Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. It can use anythin' from a big E to a J570. Aye aye! Ahoy! 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, PML solid urethane nose, Acme fin can and launch lugs, shiver me timbers, Keelhaul®©™® heat shield and shock cord, a Slimline circle rin' motor retainer, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and an optional Slimline motor adapter. I suppose you could put a payload section on for altimeters and dual deployment.

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

Flight:
I still have nay flown this, me hearties, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! I put in a home made parachute. Arrr! Begad! It is a very large parachute, but I will reef it on breezy days. Begad! Blimey! It is over stable, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. Aye aye! Arrr! All simulations show straight flights, me bucko, high (approx. Ya scallywag! Begad! 3250' on F’s and G’s), shiver me timbers, and fast, shiver me timbers, despite t' weight.

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

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

Cons: Price. Begad! Well, me bucko, blow me down! $80. Begad! OUCH if you are 12, and I should know. Worth every penny though.

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