Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. Arrr! It can use anythin' from a big E to a J570. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! It can easily break Mach 1 on an H, and can reach Mach 2 on a J.

Construction:
T' Mach Buster 1 uses a fiberglassed phenolic airframe, matey, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, PML solid urethane nose, me bucko, Acme fin can and launch lugs, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, Keelhaul®©™® heat shield and shock cord, me hearties, arrr, a Slimline circle rin' motor retainer, and an optional Slimline motor adapter. Begad! Ahoy! 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. Ahoy! Arrr! I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. Avast, me proud beauty! The nose cone I got from PML, matey, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. Avast! After I fiberglassed t' tube, t' fin can fit exactly. Ahoy! T' launch lugs liked t' slide around while t' epoxy is drying, but other wise it be easy. Ahoy! T' fins needed no alignment, matey, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. Aye aye! I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. Begad! After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Ahoy! Avast! Red on t' fins, me bucko, and red on t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Well, arrr, blow me down! Overall, me hearties, this is a very sturdy rocket — it could survive a tar landin' easily.

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

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

Summary:
Tough as anything. Arrr! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I consider it a work o' art. Aye aye! It is easily the best o' me fleet (that is sayin' something). It goes high and fast, can survive hard landings, me bucko, and requires zero fin alignment (A definite + for me! I hate alignin' surface mounts on large rockets). Aye aye! Easy build.

Cons: Price. $80. Arrr! Well, blow me down! OUCH if you are 12, me bucko, and I should know. Begad! Well, blow me down! 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.. Begad! I learned that the hard way. Ahoy! It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.