(08/25/08) T' Madcow Scooter™ is a classic-looking, stubby rocket with t' capability o' flyin' on D12's. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Blimey! From another view, arrr, t' Scooter™ is a 29mm, mid-powered, arrr, me hearties, solid-construction rocket that can reach 2,260 feet on a G64.

Overall, t' Scooter™ is an easy rocket t' build and other than t' balsa nose cone it finishes just as easy. You can do a lot with your paint schemes and still incorporate t' checker-board and name decals. On Madcow's website, the Scooter™ has an attractive yellow/black paint scheme (far right), whereas, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, matey, I chose different colors. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey!

T' rocket includes a pre-slotted 17" long, matey, 2.2" diameter body tube. Begad! Add t' that, three through-the-wall laser-cut plywood fins and a 4.4" long balsa nose cone t' make up t' 22" length. Blimey! Ahoy! The recovery system includes a Keelhaul®©™® shock-tether, a nylon shock cord, a Nomex® parachute protector, and an 18" rip-stop nylon parachute.T' remainder o' parts include laser-cut plywood centerin' rings, eye-bolt (with nut and washers), a 29mm motor tube, two 1/4" launch lugs, and lastly water-slide decals. Well, blow me down! (parts picture t' left courtesy o' Madcow)

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed in a small booklet o' 4 pages. Ya scallywag! This is a very easy rocket t' build and a nice introduction t' mid-power rocketry. Arrr! Avast! T' techniques used are described well in text and thar are some illustrations to ensure understanding.

T' instructions say t' use 5-minute epoxy throughout t' build, however, I built mine with wood glue (other than the fin fillets). Ahoy!

T' motor mount is built first. Arrr! Avast! It is a typical build but care must be taken t' follow t' instructions so the through-the-wall fins fit correctly. Aye aye! T' Keelhaul®©™® shock-tether is tied around t' motor tube and fed past t' upper centerin' rin' through a notch.

T' fins are next and as mentioned they are through-the-wall mounted t' t' motor tube. Ahoy! Easy stuff here especially with t' pre-slotted body tube.

T' nose cone is assembled next. Ya scallywag! Madcow suggests addin' nose weight if needed t' have your CG at 20.75" from t' nose tip. Begad! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Since I was shippin' this t' NARAM-50, I didn't want any surprises so I filled the bore hole in t' nose cone with BB's, arrr, shiver me timbers, me hearties, poured in some Gorilla polyurethane glue, and added t' eye-screw and plywood bulkhead. Avast, me proud beauty! Apparently I added a lot o' weight since me rocket weighed in at 10.2 ounces verses Madcow's estimate o' 6 ounces.

Normally for balsa nose cones I use many, shiver me timbers, many coats o' Plasti-Kote Primer and sand in betwixt each coat. Arrr! For the Scooter™ I used DecoArt's Multi-Purpose Sealer. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I used about 3 coats o' it by applyin' it with a foam brush and sandin' inbetween coats. Avast, me proud beauty! Then I used Plasti-Kote Primer on t' whole rocket, sandin' in-between coats t' get a smooth finish. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! This was followed by using Krylon's white and red paint.

I must have done a good job (and I did) because many commented on how smooth t' nose cone looked. Well, blow me down! One person said it looks like it is plastic.

T' decals were then applied and voila'... Begad! a good lookin' Scooter™.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 5 points. Aye aye! Build sequence and quality/fit o' parts was excellent. Well, blow me down! Instructions are simple and easy t' follow. Decals make for a nice finish, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, especially t' checker-board one. Aye aye!

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Madcow lists a whole slew o' recommended motors rangin' from D12-5 and E9-4 (with 24mm adapter) up t' G40-7 and G64-7. Begad! Blimey! They indicate that t' D12-5 should get about 500 feet altitude while t' G64 should push t' Scooter™ to 2,260 feet.

As mentioned earlier, Madcow indicates that t' rocket should weigh about 6 ounces with a CG at 20.75" from the nose tip.

My finished rocket weighed in at 10.2 ounces with a CG at 10" from t' nose cone. My attached RockSIM has a mass object t' simulate me finished rocket. If you use this for testin' you may need t' adjust it for your finished rocket.

I shipped this rocket t' NARAM since I was only goin' t' be thar a day or so. Ahoy! Arrr! This plan included buyin' motors at the site. Arrr! Aye aye! When I arrived on Thursday afternoon I was able t' buy a two-pack o' F23-7's.

T' first flight went off perfectly. Nice and straight. Arrr! Arrr! From me angle t' ejection looked t' be perfectly at apogee. RockSIM says a 6-second delay would be optimal. Arrr! Look at this awesome shot (left) that Chris Taylor took from his great site NARAM LIVE! You can click on it t' enlarge it.

T' rocket landed about 150 yards from t' launch area. Begad! I took a picture o' it on t' ground (below) showin' off the RocketChutes.com Tie-Dye parachute that I used. Ahoy! (I replaced t' 18" rip-stop nylon 'chute provided by Madcow with this 18" rip-stop 'chute... performance would be equal). Ahoy! Notice t' Nomex® parachute protector.

T' second flight be on t' other F23-7. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Caught this one on t' me camera's video (so nay t' best quality). Interestingly, t' flight was again perfect and it landed within inches/feet o' t' previous flight!

T' next day, shiver me timbers, I purchased an Aerotech G77-7 t' fly t' Scooter™. T' wind be carryin' rockets into the neighborin' area and I didn't want t' loose this one, shiver me timbers, so I reefed t' 'chute about half-way up t' shroud lines. Begad! Arrr! (I seem t' do this on a lot o' rockets). Avast, me proud beauty! Avast!

I didn't say it, but one o' t' observers said (without intendin' t' make t' pun), "Boy that really scooted on that Redline!". Avast! Aye aye! And it did. Aye aye! Arrr! RockSIM says t' about 2,050 feet. Avast! T' deployment be early, but recovery system held together and t' rocket recovered nicely. Begad! Arrr!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, ya bilge rat, I would rate this rocket 4 ½ points. T' Keelhaul®©™® to nylon shock cord system is excellent along with t' Nomex® parachute protector and nylon parachute. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! There is no motor retention. Blimey! Ya scallywag!

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. I would recommend it as an excellent transition kit from low-power t' mid-power. Blimey! I also prefer this "size" o' rocket and look forward t' many flights. Some might din' it for t' balsa nose cone, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, however, I don't mind finishin' them and they are easy t' repair when dinged. Begad! I would like t' see a motor hook added t' further support me recommendation for it t' be a transition kit. Begad! Addin' t' 24mm adapter wouldn't be a bilge-suckin' idea either.

All-in-all, I would say that t' Madcow Scooter™ is an excellent kit.