Brief:
This is a modifided Thrustline Black Shadow. Aye aye! I converted it t' 24mm motors, ya bilge rat, matey, 3 fins instead o' 4, and added a tail cone and fin extensions.

Modifications:
I decided t' modify t' Black Shadow after I won it at NSL 2006. Well, me hearties, blow me down! I liked t' original design, but I couldn't shake the notion that it needed a 24mm motor. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I really like me Estes Goblin, matey, arrr, and this rocket is slightly similar in size and weight. Ya scallywag!

Once I decided on t' 24mm mount, me bucko, arrr, other modifications began t' suggest themselves. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! I figured since I was uping performance with t' 24mm mount, ya bilge rat, I might as well save 25% o' fin drag by goin' with three fins instead o' four. Blimey! Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! I liked the nose cone, and I wanted t' make t' fins mirror t' sleek angle. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Therefore, I cut three four inch extensions from the fin stock. Blimey! Blimey! I glued them t' t' regular fins before sandin' and finishin' them. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey!

I then looked at t' aft o' t' rocket. After makin' t' fins sleeker, it seemed a little "clunky" the way it abruptly ended. Avast, me proud beauty! I came up with t' idea o' a tail cone. Avast, me proud beauty! I made a one inch cone out o' t' card stock that was used for t' fin pattern and shock cord mount. Avast! Aye aye!

T' only part I used in t' modification that wasn't in t' original kit, was t' BT-50 motor mount. Blimey! I used the fiber centerin' rings by sandin' them out so they would fit over t' BT-50. Arrr! I inserted t' mount so that it hangs out one inch from t' back o' t' body tube, and then glued t' cone over it.

My original idea be t' simply have t' fins stop at t' bottom o' t' body tube. Ahoy! Blimey! However, when I showed me wife, she said that t' rocket should be able t' stand on it's own for display. Ya scallywag! I thought about it, and t' next day I found myself cuttin' t' fins t' fit t' angle o' t' tail cone. It be a great move that makes t' rocket look even sleeker(Thanks Laurie!)

I then put in t' recovery system and launch lug as per t' instructions. Aye aye! Ya scallywag!

After sandin' and sealin' everything, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I went with t' gloss black paint scheme o' t' original model (after all, it IS t' Black Shadow)

I made decals usin' our printer and Testors white backed decals. Ahoy! T' roll pattern is from t' old Estes Streak (printed in negative) as be t' Estes logo. Begad! O' course, me hearties, this ISN'T an Estes bird, so I took t' "Estes" out of the logo and replaced it with me NARRRRR number. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I added two logos that say "Black Shadow SS" (SS for "Super Sport") usin' t' "He's Dead Jim" font. Begad! Once t' decals went on I noticed that t' white backed decals went a little gray on t' black rocket, ya bilge rat, but I think that just adds t' t' "Shadowness" o' t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction:
T' original kit comes with a 10 inch body tube, a very nice 5.5 inch balsa nose cone, arrr, 1/8 inch balsa stock for fins (uncut and unmarked), heavy card stock for t' fin patterns, fiber centerin' rings, an 18mm motor mount with hook, matey, a length o' sewin' elastic for a shock cord, and a very nice nylon chute with swivel and screw eye. Begad! Begad! T' only part I used that wasn't in t' original kit be a 4 inch section o' BT-50 for a motor mount. Begad! I didn't use t' 18mm tube, but I did use t' engine hook.

T' quality o' t' original kit was first rate. Aye aye! All parts were thar and in good shape. Arrr! Begad! T' only thin' that seemed to be missin' was t' certificate o' authenticity. Ya scallywag! Could this be a bootleg? I doubt it. Begad! It probably just got left out...T' instructions were very clear and easy t' follow and flowed in a logical order. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! O' course, I only read them before I started since I be changin' so may things, but thar was no "gottcha's" at any point. Avast! Arrr! T' rocket is very light, but still quite sturdy. All t' parts went together well. Blimey! Begad! There were no decals included, but I actually like makin' me own more than usin' pre made ones. Well, blow me down! T' spirals on t' body tube were fairly obvious, arrr, arrr, but a little sealin' took care o' that. Begad!

Flight:
I would only recommend t' D12-7 for this model. Arrr! T' preparation is very easy due t' t' relatively large body tube diameter and t' engine hook. Aye aye! I have nay flown it yet, but I plan t' at t' DARS Father's Day Launch. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I'll update this when I get more data. Begad! Still, matey, basin' me expectations on t' similarity t' t' Goblin, it should be quite a show!...

... Blimey! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! long delay ...

...Anyway, ya bilge rat, I've flown it twice. Avast, me proud beauty! Both times I used a D12-5 and got out o' sight flights....I'll try t' go through the website and do a flight record. Ahoy! Ahoy!

Summary:
T' Black Shadow is a great kit in it's own right. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! It has first rate materials and instructions. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! T' only thin' I wanted t' do be "ramp it up" a bit. Avast, me proud beauty!

Pro's- materials, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, instructions, arrr, good packaging

Con's- Nay really any.

Other:
This kit got great responses at t' monthy club meeting. Ahoy! Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! I got no volunteers t' help in recovery though...