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

This was a very easy build. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I used 2-ton epoxy throughout. Avast! I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. The nose cone I got from PML, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. Begad! After I fiberglassed t' tube, me hearties, t' fin can fit exactly. Aye aye! T' launch lugs liked t' slide around while t' epoxy is drying, matey, but other wise it was easy. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' fins needed no alignment, shiver me timbers, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. Begad! Begad! I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. Avast! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Aye aye! Red on t' fins, and red on t' nose cone, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Avast! Overall, me bucko, 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. Aye aye! Begad! I put in a home made parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It is a very large parachute, but I will reef it on breezy days. Arrr! It is over stable, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. Well, blow me down! All simulations show straight flights, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, high (approx. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! 3250' on F’s and G’s), and fast, ya bilge rat, despite t' weight.

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

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

Cons: Price. Begad! Ya scallywag! $80. Avast! Well, blow me down! OUCH if you are 12, matey, and I should know. Arrr! Blimey! 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. It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.