Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! It can use anythin' from a big E to a J570. Aye aye! 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, me hearties, me bucko, matey, PML solid urethane nose, 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. Blimey! I suppose you could put a payload section on for altimeters and dual deployment.

This was a very easy build. I used 2-ton epoxy throughout. I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. Ya scallywag! The nose cone I got from PML, arrr, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. Begad! After I fiberglassed t' tube, matey, ya bilge rat, 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. Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' fins needed no alignment, matey, me bucko, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Blimey! Red on t' fins, arrr, matey, and red on t' nose cone, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Overall, 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, me hearties, me bucko, and t' next on an F20-7W. Blimey! Aye aye! I put in a home made parachute. Ya scallywag! It is a very large parachute, me bucko, but I will reef it on breezy days. Avast! It is over stable, shiver me timbers, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. Well, blow me down! All simulations show straight flights, ya bilge rat, high (approx. Well, blow me down! 3250' on F’s and G’s), arrr, me hearties, and fast, despite t' weight.

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

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. I consider it a work o' art. Ya scallywag! Arrr! It is easily the best o' me fleet (that is sayin' something). Ya scallywag! It goes high and fast, shiver me timbers, can survive hard landings, and requires zero fin alignment (A definite + for me! I hate alignin' surface mounts on large rockets). Avast! Easy build.

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