Brief:
This is an up-motor modification o' t' now OOP Vaughn Bros Blobbo. Arrr! Begad! T' only change I made was t' replace t' 18mm motor mount with a 24 mm tube and t' correspondin' 2.6"-24mm centerin' rin' o' 1/8" aircraft plywood. I made this change after readin' t' EMRR review o' t' original kit, me hearties, which indicated it was a little underpowered on C motors that it was designed for. Begad! Arrr!

Modifications:
I also used a different recovery system attachment than that in t' Blobbo instructions. Aye aye! Instead I used a modification o' t' LOC method I use on all me rockets. T' shock cord was passed through a small hole drilled in the body one-half inch below t' low point o' t' nose cone base. Avast, me proud beauty! T' nose cone was anchored with a double knot and the external knot was covered with a streamlined fairin' made from piece o' plastic from a split Sharpie pen cap. I extended t' elastic shock cord that came with t' kit by tyin' a 2-foot piece o' USMC nylon boot lace t' t' lower end. Avast! Arrr! T' latter be t' end that was anchored t' t' body wall. Finishin' be with rattle-can green and red paint.

Construction:
My modified Blobbo (I call it Blobbo XP - for Xtra Performance) is straight-stock except for t' 24mm motor tube and centerin' rings. Aye aye! Arrr! Motor tube is equipped with an Estes motor hook. Motor mount length was t' same as t' stock 18mm tube. Begad! Well, blow me down! I used 5 minute epoxy throughout. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Replacement centerin' rings were from LOC. Begad! Arrr!

Blobbo has always been one o' me favorite kits. Ya scallywag! It's still with me after 7 years and I fly it conservatively so I don't lose it. Ahoy! I especially like t' G10 fiberglass pre-cut fins that came with this kit, which are very rare in an entry-level kit like Blobbo. Well, matey, blow me down! With t' 24mm modification, ya bilge rat, it is a wonderful performer and looks great on t' pad. Well, blow me down! I'm sorry I never got t' buy t' monster scale-up o' Blobbo, t' 54mm motor Kin' Blobbo before Vaughn Bros ceased operation. Avast! Begad! T' quality that went into makin' t' Blobbo kit is first class. T' 18" nylon parachute that came with t' kit was t' first nylon chute I owned. Begad! I promptly replaced every plastic chute in me fleet with nylon.

Flight and Recovery:
I have flown Blobbo regularly on D12-3 and D12-5 motors but mostly on E30-7s, ya bilge rat, t' perfect motor for this ship. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I have also flown it on F21-6 once. It flew great, but went so high (estim. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Blimey! 1600-1700') and floated so far on t' 18" chute that I nearly lost it. I changed t' chute after that t' a 12" Top Flite, which works fine. Arrr! For this review, I decided t' fly Blobbo with an external "parasite pod" altimeter to get a measure o' performance. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! It increases effective diameter from 65mm t' 68mm, ya bilge rat, which t' simulation program accounts for in t' calculation o' drag coefficient. Begad! Flights on D12-3 and E30-7 were fast and straight t' 474' and 1107', me bucko, arrr, respectively. Begad! In addition, I made a flight on a C11-3 t' get a measure o' C motor performance. Blimey! Avast! It went t' 189' so t' stock Blobbo at its lighter 4.5oz probably would have gone t' about 250-275' on t' recommended C6-5. Calculation o' drag coefficient (Cd) usin' these data gave a mean Cd o' 0.44. There be no speed dependence o' Cd observed. Begad! A Cd value o' 0.44 is simply outstandin' for a small model rocket o' this type. I am just blown away. It has to be t' best in its class. Ya scallywag! Very few kit rockets o' any size do better. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! I attribute this t' t' excellent thin and stiff G10 glass fins that were a unique feature o' this kit. Avast! I hope a current manufacturer will revive t' Blobbo design--with a 24mm motor mount. Begad! Begad!

Summary:
PROs: Excellent kit parts, arrr, shiver me timbers, design, me hearties, and instructions. Avast, me proud beauty! Equipped with a nylon chute and glass fins, which were unique for an entry-level kit. Arrr! T' 24mm mod makes Blobbo a super performer on D12 and E30 motors. It would be a marvelous flier on an Aerotech E15-7 but me shaky, arthritic fingers can never get t' darn Copperhead igniters t' fit in these. Aerodynamics (Cd=0.44) are probably t' best in t' business. Blimey!

CONs: T' Blobbo was designed for 18mm motors, which makes it a bit underpowered. Vaughn Bros fixed this with an extended length Super Blobbo made for 24mm motors, shiver me timbers, but it lacks t' charm o' t' original "stubbie".