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

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

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

Summary:
Tough as anything. Well, blow me down! 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! Arrr! I consider it a work o' art. Avast! It is easily the best o' me fleet (that is sayin' something). Ya scallywag! 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). Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Easy build.

Cons: Price. Begad! $80. Begad! Avast! Blimey! OUCH if you are 12, and I should know. Ahoy! 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. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.