Photos courtesy o' DG&A  

Brief:
Anyone heard o' BSD? Well this kit is equal t' t' quality o' that now popular company. Begad! Danny Cantu, t' owner, has designed a line somewhat challengin' t' build and extremely fun t' fly kits, ya bilge rat, matey, from t' 29mm Predator up t' t' special edition limited production Armageddon and Sonic Blast (3 K1100's no problem). Blimey! Begad! This kit is designed for a 38mm I161-J570. Begad! It has standard parachute deployment on t' main body and t' sustainer section as well. Arrr! Avast! This is a solid kit with clearly illustrated directions with pictures and t' most important thin' o' all, Danny's phone number if you have problems. Arrr! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I have opted t' make a few modifications in t' kit from normal, me bucko, but really does nay effect t' overall design.

Construction:
This is a 4 inch kit that comes with a parts list o' t' main components. Well, blow me down! Avast! They are t' 34" booster tube, arrr, 24" airframe tube, ya bilge rat, 10" payload bay, shiver me timbers, and 34" 38 mm motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I extended t' motor mount due t' me recovery design. Ahoy! It has a 4 inch nose cone. Arrr! It also comes with t' main fins, me bucko, upper canard fins, arrr, 4 centerin' rings, 1 bulkhead, shiver me timbers, 8 nozzle fins and 8 win' supports. Ya scallywag! All are 1/4 inch plywood, shiver me timbers, very beefy. This kit has a shock cord strap which you attach t' shock cord to, arrr, and has t' hardware for t' standard eyebolt attachments. Blimey! It also comes with 1/2" launch lugs, but I have opted t' use rail guides instead, shiver me timbers, since I have a rail.

T' instructions are very easy t' follow with pictures. Arrr! T' only gotcha I found be t' parachute attachment method. Avast! Avast! I did nay quite understand t' directions. Arrr! I am incorporatin' Stu Barrets' anti-zipper design, ya bilge rat, so I have me own plans. Begad! Go t' InfoCentral at ROL under construction and you will see Stu's article on this. Well, blow me down! I also added tubular nylon for t' shock cord, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, about 18 feet o' it. Avast! All I had t' add t' t' kit for this was 1 extra coupler and 1 extra 12" payload section I got with t' kit from Danny. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! T' assembly directions are straight forward. Lots o' sandin' on those huge wings. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Danny includes pre-marked tubes for t' fins and alignment guides, plus a wrap around win' guide for t' nozzle. This kit is extremely sturdy and constructed o' high grade components. Well, blow me down! Begad! I opted only t' fiberglass t' payload section, just for a little added strength. Blimey! I used t' basic 30 minute epoxy from me hobby store. Begad! You can use 5 minute epoxy on a few steps, me hearties, matey, arrr, but I prefer t' stronger 30 minute.

Finishing:
T' fins require some fillin' in t' grain, and since they are so big, arrr, I used Duplicolor auto paint. Aye aye! Epoxy primer would be better, but I don't have a spray gun. Arrr! Kilz also works good too. Avast, me proud beauty! Those fins have over 16' o' fillets, go slow and get them right. Begad! Makes PML's Pterodactyl look like a baby on fillets. I chose t' bevel t' fins somewhat. Ya scallywag! This kit should fly great even in a little wind with those big fillets. Very nice lookin' rocket! This kit comes with its own decals. Avast, me proud beauty! This kit has a basic 2 color paint scheme but you can design your own if you wish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
This kit goes great on I161's. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I estimate about 1200-1500 feet. Avast, me proud beauty! I use 1 chute with t' long shock cord. Aye aye! Blimey! I use me PML 55 inch chute I have, ya bilge rat, works great, ya bilge rat, settles it down softly. Well, blow me down! Avast! Danny's 2 parachutes that are included in t' kit will work great also. Ahoy! I added blind nuts t' t' aft centerin' ring, arrr, just in front o' t' nozzle. Arrr! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I use extra long screws t' screw into them, arrr, and cover t' screw with a pre-cut launch lug so I know how far t' screw needs t' go in. Avast! Ya scallywag! Do this before you glue t' motor mount into t' main tube. Begad! Positive motor retention works.

Recovery:
I used medium delays for t' lower flights, and plan t' use long delay's on t' J350 or J570 flights. T' fins are plywood, but a little layer o' glass on t' edges may help. Avast! If it needs that, ya bilge rat, I will make t' edges a different color t' set it off. Avast, me proud beauty! Wind does nay effect those big fins.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PRO-strong kit, good for t' middle experience modeler, people who have nay had t' cut tubes for fin placement may get a little lost, but t' great directions will tell you how t' do it right. Begad! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Nice big fins, great futuristic lookin' rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! CON-I would switch t' birch plywood t' increase t' ease o' finishin' t' fins.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5