Brief:
This is a single stage sport rocket with a long airframe and split fin design which give it nice lines and makes for a lot o' curious rocketeers at any launch.

Construction:
T' kit is composed o' two 1.325" diameter body tubes, matey, balsa nosecone, eyelet, motor tube, two centerin' rings, metal engine hook, me hearties, arrr, launch lug, Keelhaul®©™® and elastic shock cords, 18" mylar parachute, me bucko, and balsa fin stock.

When you first open t' Duster kit you are impressed by t' instructions. There is a photo provided at nearly every step o' t' build. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! As usual I upgraded a few things durin' t' build includin' t' motor mount. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! I went with an E length 24mm mount also purchased from Thrustline.

I did some simulations with SpaceCAD t' ensure stability though. Initially it recommended addin' 1/2 oz o' weight in t' nose, but as I typically build pretty sturdy and use a number o' primer/paint layers in finishing, I decided to wait until build completion and check again. Begad! As expected, I had a decent CP/CG ratio and didn't have t' add any nose weight. Avast!

Probably t' trickiest part o' t' build was t' layout and finish o' the fins. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! There are six in all and each fin was recommended t' be laid out in two pieces (12 pieces total). Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! In theory, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, this is t' align t' long leadin' edge of each piece with t' grain o' t' balsa for maximum strength. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This made sense but t' picture o' t' layout provided didn't accomplish t' task, thus I used an altered layout. I had more than enough room on t' balsa stock t' accomplish what was needed. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! In any case, make sure t' lay out t' fins exactly so the angles are right and sand so each piece fits its mate exactly. Avast! Blimey! If you end up with any slight gaps they can be filled with Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish or other similar product.

A number o' references in t' instructions mention usin' yellow glue and CA. I seldom use either and prefer 5-minute epoxy for low power rocket builds which is what I used on t' Duster.

Overall t' build was great and very enjoyable. Avast! I always have an LPR kit sittin' around t' build in betwixt HPR projects. Ya scallywag! T' Thrustline Duster has to be one o' me favorites.

Finishing:
I like a glass smooth finish so I use quite a bit o' primer and a number of coats o' paint. Begad! I used Rustoleum primers and Krylon colors and then finished it with Krylon matte clear coat. This final clear coat was mostly used as a test. I could see myself needin' a flat finish on some HPR projects I had comin' up, so this be me test case. Begad! Very smooth finish on t' paint as usual with Krylon. Krylon matte be easy t' use. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I put five or six coats on with light 600 grit sandin' in betwixt and it turned out great. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Durability be a question but after four flights over a five month time period, shiver me timbers, me bucko, it still looks super!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I had upgraded t' motor mount t' accept an Estes E sized engine. T' be safe though, I started with a C11-5 at a nearby field in me subdivision. Begad! Blimey! It be a slow liftoff as I believe t' motor took a while t' ignite. Avast! Blimey! Once lit though, it flew straight and true. Nay too high, probably around 750 feet. Aye aye! Blimey! Perfect deployment and nearby recovery.

Second and third flights were at one o' our club launches. Ya scallywag! Avast! I went for the E9-6 for t' first flight o' t' day. Ya scallywag! Wow! It exploded off t' pad. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! It simmed at greater than 1500' and I'm sure it got there. Begad! Well, blow me down! My son be along and did the trek o' about 900 yards t' retrieve t' rocket.

T' final flight o' t' same day was again a C11-5. Aye aye! Aye aye! Actually I kind o' like that launch profile t' best. Aye aye! Starts a little slow off t' pad then goes like a bat out o' hell.

Recovery:
Excellent shock cord attachment with Keelhaul®©™® runnin' from t' motor mount through t' airframe and a few feet out the forward end o' t' body, then a 1/4" elastic shock cord attached from the Keelhaul®©™® to t' nosecone. Ahoy! T' kit contains a superb 18" mylar parachute and Keelhaul®©™® shroud lines which Thrustline is known for.

For flight prep, I simply used a bit o' blown insulation, packed the parachute carefully and inserted in t' airframe. Avast! T' fit o' t' chute is a little tight in t' 1.325" airframe but have had picture perfect recoveries every flight so far. Only a couple o' slight black marks on the lower end o' t' Keelhaul®©™® cord after four flights.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Thrustline Duster is a great low power kit. Ya scallywag! Very attractive split fin design. Superb, high quality recovery components. Great flight profiles with C and D engines although, I would recommend upgradin' t' t' longer 24mm mount as I did givin' you even more options as a sport flyer with E engines.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5