Brief:
This is a simple, arrr, high reliability, matey, and flexible usage sport flier from DG&A. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It is perfect for mid or high power applications and different sized fields. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! It is an easy rocket t' certify L1 on due t' t' continuin' quality of DG&A kits. Blimey! Blimey! It is a simple 3FNC rocket with parachute deployment. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It is also a kit that can be easily modified t' your needs with DG&A components available through t' web site. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Danny is also offerin' rail buttons in red, white, and blue now, so you can have a patriotic guidance system included with your kit.

Construction:
My DG&A Predator came with t' basics: Plastic nose cone, ya bilge rat, 2.56" Kraft cardboard tubing, matey, 36" Re-inforced rip-stop nylon parachute, 29mm motor mount 12" 2 high strength plywood centerin' rings, 3 Baltic birch 5 ply fins, matey, Recovery webbing/harness, arrr, Vinyl cut decals, matey, Body tube pre-marked for fins, Easy t' follow instructions, me bucko, ya bilge rat, Fin Alignment guide, shiver me timbers, Paintin' guide

T' directions are easy t' understand and include pictures. Aye aye! T' assembly order is easy t' follow for t' beginner or t' experienced rocketeer. Begad! Blimey! There is a piece o' paper included that will serve as a fin alignment guide for fin attachment. Ya scallywag! Avast! You have t' cut out t' slots on t' body tube for t' fins t' go through. T' fins are then attached t' t' motor tube betwixt t' 2 centering rings. Blimey!

I opted t' make 2 design changes in t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I got a 12" piece o' body tube and 2 extra couplers and bulkheads from Danny. Begad! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! I used t' extra tube t' make an anti-zipper fin can, me hearties, per Stu Barrett's method. Avast, me proud beauty! I extended t' pre-marked fin slots t' t' back o' t' tube. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I then assembled the motor mount. Aye aye! Blimey! Next I epoxied t' fins t' t' motor mount usin' 3 inch fiberglass tape, me hearties, 2 layers, shiver me timbers, and 1/2 hour epoxy. Arrr! Blimey! This was very strong. I then assembled the bulkhead by gluin' t' bulkplate into t' coupler. Next I drilled 6 1/4 inch holes into t' bulkplate after t' glue dried. Begad! Blimey! I slid t' motor mount into the body tube and epoxied it in place. Aye aye! Aye aye! Blimey! T' aft end o' t' motor tube sticks out about 3 inches from t' end o' t' fin can. Avast, me proud beauty! I wrapped 4 layers o' 1/2 inch 6 ounce glass tape around t' aft end o' t' body tube t' cover up t' three cuts. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! I then put 3 layers o' 3 inch glass tape on t' front end o' t' tube in front o' t' fins. Fillets were then added t' t' fins. Begad! Blimey! Finally, I glued the bulkhead in place. Begad!

I am goin' t' be flyin' this rocket with t' I200's and H268's, matey, so it needs to be strong. Plus, ya bilge rat, by buildin' a fin can, ya bilge rat, you can add what ever length body tube t' t' top for various performance features. Aye aye! You can put a short tube or a real long tube with an altimeter bay on it. More rocket for less money!

Next I made another bulkhead, attached t' webbin' t' it, and glued it in the forward end o' t' main body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! t' webbin' will just hang out t' back end o' t' main tube. Avast! I put a screw through t' top o' t' main body tube to hold t' nose cone on, matey, it is easier t' swap it with another rocket this way instead o' epoxyin' it in. Arrr! That way, arrr, me bucko, if you lose another nose cone for t' same size, you can just swap.

I used NHP 5 and 30 minute epoxy for most o' t' construction. Arrr! I used West Systems resin for t' glass. Avast! T' fiberglass tape came from t' local hobby shop. Begad! I used a sandin' block t' sand t' finish, and Krylon paints. Avast! I bought some Mono-Kote and applied t' decals t' that, ya bilge rat, and then put them on t' rocket for effect.

Finishing:
I am nay t' best painter, so thar be always room improvement on me finish. T' finish came out pretty glossy, and I am goin' t' wait until it flies well before I finish painting. Avast! T' main tube is bare, matey, me bucko, arrr, but t' fin can is painted.

I used t' included pattern t' paint a diagonal pattern on t' tubes that is t' line betwixt t' dual color model Danny has. Blimey! I opted t' paint t' kit black, matey, white, and red so mine is a little different. Blimey! Begad! You can do what you think looks good. T' vinyl decals are really nice. Well, blow me down! Ahoy!

You can put a wrap o' 3/4 ounce glass on and sand it out and it will get rid o' t' small lines in t' tube, they don't bother me so I left them. Danny's model looks great up close at t' launches, arrr, t' red and white are sharp.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I went t' a small non club launch we had on t' first. I put this rocket through it's paces with a first flight on a G-64(M) t' check stability and then when it flew tried and true, arrr, I decided it was time t' hit it with t' big stuff. It flew perfect on t' G-64 with just a slight weathercock into t' 10 MPH winds and t' 35 degree temperature. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! It laid out horizontal at apogee into the winds driftin' down. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Due t' t' winds, I opted for a 14 inch X-form chute from me buddy Chad Ellis. It brought it down quick and close, no damage, matey, matey, about a 1000 foot flight. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down!

I then loaded it up with a H-268R and then an I-200. Arrr! These are t' big 29/360 motors that have 320 and 330 N respectively. That Redline lit and boom! it was out o' sight in no time. Ahoy! That huge Redline flame was great. Well, blow me down! It must have gone ~4000 feet, we lost sight o' it. Begad! Well, arrr, blow me down! It took it about 5 minutes t' come down and drifted about 1/4 mile. Ahoy! Great flight, me bucko, me hearties, no damage, took t' motor in stride. I then loaded it back up with t' I-200(M) and BOOM! same result, way out of sight. It drifted t' almost t' same spot. Aye aye! Great flights on a great rocket. Blimey! I wish Danny be thar t' see. Ahoy! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty!

T' anti-zipper does nay really require wadding, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, me hearties, as it acts like a baffle. I did put a little cellulose insulation in for good measure. Ya scallywag! I have not outfitted this rocket with a slimline yet, me hearties, I used tape for retention. Blimey! T' only con about t' rocket is I wish I had put a 38mm in it!

Recovery:
T' flight recovery was great. I only added a smaller chute due t' t' winds and t' altitude obtained. Blimey! Blimey! There was no damage at all t' t' rocket.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main pro for this kit be t' quality o' materials. Blimey! They are light enough for mid-power fliers, but heavy duty t' take t' HPR stuff as well. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' kit is a no-brainer t' put together, shiver me timbers, due t' t' quality o' t' instructions. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' large vinyl decals are also a big plus, they look great on t' kit. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' only one con has been fixed, matey, matey, Danny upgraded all t' 2.56" kits t' 3.00". Well, blow me down! It is also upgraded t' a 38mm mount. Arrr!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5