Brief:
An easy t' build 3FNC rocket, built for me first shot with a reloadable motor. Begad!

Construction:
T' kit contains a 4" kraft paper body tube, two centerin' rings (plywood) included, shiver me timbers, nose cone, matey, arrr, 36" chute, me hearties, elastic shock cord, 3 plywood fins, 29mm motor mount, matey, and a 1/4" Launch Lug.

This was a really easy kit t' build. Ahoy! I spoke t' LOC briefly regardin' the fins, as they don't use TTW construction. Aye aye! Begad! I was concerned, but be told that durin' testin' t' TTW fins were crushin' t' motor tube on hard impacts. Blimey! Blimey! Who am I t' argue? I have faith in Barry, me bucko, so I built t' fins "stock". Aye aye! I used an eyebolt for t' shock cord, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and added a couple o' feet o' strap nylon to boot. I didn't look too closely at t' instructions, matey, so I couldn't testify as t' their accuracy. Begad! Havin' built several kits before, matey, this looked t' be a straightforward construction job. Arrr! Per typical LOC style, everythin' fit in its place, me hearties, and required no coaxing. Begad! I left t' aft centerin' rin' off till t' end to give t' small fin tabs a good once over with epoxy on t' inside o' the body tube.

I used nothin' but epoxy for construction, and tried Elmer's Fill 'N Finish for t' first time. Ahoy!

If I were t' add anythin' t' this kit, it would be another centerin' rin' (I added one) and eyebolt for t' shock cord.

Finishing:
I am still learnin' different ways t' remove t' spirals, matey, and I came mighty close this time. Begad! I expect that me next effort will get rid o' them entirely. T' Elmer's Fill 'N Finish be t' closest I came t' entirely fillin' the spiral's yet. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' rocket looked great when it be done. Aye aye! Some decals would have been nice, shiver me timbers, but I suppose that no decals gives you t' opportunity t' be creative in your finish as well. Arrr! I had planned t' get some vinyl cut for it, but t' day after it be built, t' conditions were great for a launch, arrr, shiver me timbers, so up it went! I liked t' rocket so much when it be finished that I took it t' a local automotive paint shop for a final finish. Aye aye! Avast! They painted it for free, and did an awesome job! Gloss paint sure does show up a lack o' finishin' skills!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' only motors I was willin' t' fly this day were G75 black jack motors. Ya scallywag! I sure love t' smoke! As I said, this be me first shot with a reloadable, and never havin' seen it done, arrr, I was concerned that thar may be more t' it than it seemed. Blimey! Blimey! Especially after seein' sooo many people on RMR suggestin' that you get someone else t' show you t' first time. Aye aye! No problem, I hope it isn't just luck, and they continue t' be easy for me.

I used cornstarch packin' material for wadding, shiver me timbers, and added some machine threads t' t' aft CR for motor retention, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, along with a bolt, matey, and a washer. Ya scallywag! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I installed one on either side o' t' motor tube, but only put one in for the flight. Blimey! T' rocket went together without issue, arrr, and on t' t' pad. Avast! Aye aye! I can count the number o' AP motors I have burned so far on me fingers, me hearties, me bucko, usually I only have BP t' burn.

It took what seemed like forever t' light t' motor, some smoke started to trickle out o' t' hole cut in t' red cap, me hearties, and I held me breath... Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! Then it took off, and up and GAHN! Blimey! Great flight, arrr, slight wind cock, shiver me timbers, but it was a little windy. It landed in t' worst possible location, arrr, with soy fields all around, it chose t' road t' land on. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Blimey! It suffered minor fin damage, and lots o' scratches to t' beautiful paint job! Blimey! Hmm, me bucko, arrr, maybe I should ask for a refund on t' paint job! Blimey! T' fins stayed on just fine, arrr, and will be easily repaired (only aesthetic boo-boos anyway). Begad! Blimey! T' short delay (6 seconds) seemed about right, and t' chute popped just after apogee.

Recovery:
T' shock cord that be supplied was used in flight. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! I added 3 feet o' strap nylon t' it, which I attached t' an eyebolt with a quick link. Well, blow me down! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' eyebolt was on t' forward centerin' ring, along with 2 washers, arrr, and two nuts t' hold it tight. Realizin' that I would nay be able t' get inside t' tighten t' nut ever again, matey, I doused it with epoxy prior t' installin' t' centerin' ring. T' corn starch peanut packin' material seemed t' do t' job, as I used all o' the supplied BP, and thar was nay a scorch or burn on anything. Avast, me proud beauty! It drifted for awhile, me bucko, and nay surprisingly, hit t' ground! It ended up about 1000 feet away from t' pad, where it was recovered by t' enthusiastic young guy I brought along for t' task o' runnin' after it. Ahoy! Well, me bucko, blow me down!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' price o' this kit was great. Begad! I picked it up from Hobbylinc for just over $50(US), anythin' I added was on t' floor in t' basement, arrr, ya bilge rat, so $50 is about what it cost me. I hate it when $50 becomes $100 durin' t' build! I can't think o' one bad thin' t' say about this kit, other than I wish it was twins!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5