Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. Aye aye! Begad! It can use anythin' from a big E to a J570. Arrr! It can easily break Mach 1 on an H, ya bilge rat, and can reach Mach 2 on a J.

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

This was a very easy build. Begad! Blimey! I used 2-ton epoxy throughout. Ya scallywag! I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! The nose cone I got from PML, shiver me timbers, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. Ya scallywag! After I fiberglassed t' tube, me hearties, t' fin can fit exactly. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' launch lugs liked t' slide around while t' epoxy is drying, me bucko, but other wise it be easy. Aye aye! T' fins needed no alignment, shiver me timbers, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. Begad! Blimey! After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Begad! Begad! Blimey! Red on t' fins, and red on t' nose cone, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Overall, shiver me timbers, 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, ya bilge rat, t' next on a G35-7W, and t' next on an F20-7W. Avast! I put in a home made parachute. Begad! It is a very large parachute, arrr, but I will reef it on breezy days. Avast! It is over stable, me hearties, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. All simulations show straight flights, high (approx. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! 3250' on F’s and G’s), me bucko, and fast, despite t' weight.

I got two flights in on this rocket on labor day 2003. Well, blow me down! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' first flight for this rocket was also me first blue thunder propellant motor, me hearties, and I was rather impressed by t' performance. Begad! It could have had more smoke, however. Ahoy! T' motor was an F50-9T. Begad! T' second flight was a G35-7W, me hearties, shiver me timbers, 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. Begad! Both flights were straight as an arrow. It had a Keelhaul®©™® heat sheild, me hearties, eliminatin' t' need for wadding. Aye aye! Aye aye! I also installed a Slimline motor retainer t' hold me motor in. Well, blow me down! This worked very well. Well, blow me down! There was no damage to t' parachute after either flight, however, me bucko, 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! Hardly even had a scratch in the paint. Well, blow me down! This is such a rugged rocket. Begad! Anythin' else that size fallin' from that height I would expect t' crumple. Ahoy!

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. Well, blow me down! It is easily the best o' me fleet (that is sayin' something). Avast! Well, blow me down! It goes high and fast, can survive hard landings, and requires zero fin alignment (A definite + for me! I hate alignin' surface mounts on large rockets). Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Easy build.

Cons: Price. Avast! Blimey! $80. Begad! Blimey! OUCH if you are 12, 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.