me hearties, 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, me bucko, matey, all you need t' be able to do is read left t' right. Begad! T' longest part o' this project be t' buildin' of the aft section. Ahoy! T' fin can assembly allowed for t' buildin' o' great internal fillets, me hearties, t' slower I went produced terrific results. As the instructions tell you, arrr, t' care that you take durin' these steps will insure a well built and solid rocket. Ahoy! Ahoy! I found that a hand sander and dremel came in very handy. Arrr!

I used t' Slim Line motor retainer that be included with t' kit. Ya scallywag! I am sold on these, me bucko, matey, me hearties, and plan on usin' them in all future rockets. Blimey! It is sleek, easy to use and assemble, matey, stronger, and better lookin' than maskin' tape. Well, blow me down! I originally planned on usin' motor ejection, me bucko, so I stayed away from t' optional avionics kit. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! However, 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 was goin' t' be solid because I wanted t' be able t' use t' maximum recommended motor, a K550W. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' rocket weighed in at 4.0 lbs. Well, blow me down! loaded and ready t' go (sans motor).

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

Havin' built t' motor and installed into t' rocket, me hearties, I was ready t' pack the recovery system. Ahoy! Usin' motor ejection and a single chute I knew that it was goin' t' be a little risky, shiver me timbers, however t' great weather that day convinced me that I be goin' t' be fine. Well, blow me down! With no electronics on board, this was goin' t' be a straight ahead launch.

As I mentioned, shiver me timbers, 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. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! It be loaded on t' rail and we were ready t' go. Aye aye! Blimey! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

It looked great liftin' off t' pad, straight as an arrow with no wobbling whatsoever. Arrr! 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, matey, matey, me hearties, I told myself that next time I would be usin' electronics and dual deployment. Avast! Comin' down from 6300 feet, thar was a little more drift than I would have liked. Begad! Aye aye! It be headed for t' corn field. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! 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, matey, t' rocket be in perfect condition. Returnin' t' t' launch area, matey, people were surprised that I was able t' find it & equally amazed that t' rocket went as high as it did while landing without a scratch. Ya scallywag! Begad! 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. Well, blow me down! I can't wait t' see what Mike comes up with next in his "Fisher Premium" series o' kits. Begad! Avast!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5