I picked up t' Smoke and Fire kit when I bought t' A-SLAM from Thrustline Aerospace via eBay (Not thrilled with that, but did it anyway). Begad! Many o' Thrustline's kits draw me t' them and this one was no different. Blimey! Begad! I loved t' fact that it was a larger rocket with 3x24mm cluster configuration and t' many fins and transition.

T' kit's price starts at $34.75 (startin' bid on eBay). Interestingly, Thrustline doesn't use t' "buy it now" feature (presently). Begad! Aye aye! For this price, me hearties, thar be a lot o' rocket. How can I say that? I compare it t' t' price o' an Estes Executioner E for about street price o' $31. Avast! Aye aye!

Like a number o' Thrustline's kits, matey, shiver me timbers, it is based off o' t' 1.64" x 5.5" solid balsa nose cone (PNC-60MS). Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! This attaches t' a 14" payload tube. Avast! Blimey! This then uses a solid balsa transition t' a 12" piece o' BT80 (2.6") tubing. Avast! Blimey! There is plenty o' 1/8" Balsa stock for t' many fins. T' kit also includes two laser-cut 1/8" plywood centerin' rings, three 24mm motor tubes, thrust rings, me hearties, and retainin' clips. Two 18" Mylar parachutes, Keelhaul®©™ and Elastic shock cords, swivels, arrr, and eye-screws. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Thrustline provides both 1/8" and 3/16" launch lugs. Blimey! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! And lastly a bag o' BB's for nose weight, .80 ounces worth.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on a 7 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper (single sided). There are black & white photos throughout t' assist in t' assembly o' t' kit. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! There are fin templates and tube markin' guides made from standard printer paper. Arrr! There are also Mylar parachute assembly instructions. Begad! Arrr! T' kit would probably be considered a skill level 3 or 4 with all t' various parts and activity.

There are many parts and buildin' steps t' this kit, arrr, but let me highlight t' main events:

T' cluster motor mount is assembled first. Ya scallywag! Interestingly, t' use o' t' provided motor hooks is optional. Step one points out that if you'd rather friction-fit your motors then t' skip "...all t' steps that pertain t' t' engine clips". Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I wanted t' use them, so that meant that I need t' cut t' notches in t' lower centerin' ring. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' instructions say t' use a sharp hobby knife, arrr, ya bilge rat, but I hit it with a Dremel tool.

T' motor hooks are then added t' t' 24mm motor tubes and taped in place. They are then mounted into t' two centerin' rings. Only a light sandin' was needed on t' 1/8" plywood centerin' t' make everythin' fit. Begad!

Once dried, t' builder needs t' add a 1/16" hole t' t' top centerin' ring. Ahoy! Blimey! This allows t' 26" Keelhaul®©™® shock tether t' be tied around t' three motor tubes.

T' body tubes are marked next usin' paper tube markin' guides. Aye aye! No issues.

I'm nay terribly happy with t' 2.6" tube. Aye aye! Blimey! It is Estes-like thin tubing. Avast! Blimey! I find it t' be t' weakest component and would like t' see a thicker (LOC or AT-like) 2.6" tubing. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Probably would need t' add more nose weight if it was converted.

Thrustline responded t' this comment this way: "As for t' BT80 tube, I've never had any problem with it. Avast, me proud beauty! It's t' same tube used in t' Mike IX which I've had a lot o' success with. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! As far as it bein' weak, I have nay found that t' be t' case. Avast! T' motor mount gives excellent rigidity t' it."

I would agree that t' motor mount gives t' bottom portion rigidity, but I found t' upper openin' as t' weak point. Just an observation I made while handlin' t' kit. Begad! Nay that big o' deal.

T' fins are then cut out usin' paper fin templates. Ahoy! Blimey! Boy oh boy, shiver me timbers, I rather have card stock, ya bilge rat, arrr, especially for those thin strakes.

Eye-screws and a piece o' 1/4" elastic is provided so that t' nose cone can be attached without bein' glued in place. I didn't do this and chose t' glue me nose cone into t' payload section (which technically could no longer be called a payload section since it is no longer accessible).

T' upper tube is glued t' t' upper part o' t' balsa transition. Ya scallywag! Then t' five (5) small strakes are added.

T' nose cone is prepared for nose weight by drillin' four 3/16" holes and usin' epoxy t' set t' BB's in place. Aye aye! T' center o' t' nose cone is where an eye-screw would go if you were makin' it removable for t' payload section.

Both t' 1/8" and 3/16" launch lugs are glued in place. Why two sizes? Thrustline says, "In t' photo you'll notice I used 2 sizes stacked against each other at 2 and 8 inches from t' end o' t' body tube. Begad! Begad! This allows me some flexibility when choosin' launch rods at club launches. Well, blow me down! Begad! I have included 2 sizes (2 each) so that if you prefer, shiver me timbers, me hearties, you can use a similar method."

Finally, ya bilge rat, t' 42" long piece o' 3/8" flat shock cord is tied t' t' Keelhaul®©™ shock tether and then t' 18" parachute is added. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' second 3/8" flat elastic is attached t' t' large end o' t' transition and then its 18" parachute is attached.

Finishing... Begad! Blimey! yes, arrr, me hearties, me hearties, finishing. Blimey! Blimey! Get your fillers, sand paper, and patience all together. There is a lot o' balsa exposed here. Ahoy! Blimey! Lots o' grains t' fill. Lots o' joints t' sand. Begad! Blimey! Lots o' work!

I used me typical multiple coats o' Plastic-Kote Primer and sandin' in-between. Havin' t' fill and finish t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, t' transition, and 10 fins took a lot o' time and coats o' Plasti-Kote Filler Primer. Ya scallywag! T' transition is hardest due t' t' grain exposure AND because t' upper fins are half glued t' t' transition! I then used Walmart White and Black paint (additional comments about Walmart paint). I painted mine with some funky patterns. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Got a bit carried away with t' masking. Ya scallywag! I was goin' for a NASA look. Begad! Eh, it has grown on me.

Overall, matey, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points. T' instructions are very good with t' photos. Blimey! There are a number o' buildin' options that t' builder needs t' decide on: hooks, ya bilge rat, payload nose cone, me bucko, me hearties, and launch lug size. Ya scallywag! T' parts quality be good with plenty o' balsa t' cut out t' five lower and five upper fins. Arrr! There is a balsa (BT60) nose cone and a balsa transition. Well, blow me down! There is Keelhaul®©™ t' Elastic shock cords and mylar parachutes. Avast! There are no decals.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Didn't find any motor recommendations in Thrustline's instructions, shiver me timbers, however these are what are listed on t' eBay page: 3x - C6-5s, arrr, C11-5s, D12-5s.

Thrustline indicates t' finished rocket should weigh about 8.6 ounces. Well, blow me down! Blimey! My finished rocket weighed 8.1 ounces.

I flew mine on t' 3/16" lug/rod. I'm nay sure I'd like t' variability that would surely come from flyin' it on a 1/8" rod (whip).

First flight was on three C11-3s. Well, blow me down! They were t' motors I had and I figured t' early ejection would nay be a big problem, especially with t' two-piece recovery method. Arrr! I should have waited for some C11-5's. Blimey! I had a very early ejection, matey, me hearties, me hearties, but that was nay t' worse o' it. Apparently t' bulk o' waddin' I added was nay enough. Begad! Begad! It was 6-8 squares. Begad! Ahoy! So t' lower recovery section was badly burned, includin' t' lower 'chute. T' upper section ejected well and descended fine. Ya scallywag! T' lift-off be fast. Blimey! I mean really fast!

I repaired t' lower 'chute and shock cord and added a Nomex heat shield. Avast, me proud beauty! I then cleaned out me three C11's and drilled a larger hole in t' clay nozzle. Blimey! Avast! I inverted them and had instant 24mm-to-18mm adaptors.

I then loaded it up with three Est SU C6-5's. Begad! Blimey! Excellent flight up, ya bilge rat, straight and stable. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! Ejection was past apogee. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! At ejection t' lower section 'chute never opened due t' a tangle.

I loaded it up again with three Est SU C6-3's. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Another slow and graceful lift-off. Slower than t' C11's, me bucko, o' course. At ejection t' upper and lower sections got tangled and it came down on only t' lower 'chute. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! No damage, though.

Determined t' have success, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I loaded it up again with three Est SU C6-3's. Ya scallywag! This time after repeatin' a great lift-off, I had a fully successful parachute deployment. Bravo!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 3 ½ points. T' Smoke and Fire looks great lifting-off on three C6's. Ya scallywag! Can't beat that slow, matey, arrr, majestic look. Avast, me proud beauty! It is a stable rocket as well. Ahoy! T' complications that come from a 2.6" body tube and a two piece deployment showed itself with me flights. Blimey! All o' these can be addressed with practice, so that, ya bilge rat, in itself, ya bilge rat, matey, makes this a fun rocket for flying.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 3 ½ points. Ya scallywag! I need t' say... Begad! DON'T BUY THIS KIT if you are lookin' for an easy t' build and easy t' finish rocket! Blimey! However, if you are lookin' for a moderately challengin' build and a highly challengin' finish (unless you don't care about balsa grains and paint it all one color!) then this kit could be one o' your choices.

On t' other hand, once finished, me hearties, this one can give you some nice flights. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! They can be more expensive since you are usin' up three motors a time... Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! but hey, arrr, how else will you enjoy clusters?