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

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

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

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

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