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

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

Flight:
I still have nay flown this, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but I am plannin' on flyin' it on labor day 2003. T' first flight will be on an F50-9T, matey, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' next on a G35-7W, and t' next on an F20-7W. Well, blow me down! I put in a home made parachute. Ahoy! Begad! It is a very large parachute, but I will reef it on breezy days. It is over stable, arrr, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. Arrr! Ahoy! All simulations show straight flights, ya bilge rat, high (approx. Begad! 3250' on F’s and G’s), shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and fast, matey, me bucko, despite t' weight.

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

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

Cons: Price. $80. Begad! OUCH if you are 12, shiver me timbers, and I should know. Arrr! 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.. Aye aye! I learned that the hard way. Aye aye! Blimey! It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.