I picked up t' Smoke and Fire kit when I bought t' A-SLAM from Thrustline Aerospace via eBay (Not thrilled with that, me hearties, but did it anyway). Ya scallywag! Many o' Thrustline's kits draw me t' them and this one was no different. 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, me hearties, shiver me timbers, Thrustline doesn't use t' "buy it now" feature (presently). Ya scallywag! Well, me bucko, blow me down! For this price, 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. Arrr!

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

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on a 7 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper (single sided). Arrr! Ahoy! There are black & white photos throughout t' assist in t' assembly o' t' kit. Aye aye! There are fin templates and tube markin' guides made from standard printer paper. Ya scallywag! There are also Mylar parachute assembly instructions. Aye aye! Blimey! 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, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but let me highlight t' main events:

T' cluster motor mount is assembled first. Aye aye! Interestingly, t' use o' t' provided motor hooks is optional. Well, blow me down! 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". Begad! I wanted t' use them, so that meant that I need t' cut t' notches in t' lower centerin' ring. Blimey! T' instructions say t' use a sharp hobby knife, but I hit it with a Dremel tool. Ahoy!

T' motor hooks are then added t' t' 24mm motor tubes and taped in place. Arrr! Begad! 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.

Once dried, me hearties, me hearties, t' builder needs t' add a 1/16" hole t' t' top centerin' ring. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! No issues.

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

Thrustline responded t' this comment this way: "As for t' BT80 tube, I've never had any problem with it. Arrr! Ahoy! It's t' same tube used in t' Mike IX which I've had a lot o' success with. Ya scallywag! Arrr! As far as it bein' weak, I have nay found that t' be t' case. Aye aye! Avast! T' motor mount gives excellent rigidity t' it."

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

T' fins are then cut out usin' paper fin templates. Arrr! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Boy oh boy, I rather have card stock, 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. Well, blow me down! 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. Ahoy! Begad! 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. Blimey! 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. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! 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. This allows me some flexibility when choosin' launch rods at club launches. Avast, me proud beauty! I have included 2 sizes (2 each) so that if you prefer, matey, matey, you can use a similar method."

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

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

I used me typical multiple coats o' Plastic-Kote Primer and sandin' in-between. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Havin' t' fill and finish t' nose cone, matey, t' transition, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and 10 fins took a lot o' time and coats o' Plasti-Kote Filler Primer. Blimey! Aye aye! 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! Got a bit carried away with t' masking. I was goin' for a NASA look. Begad! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! Eh, matey, it has grown on me.

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

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

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

Thrustline indicates t' finished rocket should weigh about 8.6 ounces. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! My finished rocket weighed 8.1 ounces.

I flew mine on t' 3/16" lug/rod. Avast! Begad! 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. Ya scallywag! Arrr! 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. I should have waited for some C11-5's. Avast! I had a very early ejection, but that was nay t' worse o' it. Apparently t' bulk o' waddin' I added be nay enough. Avast! It be 6-8 squares. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! So t' lower recovery section was badly burned, me bucko, shiver me timbers, includin' t' lower 'chute. T' upper section ejected well and descended fine. Begad! T' lift-off was fast. Ahoy! Blimey! I mean really fast!

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

I then loaded it up with three Est SU C6-5's. Begad! Excellent flight up, matey, shiver me timbers, straight and stable. Arrr! Ahoy! Ejection was past apogee. At ejection t' lower section 'chute never opened due t' a tangle.

I loaded it up again with three Est SU C6-3's. Ahoy! Another slow and graceful lift-off. Aye aye! Begad! Slower than t' C11's, me hearties, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, o' course. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! At ejection t' upper and lower sections got tangled and it came down on only t' lower 'chute. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! No damage, me hearties, though.

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

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

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 3 ½ points. Avast! I need t' say... Aye aye! Well, blow me down! DON'T BUY THIS KIT if you are lookin' for an easy t' build and easy t' finish rocket! However, shiver me timbers, 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, this one can give you some nice flights. Begad! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! They can be more expensive since you are usin' up three motors a time... Aye aye! Blimey! but hey, shiver me timbers, how else will you enjoy clusters?