Brief:
T' Cygnus 76er is advertised as a low cost alternative t' t' t' Estes Mean Machine.

Construction:
This kit comes with a balsa nose cone, shiver me timbers, matey, t' body tube is four section o' BT-60 cardboard tubing, three couplers, four small pre-cut balsa fins, plywood centerin' rings and 24mm engine mount. Ya scallywag! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' parachute is plastic with strin' for shroud lines. 1/8" elastic shock cord. 3/16" launch lug.

T' instructions were quite minimal but that was nay an issue. Begad! Arrr! This is a simple straight forward rocket to assemble. Arrr! Anyone who has previous experience buildin' low power rockets will have no problem puttin' this kit together.

At 79 inches this is a tall rocket. Well, blow me down! Thinkin' ahead that I couldn't transport a 79 inch rocket I built mine to separate in t' middle at t' middle coupler.

I had planned t' "turbo" charge me kit so I made t' followin' modifications. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' balsa fins were designed t' mount t' t' outer body tube. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! I traced t' pre-cut fins and made through t' wall fins out o' 3/32" bass wood. Arrr! I used t' markin' jig t' mark t' main body and cut slots in t' airframe usin' a dremel tool. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' fins were glued with epoxy t' t' engine mount similar t' many mid-power designs. T' engine mount is friction fit with a stop for a maximum o' D-size engine. T' kit D12 recommendation in me opinion is way under powered for a rocket o' this size. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! RockSim says only 375 feet on a D12. Ahoy! I left out t' D-engine block and added a thumb screw positive engine retention. Begad! This would allow me t' use any 24mm engine includin' Aerotech 24mm RMS.

For t' shock cord mount I attached t' shock cord directly t' t' engine mount. I drilled a hole in t' forward centerin' rin' and looped t' shock cord around t' engine mount and epoxied in in place. Arrr! Blimey! This would provide a more robust attachment for larger engines I planned on using.

I later had t' add ACME aluminum rail launch lugs t' t' rocket. Well, blow me down! This racket is so tall and light that it will blow over a 3/16" launch rod. Avast, me proud beauty! I had t' add rail launch lugs so I could move t' t' big boys pad.

Another later upgrade was a "PML" style piston ejection system. I ordered a BT-60 coupler and bulkhead and threaded t' shock cord thought t' bulkhead with a knot on both sides.

Finishing:
This kit does nay come with decals or painin' guide. Avast, me proud beauty! Followin' t' 76er theme I painted t' rocket red, me bucko, white and blue like t' drawing. Ahoy! I never did understand how they got 76er our o' a 79 inch rocket but it sounds cool. Arrr!

I didn't bother t' fill t' spirals and went strait t' 2 coats o' white primer. Ya scallywag! Then I painted t' nose section red, arrr, t' center white and t' bottom blue. Begad! T' finish I added two coats o' clear coat. Well, blow me down! I be very pleased with t' final finish. This is a crowd favorite at our club launches.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
For its maiden voyage I tried t' send it up on an Estes E9-6. Aye aye! T' wind was blowin' about 10mph and it blew over the launch pad and ripped t' launch lugs off.

2nd attempt re-glued t' launch lugs and it was on a less windy day. Avast! Blimey! Again on an Estes E9-6. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' flight was textbook straight and true. Begad! Blimey! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! No wobble or spin. Ahoy! Blimey! T' rocket kinda stalled at apogee and dropped on its tail shortly before deployment. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Total height be about 800ft. I don't think an D12 will get this big bird t' a safe height for recovery.

I have a total o' four flights on this rocket usin' Estes E9's. Begad! Avast! A 4 second delay seems about right. Begad! Ahoy! It does well in a variety o' conditions. With t' small fins it doesn't seem t' weather cock.

For t' fifth flight I thought I would try somethin' totally stupid. Avast! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I sent it up on a Aerotech F23-7. Half the people thought it would fold up comin' off t' pad. Arrr! Blimey! I had upgraded t' a rail launch system with ACME rail lugs from Giant Leap. Aye aye! Blimey! T' rail was 6 foot tall t' allow t' rocket t' come up t' speed before it left t' pad. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey!

T' rocket came off t' pad with with authority. Avast, me proud beauty! It flew straight and true and did nay weather cock into t' 12 mph breeze. Arrr! T' ejection went off at t' 1500 ft apogee. Blimey! T' ejection charge was too much for t' shock cord and it separated in half and t' chute didn't deploy. Avast! T' two halves fell t' earth in a flat free fall. Begad! Both sections were recovered undamaged. T' through t' wall fins held up fine and t' nose cone only had a slight din' in t' balsa. I plan t' upgrade t' a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and try this again. Blimey! Blimey! T' rocket can handle t' trust and is a very stable design.

Recovery:
Recovery is adequate for Estes E9's. If you are goin' t' try anythin' larger you'll want t' upgrade.

I give this design a 4 1/2 mainly based on t' great stability o' t' design. Arrr! This design is extremely stable in a variety o' flight conditions and engine sizes.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Pro's:

This is a lot o' rocket for t' money. Ahoy! At 79 inches this is still t' tallest rocket in me fleet. Begad! It is a real crowd pleaser. Avast, me proud beauty! T' kid love t' see this big rocket leave t' pad. Avast! T' design is very stable and flies well under a variety o' conditions.

Con's:

Manufacurer's D12 recommendation is way too small an engine t' safely fly this rocket. Blimey! Avast! RockSim predicts only 375 ft. Arrr! An E9 be t' smallest engine I would recommend. Avast! T' stock construction is adequate for E9 but will need t' be upgraded for anythin' larger.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other:
Overall I give this kit a 4 out o' 5 for a low cost rocket. Avast! It has t' size and potential o' kits costin' 3X more. This was me first through t' wall and piston ejection project.