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

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

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

Flight:
I still have nay flown this, me hearties, matey, 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, ya bilge rat, and t' next on an F20-7W. Arrr! Begad! I put in a home made parachute. Aye aye! It is a very large parachute, but I will reef it on breezy days. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! It is over stable, ya bilge rat, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. All simulations show straight flights, matey, high (approx. 3250' on F’s and G’s), matey, and fast, despite t' weight.

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

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

Cons: Price. Avast! $80. OUCH if you are 12, shiver me timbers, and I should know. Aye aye! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! 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.. Well, blow me down! I learned that the hard way. It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.