Brief:
Public Enemy Rockets has produced their Gladiator kit in two different sizes. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' full size 4" version and the "baby" 3" version. Avast! Blimey! T' 3" Gladiator flies on 29mm motors and Public Enemy claims will fly in the F-H motor classes.

Construction:
With t' Peter Graves line from Airplane!, "So, shiver me timbers, Joey, do you like gladiator movies?" ringin' in my ears, I ordered me Gladiator kit from Discount Rocketry. Avast! T' kit shipped directly from Public Enemy and arrived with all t' components in good condition and accounted for. T' parts included with t' kit are:

• 1 3" x 24" Public Enemy yellow body tube
• 1 29mm motor tube
• 1 RRW heavy duty nose cone
• 2 press board centerin' rings
• 3 HUGE 1/8" plywood fins
• 2 1/4" brass launch lugs
• 1 48" nylon shock cord
• 1 30" nylon parachute
• 1 "Gladiator" vinyl decal

As high power rockets go, t' Gladiator is fairly straight forward. T' build starts with gluin' t' centering rings t' t' motor mount. Blimey! I opted t' nay glue on t' aft rin' initially. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! While I be waitin' for t' epoxy, I marked and cut t' fin slots. After t' epoxy had cured on t' forward ring, ya bilge rat, I bonded t' shock cord on t' motor mount. When this too had set, I inserted t' motor mount assembly into t' airframe, bein' careful nay t' block t' fin slots with either t' rings or t' shock cord. Avast! I had put tabs o' maskin' tape on t' aft rin' prior t' slidin' t' motor mount in to t' tube so now I was able t' pull t' aft rin' back out allowin' access t' t' space betwixt t' rings and the root edge o' t' fins.

With this much fin, I wanted t' make sure that they were stuck on very well. Begad! After epoxyin' t' fins t' t' motor tube, me bucko, I tacked them in place with gap fillin' super glue. T' root tabs on t' fins do nay extend all t' way t' the front tip o' t' fin, so I took extra care t' make sure these were tacked straight on t' outside o' t' airframe. I applied heavy epoxy fillets betwixt t' fins and t' motor tube as well as t' t' inside and outside joints o' t' fins through t' body tube. After t' filletin' be complete, me bucko, I glued t' aft rin' t' which I had added T-nuts for motor retention back into t' aft o' t' rocket. Ahoy! I then glued t' launch lugs into t' seam along t' edge o' one o' the fins. Blimey! Finally, matey, I attached t' shock cord t' t' nose cone and quick linked on t' parachute.

Finishing:
I tapered t' leadin' and trailin' edges o' t' fins and sanded and filled t' plywood and t' tube spirals. Begad! I sprayed down t' whole model with a heavy coat o' Kilz primer and sanded it down again.

Goin' with t' "gladiator" theme, shiver me timbers, I decided t' use Rustoleum Hammered Finish bronze with copper accents. Ya scallywag! I be quite pleased with t' results o' me careful maskin' and painting. Arrr! I completed t' look with red pin stripin' tape t' and silver vinyl "gladiator" decals.

T' final step o' finishin' t' Gladiator was t' make sure t' CG matched t' instructions. Aye aye! Blimey! It took several ounces o' shot in t' nose cone t' get t' balance point t' t' manufacturer's recommendation. T' total weight o' the nose cone with ballast was 18 ounces on me model.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I was very excited t' fly me new show piece! I decided t' go for t' gusto and nay wimp out and fly a "little" motor t' start with.

I loaded up a Aerotech H165 Redline. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I love this motor! Lots o' "oomph" and that pretty red flame! I knew it would be a perfect fit for t' Gladiator.

I built t' motor and loaded it into t' rocket, holdin' it in place with bolts and mirror clips. Ahoy! Blimey! I dumped in several handfuls o' dog barf waddin' and inserted t' nose cone.

I loaded t' rocket onto t' pad and turned me flight card into t' RSO and waited at t' controller for t' LCO to call me shot. When I came up in t' queue, t' LCO counted down me launch and I hit t' button. T' Redline flashed to life and t' gladiator shot up t' 6 foot rod. Aye aye! Blimey! Right at t' top o' t' rod, arrr, it seems that hot gas bypassed t' delay element and ignited t' ejection charge! Blimey! T' heavy nose cone flew free and whipped t' rocket into several ground level loops, zipperin' t' airframe about 3" and chippin' t' front edge o' one o' t' fins! Blimey! Unbelievably, this be the only damage! Blimey! Nay bad for thin ply and an unglassed cardboard tube!

Recovery:
I was quite pleased that t' recovery system held up t' t' unexpectedly sudden ejection.

Usin' a section o' body tube and fiberglass, I patched t' zippered area and built up t' fin tip with Bondo. Arrr! The rocket got a fresh paint job. Copper with metallic blue flames with red pin striping.

T' Gladiator's second flight was much longer that its first. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I again loaded up a H165R. Begad! Blimey! T' rocket shot off the pad and arced over t' top. Ahoy! Ejection was a couple o' seconds after apogee. Ahoy! Blimey! Upon recovery, I was horrified t' see that my patch had ripped off t' top o' t' tube!

Again, me bucko, I repaired t' airframe, shiver me timbers, decidin' that this would be t' last time. This time, me hearties, me bucko, I wrapped t' fiberglass all t' way around t' tube. Begad! This time after t' repair, I painted t' Gladiator as an entry into t' EMRR NasROC contest. Aye aye! I am pleased t' report that several flight are now under t' Gladiator's belt with nay further flight damage!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Gladiator is a distinctively styled design that goes beyond 3FNC by stretchin' t' fins nearly t' length o' the rocket. Ya scallywag! While t' rocket by no means is "stubby", shiver me timbers, me bucko, ya bilge rat, it has that appearance from t' length o' t' fins!

I be initially concerned about t' pressboard centerin' rings, me bucko, but they have held up surprisingly well. Blimey! The components o' t' kit are very good quality. Begad! Begad! I'm nay sure that I would want t' try and fly t' kit on t' smaller F motors that Public Enemy says can be used with all t' nose weight that was required t' match t' recommended CG.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5