I got t' Mean Machine for me birthday and have just finished it. Ya scallywag! 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, shiver me timbers, except I used 30 min Epoxy instead o' white glue. Aye aye! When I got t' t' step about t' tube couplers, I stopped and planned out t' remainder o' t' construction. Aye aye! I used one centerin' rin' and a circle o' thin balsa with holes drilled into it for t' baffle. Aye aye! 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. Aye aye! 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. 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, matey, so I glued t' third coupler onto one length o' tubing. Ahoy! Blimey! T' nose has a few layers o' tape t' keep it on tight. Blimey! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! I filleted everything, me hearties, especially t' top bulkhead, with industrial hot glue. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I filled t' fins with Rock Hard putty, slightly diluted. Begad! Blimey! It is painted black. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I will probably put in a nylon parachute smaller than t' stock plastic one.