Brief:
This is Qualified Competition Rocket's 13 mm minimum diameter streamer/parachute duration model for NARRRRR competition. Ahoy! T' kit I purchased came supplied with a streamer. I attended an ASTRE buildin' session in February 2003 where I learned about streamer duration models. Aye aye!

Construction:
Kit arrived in a plastic bag, ya bilge rat, Estes-style, shiver me timbers, with 12" BT-5 cardboard tube, thrust ring, balsa nose cone, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, me bucko, sheet o' balsa for fins, shock cord material, plastic/paper launch lug, arrr, mylar streamer, and tiny brass swivel. Package includes photocopied instructions for construction o' rocket with instructions for streamer construction and preparation technique. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Streamer is 4" by 40". Ya scallywag! Aye aye! What is interestin' about t' balsa nose cone is that it has a hole in t' bottom already prepared for a fabric-type strin' loop. Avast! T' kit is designed t' reduce any amount o' unnecessary weight, so no screw eye is used.

T' body tube has been marked by pen for place o' t' fins. Aye aye! T' fins have been marked on t' balsa sheet with pen and need t' be cut out. Aye aye! There is plenty of extra balsa in t' event that one may wish t' cut extra fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Since I be at a buildin' session, I followed t' directions o' veteran NARRRRR competitors. Avast, me proud beauty! A few of t' suggestions in t' buildin' session involved usin' only CA glue, gluing the fins a 1/4 o' an inch above t' base o' t' rocket t' allow for motor retention by tape, and by nay addin' t' thrust ring/motor mount as a means of reducin' t' overall weight.

After cutting, me bucko, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, shapin' and sandin' t' 3 fins, ya bilge rat, I CA'd them on t' body after sandin' t' tube a bit. T' nose cone is prepared by gluin' a strin' loop into the bottom. Ya scallywag! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' shock cord is actually attached through one o' t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! I had to create a small hole with me Xacto knife, fed t' shock cord (which looks like a heavy duty dental floss) through, glue either side o' t' shock cord onto t' fin with CA glue, arrr, arrr, and extend t' shock cord t' length o' t' tube on the outside. Arrr! T' idea with this type o' design is t' keep t' inside o' the body free for a large streamer. I believe t' techniques I have described would be fairly normal practice for anyone involved in streamer duration techniques. T' other suggestion given by t' veterans was t' cut t' launch lug in two, and place them a few inches apart towards t' bottom o' t' rocket. Ahoy! Arrr! I cut angles into me launch lug for less drag. Arrr! Aye aye! I assume many competitors may skip the launch lug entirely and use towers for launching. Blimey! I don't have this type of equipment, so I used t' standard method.

T' mylar parachute is prepared by knottin' and tapin' t' shock cord at one end, ya bilge rat, tapin' t' streamer over t' shock cord, matey, and then addin' accordion folds t' t' other side o' t' streamer. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey!

Finishing:
Since this rocket is a practical rocket for NARRRRR competition, paintin' and decals are strongly discouraged. Ahoy! T' only thin' I really needed t' do be put my NARRRRR number on t' rocket. Begad! Blimey! All in all, matey, it is a handsome little rocket.

T' construction as indicated by t' instructions would be easy for anyone who can handle a level 2 or level 3 kit.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Preppin' is a little time consumin' since foldin' a 40" streamer takes some time. Ahoy! After placin' t' streamer and shock cord into t' rocket, I could then feed t' recovery waddin' from t' bottom o' t' rocket since I was not usin' a motor mount. Avast! Aye aye! I like t' idea o' bein' able t' put waddin' in on either side o' t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! This be a new experience for me.

Since I did nay use a motor hook, I friction fit t' motor with tape, shiver me timbers, then fit t' motor and taped around t' base o' t' rocket onto t' extendin' motor. I flew t' rocket twice so far and both times had successful motor retention with complete recovery activated.

I flew t' rocket twice on a 1/4A3-3T. Blimey! Both flights had a quick, ya bilge rat, straight and stable ascent. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! On t' first flight, t' shock cord got a little tangled up, so t' streamer did nay fully deploy. Arrr! Begad! However, t' accordion folds were effective, shiver me timbers, bringin' t' bird back safely and slowly T' second flight was perfect. Avast, me proud beauty! It was calm and cool this mornin' as I launched, and I timed the rocket flight at 21 seconds for a 1/4A motor. Arrr! Begad! Nay bad for me first try, considerin' me best time for a streamer model (prior t' this QCR rocket) on a 1/2A motor has been 25 seconds (granted, I never competed before).

Recovery:
Flight recovery is fine if you take time t' fold, arrr, fold, me bucko, ya bilge rat, fold, arrr, stuff and pack the rocket correctly. Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' pros for this rocket are t' price at $5.00, arrr, and t' fact that it is a simple 3 fin - nose cone rocket that can achieve admirable times for competition. Aye aye! Arrr! Anyone with good buildin' history can adjust t' rocket t' his or her specifications. Avast! T' kit comes with all necessary equipment t' build, ya bilge rat, fly and have fun.

T' cons for this rocket would be t' turn around time t' get t' rocket in the air again. It takes time t' prep t' streamer, t' motor and t' rocket. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I don't consider this a negative thing, me hearties, me bucko, but if you are lookin' for an easy kit just for a streamer, I would recommend somethin' like t' Estes Wizard. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! If you are lookin' t' achieve great times on little motors and you are interested in competition rockets, me hearties, matey, I recommend t' QCR Straight Up. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It lives up t' its name. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5