I got t' Mean Machine for me birthday and have just finished it. Avast! Ahoy! There were a few requirements for t' finished rocket:

• It must break into sections for easy transport.
• Center break recovery.
• Baffle system t' eliminate recovery wadding.

I began construction as in t' stock kit, me hearties, except I used 30 min Epoxy instead o' white glue. When I got t' t' step about t' tube couplers, arrr, I stopped and planned out t' remainder o' t' construction. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! I used one centerin' rin' and a circle o' thin balsa with holes drilled into it for t' baffle. Blimey! 1/4" black elastic be attached t' t' tube coupler by a wire looped through t' balsa with t' drilled holes and around t' coupler lengthwise. Avast! Blimey! I also placed steel wool in t' open end t' aid in t' trappin' o' hot particles. T' open end o' t' baffle (with t' steel wool) was glued into t' rocket with THE STEEL WOOL TOWARDS THE FINS! I then cut a bulkhead out o' 3/16" aircraft plywood (I think) and looped another wire through a hole in that. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I attached t' other end o' t' shock cord (it is pretty long) t' t' wire on t' bulkhead. I then decided t' have a HPR type long payload section on top, so I glued t' third coupler onto one length o' tubing. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' nose has a few layers o' tape t' keep it on tight. I filleted everything, shiver me timbers, especially t' top bulkhead, with industrial hot glue. I filled t' fins with Rock Hard putty, slightly diluted. Begad! Blimey! It is painted black. Arrr! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I will probably put in a nylon parachute smaller than t' stock plastic one.