Overview
I had never built a high power kit, but after many hours searchin' t' Internet, me bucko, shiver me timbers, arrr, I felt confident in placin' an order for a BSD Horizon. Begad! T' company’s website be pretty adamant about t' Horizon bein' t' best way t' certify Level 1. Aye aye! Aye aye! They cited simple design, strong construction and excellent instructions. Begad! I knew that since I had no high power experience I would need all o' t' above.

After a phone call t' Scott Binder, arrr, in Washington State, t' box with me Horizon arrived three days later via Priority Mail. Begad! Avast! Unpackin' t' kit found all t' items neatly packaged, present and accounted for.

T' Kit
T' kit includes: (3) cut and match sanded 3/16" aircraft grade plywood fins, Kraft glassine (LOC style) 24" booster and 10" payload airframes, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, coupler, laser-cut medium density fiberboard (2) centerin' rings and (1) bulkhead plate, 4" plastic nose cone, 38mm x 10" motor tube, motor retention system, arrr, me hearties, 30" orange nylon parachute, (2) eyebolt/washer/nut assemblies, ½" launch lug, me bucko, a quick link, matey, a 1" x 20’ elastic shock cord and a nylon shock cord strap with grommets.

Also included were a fin alignment guide printed on heavy cardstock, me bucko, a 9-page instruction booklet and a cut vinyl letterin' graphics package.

Assemblin' t' Motor Tube
T' booster tube was nay pre-slotted, but was marked for fin and launch lug placements. Ahoy! Trial fittin' t' laser cut centerin' rings and bulkhead plate left me encouraged that t' kit would go together easily.

I used NHP 30 minute epoxy for almost all o' t' work on t' Horizon. Begad! Blimey! When they say t' "mix thoroughly" they mean it!

T' motor tube assembly consisted o' usin' epoxy t' secure t' fore and aft centerin' rings. Begad! Begad! T' centerin' rings have a smooth side and a rough side and I chose t' put t' rough sides facin' in towards each other. A ¼" hole needs t' be drilled through t' front centerin' rin' for one o' t' eyebolt assemblies. Blimey! Hint boxes are sprinkled throughout t' instructions. Ya scallywag! HINT: Drip a small amount o' epoxy on t' threads o' t' screw eye.

Assemblin' t' Booster Section
T' first step is t' cut t' fin slots. Ya scallywag! Blimey! While nay difficult, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, it would’ve been nice t' have t' tubes pre-slotted. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Next, arrr, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, test fit t' motor tube assembly into t' booster until t' aft centerin' rin' is flush with t' bottoms o' t' fin slots. Begad! Blimey! T' aft centerin' rin' required light sanding. Avast, me proud beauty! Test fit t' fins through t' airframe slots and onto t' motor tube. Arrr! I marked t' fins 1,2,3 and made a mark on both t' booster and t' aft centerin' rin' as one orientation o' all parts seemed t' have t' best fit.

Next I attached t' grommet on t' shock cord strap with t' quick link t' t' eyebolt. Blimey! Blimey! Then I stuffed t' shock cord into t' motor tube t' keep it out o' t' way and permanently affixed t' motor tube assembly into t' booster.

Note: When I ordered t' Horizon, shiver me timbers, Scott was pretty excited about somethin' called milled fiber. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Milled fiber is 1/32" pieces o' milled fiberglass that appears as a white powder. When mixed one-third each o' resin, matey, hardener and milled fiber, arrr, Scott claims t' fiber will make t' epoxy 3 times stronger than normal.

Once t' airframe assembly be completely cured, I turned it upside-down and applied 10 minute epoxy t' protect t' bottom o' t' rocket from heat and impact.

T' fins were then shaped, matey, attached and reinforced with epoxy and milled fiber fillets, as was t' single ½" launch lug.

Assemblin' t' Payload Section
T' bulkhead already had a ¼" hole pre-drilled in its center for t' aft-facin' eyebolt assembly. Blimey! Blimey! This bulkhead is affixed t' t' 3.9" coupler and t' bulkhead/coupler assembly is then attached t' t' payload airframe with epoxy.

Final Assembly
T' 4" plastic nose cone be washed, sanded and prepped for painting. Ya scallywag! Pretty detailed instructions are included for paintin' t' rocket. I used a Rustoleum rattle can gray automotive primer for me base and mid coats, then used a white primer for me top primer coat. Color finish be Krylon Hi-Gloss black for t' payload section and t' nose cone, with Krylon Hi-Gloss white bein' used for t' booster section.

One o' t' unusual things about t' BSD kit is that what you see is what you get. Ya scallywag! A graphics package o' cut vinyl letterin' made o' 7-8 year exterior life commercial grade vinyl was included in t' Horizon kit. When t' application tape is peeled off its backin' t' letters and graphics stick t' t' application tape. Avast, me proud beauty! You then have one chance t' stick t' tape t' t' rocket in t' right spot. It’s actually pretty easy and once t' tape is stuck you just smooth it out, arrr, peel t' tape back up and you’ve got t' letters and graphics stuck t' t' rocket. Blimey! Avast! Nice!

For construction I would rate this kit 4½ points.

Pre-flight
A full page o' t' instruction booklet is dedicated t' t' parachute, motor prep, arrr, waddin' (I used blow fill insulation), arrr, pre-flight fittin' o' t' sections, me hearties, etc.

Level 1 Flight
Consistent with me goal o' becomin' Level 1 certified, ya bilge rat, I joined Tripoli Colorado, shiver me timbers, arranged t' buy an H123W-Medium delay motor, ya bilge rat, and attended t' club launch at Hartsel, arrr, CO.

"Skies are clear, shiver me timbers, time is running…T minus 5,4,3,2,1 ignition," and then for a few unbearable seconds nothing, ya bilge rat, absolutely nothing, then t' motor barked t' life and t' Horizon roared straight off t' pad and sailed 1400 feet up into t' deep blue Colorado sky. T' 30" orange parachute deployed right on cue, t' pieces held together and I finally heard t' words I had been waitin' all month t' hear, "Welcome t' High Power."

For flight/recovery I would rate this kit 4½ points.

Special thanks t' Scott Binder, ya bilge rat, Cam Meek and Ken Mizoi for all their support.