Brief:
This is a simple, matey, high reliability, and flexible usage sport flier from DG&A. Begad! It is perfect for mid or high power applications and different sized fields. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! It is an easy rocket t' certify L1 on due t' t' continuin' quality of DG&A kits. Ahoy! Avast! It is a simple 3FNC rocket with parachute deployment. Arrr! Well, blow me down! It is also a kit that can be easily modified t' your needs with DG&A components available through t' web site. Begad! 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, 2.56" Kraft cardboard tubing, ya bilge rat, 36" Re-inforced rip-stop nylon parachute, 29mm motor mount 12" 2 high strength plywood centerin' rings, 3 Baltic birch 5 ply fins, arrr, Recovery webbing/harness, Vinyl cut decals, arrr, Body tube pre-marked for fins, Easy t' follow instructions, Fin Alignment guide, Paintin' guide

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

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

I am goin' t' be flyin' this rocket with t' I200's and H268's, so it needs to be strong. Blimey! Plus, me hearties, me bucko, by buildin' a fin can, you can add what ever length body tube t' t' top for various performance features. You can put a short tube or a real long tube with an altimeter bay on it. Arrr! 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. Ahoy! 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, shiver me timbers, it is easier t' swap it with another rocket this way instead o' epoxyin' it in. Blimey! That way, 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. Well, arrr, blow me down! T' fiberglass tape came from t' local hobby shop. Aye aye! Aye aye! I used a sandin' block t' sand t' finish, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, matey, and Krylon paints. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I bought some Mono-Kote and applied t' decals t' that, shiver me timbers, matey, 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! Begad! T' main tube is bare, matey, but t' fin can is painted. Blimey! Well, blow me down!

I used t' included pattern t' paint a diagonal pattern on t' tubes that is t' line betwixt t' dual color model Danny has. Ahoy! Blimey! I opted t' paint t' kit black, white, and red so mine is a little different. Avast! Blimey! You can do what you think looks good. T' vinyl decals are really nice. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! 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, they don't bother me so I left them. Danny's model looks great up close at t' launches, 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, matey, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I decided it was time t' hit it with t' big stuff. Begad! Well, blow me down! It flew perfect on t' G-64 with just a slight weathercock into t' 10 MPH winds and t' 35 degree temperature. Avast! It laid out horizontal at apogee into the winds driftin' down. 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, about a 1000 foot flight. Arrr!

I then loaded it up with a H-268R and then an I-200. Ahoy! 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. Avast! That huge Redline flame was great. It must have gone ~4000 feet, shiver me timbers, arrr, matey, we lost sight o' it. Avast, me proud beauty! It took it about 5 minutes t' come down and drifted about 1/4 mile. Blimey! Great flight, 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, matey, way out of sight. Ya scallywag! Begad! It drifted t' almost t' same spot. Begad! Great flights on a great rocket. Well, blow me down! I wish Danny was thar t' see. Avast!

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. Arrr! I have not outfitted this rocket with a slimline yet, arrr, I used tape for retention. Begad! Aye aye! T' only con about t' rocket is I wish I had put a 38mm in it!

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main pro for this kit be t' quality o' materials. They are light enough for mid-power fliers, me hearties, but heavy duty t' take t' HPR stuff as well. Well, blow me down! T' kit is a no-brainer t' put together, due t' t' quality o' t' instructions. Ya scallywag! 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". Blimey! Begad! It is also upgraded t' a 38mm mount. Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5