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

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

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

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