Brief

T' VB Extreme is a 38mm motor, minimum-diameter, matey, shiver me timbers, high-performance rocket kit.

Construction
T' instructions are comprehensive and accurate. Blimey! T' tubes are LOC-style, and t' kit includes a 38mm t' 29mm adaptor kit. Avast! There are three body tubes t' make up t' motor section which is coupled t' t' parachute section which is coupled/bulkheaded t' t' payload section and finally t' nose cone. Begad! You can use one or two launch lugs, your option (ie. Begad! you cut it...) They are standard LOC heavy launch lugs for 1/4 inch rods. Ahoy! Blimey! T' fins are pre-cut G-10 fiberglass. Ya scallywag! A nice touch be t' included altimeter mountin' kit and wirin' harness.

Construction is fairly simple, arrr, with basic HPR skills needed. Aye aye! I mounted t' fins as per t' "optional" method which is t' slot half way through t' body tube. Arrr! T' VB Extreme 38 is made from LOC 38mm motor mount tubin' - fairly heavy. T' slot halfway through you carefully slit through a couple o' layers o' paper at a time and peel them out o' t' slot. Begad! This method is described in t' kit instructions. A little more work, but a very solid way t' do surface mount fins.

T' included sleeved Keelhaul®©™ shock cord mount is nice and can survive any stress you might subject it to. Ya scallywag! It is tied t' t' coupler betwixt t' motor section and t' parachute section o' t' airframe. Ya scallywag! T' other end is tied t' t' screw eye in t' bulkhead on t' payload section.

T' nose cone is a LOC heavy plastic one, arrr, me hearties, t' nose cone and payload section come pre-drilled for t' included flat-head, arrr, ya bilge rat, countersunk screw. Avast! Avast! T' plastic nose cone is held on t' t' payload section by a screw. Avast! A very good idea for t' speeds and altitudes possible with t' VB Extreme series.

Finishing
Finishin' was as expected for LOC-style tubing. Ya scallywag! Blimey! A bit o' work t' fill t' spirals, shiver me timbers, and a little bit o' sandin' t' roughen up t' G-10, matey, then primer and paint. Begad! Blimey! I flew this unpainted t' first time - couldn't wait t' fly it.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight
Motors Used: F40, arrr, H115
Out o' sight on t' Vulcan H115.
Motor retention is maskin' tape.

wRASP says 6500 feet on an H300 (summer day at Hartsel, shiver me timbers, CO), arrr, ya bilge rat, 10,300 feet on a J350. Begad! Begad! Those who saw me H flights agreed that it topped 6000 feet. Blimey! Avast! On its final flight it caught some wind at that altitude, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and drifted into a lake about 3 miles away.

Recovery
Light enough for "E" motors, maybe even "D"'s, shiver me timbers, and out o' sight on "H" motors. Arrr! Begad! Should be modified for drogue/main recovery if you plan on flyin' it on "H" or above motors (I lost mine on an "H"). Well, me bucko, blow me down! Take advantage o' t' altimeter mountin' kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Use trackin' powder. Brin' binoculars. Take pictures before you launch it, they may be t' only ones you get. Begad! Avast! Consider usin' a streamer in place o' t' parachute, it is sturdy enough, matey, and won't drift so far.

Flight Rating: 4

Summary
Pros: versatile, ya bilge rat, high performance
Cons: none

Overall Rating: 4