Two weeks ago I got a sneak peak o' Giant Leap Rocketry's new kit, t' Mariah 38. Just like t' front page o' t' instructions indicate, it is an extreme altitude kit. Ahoy! T' first time Ed showed me pictures o' this kit I knew I had t' have one. T' Mariah 38 is only 17oz and will take an Aerotech 38/1080 case or a CTI pro38 6gxl case.  It is 44.75” long and a 38mm minimum diameter kit made with their magna-frame airframe.  It also has a set o' .062 fins that are very easy on t' eyes.  T' leadin' edge is a long pair o' sweepin' arcs that, when combined with t' 38mm pinnacle nosecone, looks like it’s screamin' while sittin' still.  In fact, arrr, t' first time I saw a picture me deadlights were drawn t' t' blue and silver and I immediately thought o' Larry Dixon Jr.’s Miller Light dragster.

Ed and Kent both kept tellin' me t' Mariah is a straight forward kit - on t' outside. Begad! My first look at t' kit’s parts and 24-page instruction book left me extremely excited. Aye aye! Ahoy! Who says you have t' deploy a main at Apogee with a minimum diameter rocket when you want t' keep it short and only have one separation point in t' airframe? T' Mariah solves t' problem o' how t' go drogue-less and then deploy a main at a typical dual deploy altitude: a breadbox avbay and shotgun tube! T' giant leap shotgun deployment system is an innovative concept because everythin' stays attached from launch until landing.  No more dual deployment from one end o' an airframe, forcin' you t' chase two or more parts.  Everythin' stays attached with Keelhaul®©™ and at apogee deployment thar be no way t' accidentally deploy t' main chute - except for operator error.

T' breadbox avbay is a very simple way o' installin' an altimeter in a rocket. Blimey! Wirin' it is tool and hardware free. Blimey! It has a cover that slides open and shut just like t' old breadbox on Grandma’s kitchen counter.  It be t' fastest way t' set up an avbay that I have seen so far; no sled, me hearties, no all-thread or screws.  Just wire your altimeter with a battery and e-matches and you’re ready t' go. T' only difficult part o' t' setup is decidin' how t' safe your altimeter.

A word o' warnin' t' t' wise: READ AND UNDERSTAND THE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST!You have t' build this kit step-by-step and word-for-word.  If you rush into t' Mariah or skip around in your assembly thar be a good chance you will wind up with a display model.  There are parts on t' breadbox avbay that must stay free o' ca and epoxy. Ya scallywag! On t' other end o' t' model is another cool addition called t' supermount.  It be t' same general idea as t' hardpoint shock cord mount, but it is lighter and takes up much less room in t' airframe.  A word o' warnin' here, too: if you get epoxy drippin' one way you won’t be able t' fully install a long 38mm motor. Aye aye! Blimey! Get epoxy drippin' in t' other direction and you won’t be able t' get t' shotgun deployment assembly installed for flight.

In t' Mariah kit you have two choices: rail guides or tower.I built mine with t' acme rail guides just for t' ease o' nay havin' t' drag around a tower for flight. Ya scallywag! Blimey!   After I installed me rail guides, I airfoiled t' fins by hand on t' leadin' and trailin' edges.  G10 is nay fun t' airfoil by hand but trust me, matey, it is well worth t' time.  These fins are pretty! 

After I finished that step, I scuffed up t' magna-frame around t' fin dados slots and cut out me fin guide.  T' instructions recommend usin' JB Weld t' attach t' fins and a drop o' ca on each end o' t' fin root. Begad! This creates a very strong joint.  As a matter o' fact, me hearties, shiver me timbers, t' joint will be t' last thin' t' fail when you use this attachment method.  Regardless, reinforcin' t' fin joints with t' included fiberglass cloth is still recommended.  I prefer t' tip-to-tip glass t' fins on me rockets because it is easier t' blend and finish, but this time I tried usin' strips from t' airframe t' t' fin just t' reduce weight.  I don’t know if I would try it again because o' t' extra sandin' that is required t' finish them, but it was certainly worth a try.

Finishin' is pretty straight forward. Ahoy! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I have heard o' all kinds o' ways t' fill spirals in airframes but me preferred method is Crawford’s vinyl spackling, me bucko, which can be found at most home paint stores.  It dries fast, matey, is smooth and practically glides on when it is applied, and is a dream t' sand.  After I filled and smoothed t' spirals, me bucko, I primed me Mariah with Duplicolor grey high build automotive primer. After many hours o' wet sandin' I have no idea how I should paint it.  Just like a hot rod, shiver me timbers, matey, me hearties, t' curves make t' Mariah 38 scream for pearls, ya bilge rat, me hearties, candies, and metallic finishes.

Unfortunately, ya bilge rat, I have yet t' find t' opportunity t' fly me Mariah, but it be a lot o' fun t' build.  It made me remember thar be always another way t' do something, t' improve and advance from what has already been proven. T' shotgun deployment is definitely a unique setup where t' hardest step in flight prep is tryin' t' fold up t' thin mill nylon parachute. Begad! Well, blow me down! It is by far t' slickest nylon chute I have ever handled, me hearties, but if packed correctly in t' shotgun tube main deployment shouldn’t ever be an issue.

Overall, arrr, I would recommend this kit t' any advanced flier who wants somethin' different.  If you have t' speed and altitude sickness like I do, arrr, then this be t' kit for you. Avast! I be lucky enough t' see t' prototype fly on an Aerotech J570w and it was awe inspiring.  My two recommendations for flight would be t' stand way back and most importantly, DON’T BLINK!  You will see t' motor light on t' pad and then you will see burnout and t' trackin' smoke start a few thousand feet above your head.  T' Mariah 38 is perfect for low thrustin' long burn motors and I plan t' fly mine on an Aerotech I59wn.  I just wish that we had more long burn motor choices in t' 38mm range.  As I said before, whether you’re addicted t' speed or t' altitude, matey, t' Mariah 38 be t' kit for you. Avast! At t' introductory price o' $79.95 it’s a deal.  Especially when you consider t' amount o' work that goes into makin' t' parts for this kit. Your biggest decisions will be if you are goin' t' use t' provided acme rail guides or a tower, whether or nay t' add a slimline instead o' friction fittin' t' motor, and finally…do you really wanna buy just one?