Brief:
T' Madcow HOJO M50 mid-power rocket kit is a fun kit t' build and fly. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' kit comes with precise laser cut parts and all o' t' extras. If you were talkin' about a car, ya bilge rat, you would say it is loaded. Madcow kits tend t' be priced on the higher end but well worth it!

Construction:
Parts list:

• 1 custom balsa nose cone
• 1 custom balsa transition
• 1 custom balsa tail cone
• 1 pre-slotted body tube
• 1 centerin' ring
• 1 29mm motor tube
• 4 laser-cut fins
• 1 eye bolt, matey, nut, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and washer
• 1 NC shoulder coupler
• 1 NC shoulder bulkhead
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® shock cord section
• 1 nylon shock cord section
• 1 flameproof chute protector
• 1 24" Nylon chute
• 2 ¼" launch lugs
• 2 launch lug spacers

I purchased two kits from Madcow, ya bilge rat, and they arrived well packed and in excellent shape. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Inside t' heavy plastic bag, me hearties, t' balsa nose cone and boat tail were wrapped in heavy corrugated paper with separate bags for t' smaller parts.

T' straightforward instructions are printed on five sheets o' 8.5" x 11" paper folded in half. Well, blow me down! Five minute epoxy is suggested for t' entire build, but it could also easily be built usin' yellow wood glue. Ya scallywag! I used a combination o' thirty minute epoxy (it is what I had) and Titebond II wood glue. Blimey! I used t' epoxy t' build and install the motor mount as well as t' nose cone and coupler and wood glue for t' fins and fillets. Avast!

I started with t' nose cone and boat tail. Begad! T' two piece nose cone requires a 1 inch wide by 1.5 inch hole drilled in t' wide end o' each piece for t' lead weight, 4oz in each hole. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Once t' epoxy is cured, the two pieces need t' be joined with epoxy, although you could certainly use wood glue. Ahoy! Blimey! It is critical t' make sure the pieces are joined evenly and do nay wobble when you spin it. Begad! While t' nose cone be curin' I applied water diluted Elmer's Wood Filler t' t' boat tail and nose cone once it was cured then sanded both smooth usin' 320 grit sand paper. They both got 3 coats o' Minwax Polycrylic sandin' lightly in betwixt each, leavin' a nice smooth finish. T' next step for me was t' nose cone shoulder/ballast box usin' epoxy. This consists o' a nose cone shoulder, me bucko, ya bilge rat, eye bolt, shiver me timbers, washer and nut. Begad! Blimey! Once assembled t' unit is epoxied t' t' base o' t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' rest o' t' build is straightforward. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I tapered t' leadin' edge o' t' fins and filled and sanded them smooth (not that they required it). Ya scallywag! I built t' motor mount with epoxy tyin' t' Keelhaul®©™® to t' motor tube and feedin' it through t' notch in t' centerin' rin' makin' sure t' centerin' rin' and boat tail line up with t' fin slots. Once cured, matey, matey, I installed it in t' body tube with epoxy. Begad! Ahoy! T' fins are installed into the slots, and t' fit and finish o' these parts is fantastic. Ahoy! Here I used Titebond II wood glue.

Finishing:
There are no suggestions for finishin' t' M50, ya bilge rat, matey, shiver me timbers, except for t' picture on t' instructions. Begad! I found details online. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I primed t' entire rocket with Kilz, sandin' most o' it off with 220 grit, me hearties, 400 grit, and 600 grit sandpaper, leavin' a smooth finish for paint. Aye aye! I painted t' entire rocket with Rustoleum Painters Touch semi-gloss white. Allowin' the rocket t' dry thoroughly it be then masked and three fins were Rustoleum Painters Touch painted gloss black. Ya scallywag! T' nose cone was also masked and painted Rustoleum Painters Touch light gray gloss then Rustoleum Painters Touch gloss black. T' stripes were cut from Top Flite Trim Monokote.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight I chose a Road Runner F60R-4, ya bilge rat, which is nay a recommended motor but accordin' t' RockSim a perfect choice. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor was friction fit with maskin' tape wound around t' motor in a spiral. Ya scallywag! T' chute be packed inside t' Nomex® pad; both were attached t' t' shock cord. Begad! Blimey! T' two wire igniter be inserted and held in usin' maskin' tape around the nozzle with two small cuts for venting. Avast! Blimey! T' motor lit launchin' t' M50 in 8-15mph winds. Blimey! Blimey! There was a nice initial boost but t' M50 corkscrewed a bit on t' way up, and ejection took place at apogee. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! It is hard t' say what caused the corkscrew, as it could have been rod whip or builder error (nose cone balance). Begad! Blimey! Other than that it be an impressive flight. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It will fly again.

Recovery:
Recover was perfect. Avast, me proud beauty! It was a nice gentle landin' under t' 24" nylon chute with no damage. Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Madcow Honest John M50 is an impressive kit with high quality parts. Avast, me proud beauty! T' fit, finish and laser cuttin' are second to none. Some may question t' lack o' motor retention, me hearties, but I think friction fittin' works just fine. Ahoy! Arrr! T' one tricky part t' t' build be t' two piece nose cone. Ya scallywag! Avast! Other than that, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, t' build is uncomplicated. Avast! This is good kit for first time mid-power builders. Well, blow me down! T' M50 can be launched on a wide selection o' F and G 29mm motors. Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! This is an excellent kit and is well worth your rocketry funds.

PROs:

• High quality parts, matey, excellent laser cutting, me hearties, fit and finish
• Good instructions makin' for an uncompleted build

CONs:

• Lack o' motor retention for some, shiver me timbers, does nay bother me
• Price but this kit is loot well spent
• T' nose cone could be less complicated if t' nose weight was preinstalled. Ahoy! Begad!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5