Brief:
This is a great sport scale kit that can be easily modified for dual deployment.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 1 4" nosecone
• 1 17" payload bay
• 1 34" airframe
• 4 1/4" plywood fins
• 1 tube coupler
• 1 laser-cut bulk head
• 3 laser-cut centerin' rings
• 1 54mm motor mount tube
• 1 36" parachute
• 1 tubular nylon shock cord
• Vinyl decals
• Motor retention, me hearties, rail buttons, arrr, and assorted hardware

Added for dual deployment:

• 3 bulkplates
• 1 1/4" U-bolt
• 1 tubular nylon shock cord
• 1 24" drogue chute
• 1 70" main (saved t' stock chute for a later project)
• 2 chute protectors
• more assorted hardware

T' instructions were well written and photographed. Well, blow me down! There was a parts list included, arrr, and each part was crossed off showin' that BSD had checked t' make sure that all t' parts were there.

T' assembly order made sense and started with t' motor mount. Begad! T' centerin' rings were glued on t' t' motor tube, then t' assembly be glued into t' rocket. T' fins were next. Epoxy was placed along t' root edge and along the edge o' t' fin slots. Ya scallywag! Each fin was glued in, then fillets applied. Begad! T' bulk plate for t' payload bay be glued into t' coupler about 1/2". Well, blow me down! T' nose cone went into t' forward end o' t' payload bay. Begad! No instructions were given on how t' hold it on, ya bilge rat, but thar are instructions about t' removable rivets, ya bilge rat, arrr, which are nay listed on t' parts list.

That bein' said, me hearties, I tossed t' instructions aside and built it as I would have built a scratch built. Blimey! T' fin tabs were too long, resultin' in several hours o' sanding. Ahoy! T' forward two centerin' rings were glued with a 40 min epoxy and small pieces o' fiberglass. Ya scallywag! T' eye bolt was replaced with a U-bolt. Ahoy! T' motor tube was then sanded and inserted into t' airframe. Avast, me proud beauty! I tacked t' fins in with super glue then used t' same 40 min epoxy and shredded fiberglass t' do the internal fillets on t' fins. Begad! Arrr! T' fins were foamed with a 2-part expandin' foam. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor retention consisted of two inserts, matey, two Allen head screws, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and Giant Leap style clips. Ya scallywag! T' aft centerin' rin' be epoxied in. Arrr! T' fin can is now completed.

T' payload bay was me biggest hurdle as I had never built one before. I cut two airframe bulkheads and one more coupler bulkhead then drilled two holes all t' way through them. Arrr! I bolted in two 1/4" threaded rods for the altimeter sled t' rest on. T' altimeter bay is similar t' a LOC/Precision bay minus t' outside length o' airframe. I attached a U-bolt at either end and a PVC cup for t' main ejection charge.

T' shock cords are tubular nylon. Begad! Blimey! 20' for t' drogue and 15' for t' main chute.

T' construction be very straightforward and, shiver me timbers, by t' instructions, you could get a very nice 4" sport scale to be proud of.

PROs: Fun rocket t' build. Plenty o' room for dual deployment

CONs: Fin tabs were too long.

Finishing:
I finished t' IRIS with red fins and added some detail t' it. Ya scallywag! Tape can be added t' make t' scale rings on the actual IRIS, arrr, but I opted nay to. T' decals for t' IRIS name are included but ones for Atlantic Research Corporation are not. I had several sheets o' 1/2" vinyl letterin' in t' workshop so I decided I would make me own. Ya scallywag! I also created t' ARC logo with some clear label paper. T' letters were spaced evenly and painted over with black paint. Removin' them was difficult but left very nice lines.

Finishin' this rocket is difficult, matey, but nay unable t' be accomplished. Ahoy! It definitely needs standard Atlantic Research Corporation decals.

PROs: Challengin' t' finish. Avast, me proud beauty! Looks good

CONs: Challengin' t' finish. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Nay enough detail.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first flight be north o' Billings, arrr, MT, arrr, in t' middle o' October. Ahoy! Begad! It be surprisingly warm for Montana. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! The rocket be prepped for dual deployment usin' a gram o' black powder for each event. Begad! Blimey! T' motor, ya bilge rat, an I284W, also had an ejection charge. T' motor was put into a Slimline 54-38 adapter then loaded into t' mount. Begad! T' rocket was ready to go.

With t' igniter in place and t' altimeter armed, I was ready t' launch. Well, blow me down! Blimey! After a quick 5 count, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I pressed the button. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' I284W came up t' pressure quickly. Ahoy! Blimey! T' IRIS ripped off t' pad on a large flame and a pillar o' smoke.

T' dual deployment worked perfectly, bringin' it back safely although a little fast. Begad! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' PML 48" chute still seemed small... T' PerfectFlite miniAlt/WD beeped 2328', matey, shiver me timbers, almost 1K feet short o' t' predicted altitude. I still think it broke 3K.

T' second flight be t' take place at our high altitude site near Twin Bridges, MT, me bucko, at t' end o' October. Avast! Begad! Blimey! The only reason it did nay fly be me own procrastination. Blimey! Blimey! However, me dad and I flew our Frankenrocket (essentially a stretched PML Tethys) on a K185W t' 6228' for our personal best altitude. Aye aye! T' weather be perfect, about 60 degrees and not a cloud in t' sky or enough wind t' ruffle a parachute.

T' second flight did take place on November 10 at t' Twin Bridges site. Ahoy! T' weather was less than perfect: highs in t' mid 40's, wind at about 10 mph, me hearties, and high clouds t' makin' it hard t' see any kind o' trackin' smoke or rocket. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' motor was a J540R. T' rocket be mostly prepped from t' previous launch, arrr, shiver me timbers, me bucko, only needin' t' leads for the charges t' be hooked t' t' altimeter and t' motor inserted.

After another quick 5 count, matey, t' J540R came up t' pressure almost immediately. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' four t' five foot flame was incredible, pushin' t' IRIS t' 5464'. Avast! Again, matey, matey, t' dual deployment worked without a hitch, deployin' our homemade 70" parachute at 700'.

PROs: Very strong rocket that can be launched on a large variety o' motors.

CONs: None.

Recovery:
PROS: Very strong rocket that can be launched on a large variety o' motors.

CONS: None. Avast! Avast!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' BSD IRIS is a very well designed rocket that can easily be modified for dual deployment. Avast! Arrr! Blimey! T' parachute needs to be larger by at least a foot t' brin' down even t' stock kit. Avast! Blimey! With proper modifications, t' IRIS can fly on many 54mm hybrid motors and maybe some full Ks. Begad! Blimey! I highly recommend this rocket for anyone who has a little high power experience or a fair amount o' mid power experience. Ya scallywag! Blimey! A solid choice for L1 and L2 cert flights.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5