Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. Aye aye! It can use anythin' from a big E to a J570. Begad! Begad! It can easily break Mach 1 on an H, arrr, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and can reach Mach 2 on a J.

Construction:
T' Mach Buster 1 uses a fiberglassed phenolic airframe, ya bilge rat, PML solid urethane nose, arrr, shiver me timbers, Acme fin can and launch lugs, shiver me timbers, Keelhaul®©™® heat shield and shock cord, a Slimline circle rin' motor retainer, and an optional Slimline motor adapter. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I suppose you could put a payload section on for altimeters and dual deployment.

This was a very easy build. Begad! I used 2-ton epoxy throughout. Blimey! I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. Blimey! The nose cone I got from PML, ya bilge rat, me bucko, arrr, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. Begad! After I fiberglassed t' tube, me hearties, t' fin can fit exactly. T' launch lugs liked t' slide around while t' epoxy is drying, ya bilge rat, but other wise it was easy. Aye aye! T' fins needed no alignment, me hearties, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. Ahoy! I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Avast! Red on t' fins, and red on t' nose cone, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Overall, me bucko, shiver me timbers, this is a very sturdy rocket — it could survive a tar landin' easily.

Flight:
I still have nay flown this, ya bilge rat, me hearties, but I am plannin' on flyin' it on labor day 2003. T' first flight will be on an F50-9T, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' next on a G35-7W, and t' next on an F20-7W. Ahoy! I put in a home made parachute. Begad! It is a very large parachute, me bucko, ya bilge rat, but I will reef it on breezy days. Aye aye! It is over stable, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. All simulations show straight flights, high (approx. Ahoy! 3250' on F’s and G’s), me bucko, and fast, arrr, despite t' weight.

I got two flights in on this rocket on labor day 2003. Well, blow me down! T' first flight for this rocket was also me first blue thunder propellant motor, me hearties, arrr, and I was rather impressed by t' performance. Avast! It could have had more smoke, however. Begad! T' motor was an F50-9T. T' second flight was a G35-7W, and it flew like t' wind! And that is sayin' something, ya bilge rat, considerin' t' gusts there! At least thar are seemingly endless blueberry barrens for t' rockets t' land in. Avast, me proud beauty! Both flights were straight as an arrow. Blimey! It had a Keelhaul®©™® heat sheild, eliminatin' t' need for wadding. Begad! I also installed a Slimline motor retainer t' hold me motor in. This worked very well. Avast! Ahoy! There be no damage to t' parachute after either flight, matey, however, one o' t' shroud lines on the parachute got tangled in t' screw eye that I used t' attach t' shock cord to the nose cone, causin' a tumble recovery. Begad! Hardly even had a scratch in the paint. Begad! Ahoy! This is such a rugged rocket. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Anythin' else that size fallin' from that height I would expect t' crumple.

Summary:
Tough as anything. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I suspect that thin' could be hit by lightnin' and survive, or at least it could be stepped on or kicked around.

Pros: I love this rocket. Blimey! I consider it a work o' art. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! It is easily the best o' me fleet (that is sayin' something). Aye aye! It goes high and fast, can survive hard landings, and requires zero fin alignment (A definite + for me! I hate alignin' surface mounts on large rockets). Avast, me proud beauty! Easy build.

Cons: Price. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! $80. OUCH if you are 12, and I should know. Begad! Aye aye! Worth every penny though.

Other:
DO NOT LEAVE THE AIRFRAME SITTING ON A PICNIC TABLE WHILE THE EPOXY AND FIBERGLASS IS SETTING! YOUR MOTHER (or wife) WILL NOT LIKE IT.. I learned that the hard way. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.