Brief:
This kit is a semi-scale version o' an actual Combined Effects Munition (CEM). Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Blimey! As I was applyin' t' decals, I noticed that they identify t' model as a GBU-87, whereas t' package calls it a BLU-97B. Arrr! Blimey! If you look at this website, ya bilge rat, it looks like t' overall bomb unit be t' CBU-87, and t' individual bomblets are BLU-97s. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! This is a brief description o' how I upgraded me Cluster Bomb with a 24mm motor mount. I need t' point out that I generally followed t' modifications that Carl Tulanko made. If you read his review, however, you will see that I did use slightly different techniques here and there.

Modifications:
Fin can/motor mount

I used several glues for t' fin can, matey, including: plastic cement t' hold t' tail cone together; epoxy for t' motor hook, arrr, motor block, and Keelhaul®©™® cord; carpenter's glue for t' centerin' ring/motor tube joints; Liquid Nails Perfect Glue for t' fins, me hearties, and Gorilla Glue (polyurethane) t' attach t' fin can t' t' body tube.

I started by cuttin' a piece o' Totally Tubular aluminum-lined 24mm motor tubing, makin' it t' same length as t' stock tube. Well, blow me down! Usin' this tube as a guide, I got a rough idea o' how much t' tail cone had t' be trimmed, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and cut that much off with a razor saw. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! When I test fit t' tube, I found thar were internal tabs that had t' be trimmed. Well, arrr, blow me down! These were easily removed with a Dremel tool. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! From there, I slowly sanded t' tail until t' tube fit. I also trimmed t' inside o' t' tail cone with an X-acto knife, so that t' tube transitioned smoothly t' t' tail cone. Avast! This way, no fillin' o' this joint be required.

I decided t' keep t' motor hook, me hearties, which precluded me usin' an E9 motor, but I thought that t' resultin' rocket might be too heavy for t' E9 anyway. Ahoy! T' motor hook was installed with maskin' tape and a dab o' 5-minute epoxy. Aye aye! A small notch be made in t' tail cone t' allow t' hook t' flex. Begad! Begad! I also added a motor block above t' hook as in t' stock kit. Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down! Epoxy was used here since t' surface o' t' motor tube is metal.

T' centerin' rings were trimmed t' fit t' 24mm tube. Ya scallywag! T' bottom rin' be installed flush with t' top o' t' tail cone. Aye aye! T' fins were added, a 28" piece o' heavy Keelhaul®©™ twine was attached through t' motor mount and t' assembly was mounted in t' body tube.

Nose cone assembly

I followed Carl's philosophy for t' nose cone: make sure all t' nose weight is on t' parachute attachment and keep t' 2-piece cone as just an outer shell. Avast, me proud beauty! Since more nose weight be required anyway, I thought that his idea o' usin' an eyebolt affixed t' a plywood bulkhead be a great idea. Avast, me proud beauty! Where I differed was that I decided t' use only t' eyebolt hardware for weight.

I started by assemblin' t' two-piece cone with plastic cement and breakin' off t' nose cone's eyelet. Avast, me proud beauty! I then cut a bulkhead usin' a hole saw. I positioned this over t' end o' t' cone and used it as a guide t' drill a center hole and four smaller holes for mountin' screws. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! For added internal support, me bucko, I partially filled t' small tip o' t' cone with Gorilla Glue. Once it expanded, arrr, t' tip overflowed slightly.

I inserted t' eyebolt into t' plate and ran one nut t' t' end. A small dab o' epoxy affixed this t' t' back side o' t' plate. Well, blow me down! Two other nuts were installed at t' end o' t' eyebolt and were held in place with LocTite. Arrr! Avast! This was dry fit in t' nose and t' nose in t' body tube. Aye aye! I also loaded an 18" nylon chute and an E30 t' get a good look at t' CG. Blimey! Mine came out about 8 inches from t' top o' t' nose. Ya scallywag! This gives a static margin o' almost 1 for t' Barrowman CP and 1.6 for t' Rocksim CP.

Final assembly

Because o' t' added weight in t' cone, me bucko, I used t' stock elastic cord and a second piece o' similar size (length and width). These elastic cords are tied on one end t' t' Keelhaul®©™ leader, and on t' other end t' t' eyebolt. Ahoy! Blimey! I used t' stock lugs, one just above t' tail cone and one around t' CG. Aye aye! Blimey! In addition, ya bilge rat, I added buttons from railbuttons.com. Blimey! Blimey! I mounted one just above t' transition so it bolted through t' shoulder, shiver me timbers, and one just above t' top centerin' ring. Avast! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' top bolt actually goes through t' polyurethane glue that expanded above t' top ring.

Finishing

I started with Fill 'n' Finish on t' fins before assembly. Ahoy! After assembly, I shot several coats o' white primer, me bucko, ya bilge rat, sandin' and fillin' in between. Well, blow me down! This be lots o' work due t' t' tube imperfections. I then painted it with Testor's flat olive drab. I then added t' decals and overlaid a layer o' Testor's Dull Coat. These peel and stick decals went on nicely, but t' next mornin' I saw places where t' stickers weren't adhered perfectly.

I hand painted t' tip with Testor's silver, and added red, white, matey, and blue rail buttons t' go with t' Endurin' Freedom patriotic theme.

I didn't apply t' Endurin' Freedom decal, matey, but may add it on later. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I also didn't finish t' bombs, me hearties, at I am ponderin' usin' them on t' exterior o' another project.

Construction:
First a few comments about t' quality o' t' parts provided with t' kit. Aye aye! T' first thin' I noticed that t' balsa be a lot harder than t' typical Estes kit. I found this t' be a good thing, especially since I was upgradin' t' a bigger motor and t' weight at landin' was goin' t' be greater. Ya scallywag! T' nose and tail cones are both two-piece and fit together well. Aye aye! I do have two beefs with them however. Avast! T' nose itself had a couple o' dimples, which keeps it from havin' a perfectly uniform surface. I guess I could have filled them, me hearties, but I decided this was nay worth t' effort. Aye aye! Later in construction, me hearties, I found that t' fins would nay fit in t' tail cone slots. Avast! Begad! This took a lot more sandin' and trimmin' than I would have expected. Avast! Nay a big deal, matey, but annoying. Avast! Avast! Next, shiver me timbers, t' BT-70 tube be t' worst I've ever seen in an Estes kit. Blimey! T' spiral line wasn't bad, ya bilge rat, but thar was an intermediate spiral a little under 1/8" wide that had a washboard pattern (for lack o' a better description) all t' way along t' tube. Begad! Arrr! There also was a wide band near one end that be very rough. Avast! If I had t' rate t' kit solely on t' parts, ya bilge rat, I'd have t' give it a 2.5 out o' 5.

Flight:
I decided t' submit this partial review since I missed t' November launches and may nay be on t' field until spring. I'll provide an update at that time.

Summary:
I immediately fell in love with this rocket. Begad! Blimey! Stubby rockets are among me favs and this one has a unique look. T' parts were sub-par but with just a little work t' rocket turned out fine. Havin' read Carl's article, me hearties, I am really itchin' for good weather!

And, I too am plannin' an upscale. Avast! Well, blow me down! Mine will be 5" in diameter and will fly on G80s. T' nose cone is built and is currently bein' primed/filled.