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

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

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

I opted t' make 2 design changes in t' rocket. Blimey! I got a 12" piece o' body tube and 2 extra couplers and bulkheads from Danny. I used t' extra tube t' make an anti-zipper fin can, me hearties, me hearties, per Stu Barrett's method. Begad! I extended t' pre-marked fin slots t' t' back o' t' tube. Avast, me proud beauty! I then assembled the motor mount. Next I epoxied t' fins t' t' motor mount usin' 3 inch fiberglass tape, shiver me timbers, 2 layers, and 1/2 hour epoxy. Blimey! This was very strong. Begad! I then assembled the bulkhead by gluin' t' bulkplate into t' coupler. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! 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. Arrr! T' aft end o' t' motor tube sticks out about 3 inches from t' end o' t' fin can. Arrr! 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. Ahoy! 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. Ya scallywag! Finally, ya bilge rat, I glued the bulkhead in place. Begad!

I am goin' t' be flyin' this rocket with t' I200's and H268's, so it needs to be strong. Plus, shiver me timbers, me hearties, by buildin' a fin can, arrr, arrr, me hearties, you can add what ever length body tube t' t' top for various performance features. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! You can put a short tube or a real long tube with an altimeter bay on it. More rocket for less money! Blimey!

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

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

Finishing:
I am nay t' best painter, matey, 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. T' main tube is bare, 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. Begad! Blimey! I opted t' paint t' kit black, white, ya bilge rat, arrr, and red so mine is a little different. Arrr! Blimey! You can do what you think looks good. T' vinyl decals are really nice. Aye aye! Blimey!

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, arrr, they don't bother me so I left them. Danny's model looks great up close at t' launches, me bucko, ya bilge rat, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! 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, ya bilge rat, I decided it be 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. Blimey! Arrr! It laid out horizontal at apogee into the winds driftin' down. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Due t' t' winds, matey, I opted for a 14 inch X-form chute from me buddy Chad Ellis. It brought it down quick and close, ya bilge rat, no damage, about a 1000 foot flight. Aye aye!

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. Begad! Blimey! That huge Redline flame be great. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! It must have gone ~4000 feet, shiver me timbers, we lost sight o' it. Avast! It took it about 5 minutes t' come down and drifted about 1/4 mile. Avast! Great flight, matey, no damage, ya bilge rat, took t' motor in stride. I then loaded it back up with t' I-200(M) and BOOM! same result, ya bilge rat, way out of sight. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! It drifted t' almost t' same spot. Great flights on a great rocket. Arrr! I wish Danny was thar t' see. Avast, me proud beauty!

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

Recovery:
T' flight recovery was great. Aye aye! I only added a smaller chute due t' t' winds and t' altitude obtained. Avast, me proud beauty! There was no damage at all t' t' rocket. Begad! Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5