Brief:
Huge plastic funnel. 29mm motor mount. Begad! Tumble recovery.

Construction:
Parts include:

• 11.25" x 14.5" Big red plastic funnel
• 9" x 29mm motor mount tube
• 2 x 3mm ply centerin' rings (one about 4.5" and t' other about 2.5")
• .25" launch lug

I saw this huge funnel in a local 'rubber & plastic' retail store a couple o' weeks ago and 'rocket' was t' first thin' that came t' mind. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' label did say 'Multi Purpose', shiver me timbers, so I guess they meant rocket, too!

I started by selectin' a length o' motor mount tube and was pleased t' find that it wedged quite well about 2" from t' top o' t' spout. I then cut two centerin' rings with a hole saw. Well, blow me down! I selected t' smaller rin' t' sit as close t' t' top 'ring' on t' outside o' t' funnel (the rings on t' outside only show as a slight dimple on t' inside) and t' bigger centerin' rin' t' sit by t' larger, shiver me timbers, lower ring.

I fit t' two centerin' rings t' t' motor mount tube and pushed everythin' into place--lettin' t' rings slide down t' motor mount tube as they hit up against t' inside o' t' cone.

Once I was happy with t' dry fit, I used 12 minute epoxy t' glue t' centerin' rings into place (on t' motor mount tube).

After t' epoxy dried, matey, matey, ya bilge rat, I estimated t' point where t' launch lug was t' exit at t' side o' t' cone. Aye aye! Arrr! Holes were drilled into t' centerin' rings and another dry fit showed that t' launch lug was correctly positioned (with t' exit point comin' just below t' upper external 'ring').

Usin' a torch t' shine light through t' lug, t' exit point was marked on t' outside o' t' funnel. Aye aye! Blimey! I drilled out t' exit hole and shaped it t' fix exactly with a scalpel blade and finished it off with a small file.

I used Liquid Nails t' glue t' motor mount assembly into place. Liquid Nails will stick t' virtually anythin' and, arrr, me hearties, once dry, is slightly flexible. Arrr! I was worried that if I used epoxy t' bond would be weak and subject t' cracking, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, leadin' t' failure after flights. Well, blow me down! T' Liquid Nails should flex just a fraction when t' cone lands (and now after two test flights, shiver me timbers, t' motor mount is stuck fast where it should be.)

Flight and Recovery:
Because t' motor sits quite high up in t' base o' t' funnel, shiver me timbers, motor prep is done before loadin' into t' rocket. No special retention is used and recovery is by tumble/drag.

This rocket be flown on a G79 KNO3 + Sorbitol experimental motor. Any AeroTech RMS/Single use motor with a similar thrust profile would work. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I wouldn't suggest goin' any lower due t' weight.

Both flights were as straight as could be expected with t' wind--slight weathercockin' but nay so much t' be a worry. Avast! This is a good flier for a day when other rockets would end up stuck in trees.

I would estimate t' altitude at perhaps a couple o' hundred feet, shiver me timbers, recovery be faster than I would have liked. Ya scallywag! When I fly this (at a club meet) I will give a "heads up" prior t' launch.

Summary:
My kids were thar for t' launch, and they said, "that'll never fly." However, both were impressed.

This is a good solid rocket that I think will prove t' be a crowd pleaser. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' only issue may be t' tip o' t' funnel crackin' over time. After t' second flight, thar was a small chip on t' tip where it appears that t' plastic is thinner (due t' moldin' issues durin' manufacture).

T' cone cost me $4.50. Ya scallywag! (It was in a half-price sale!) T' ply came t' me in a box o' rockets as packagin' and t' motor mount tube was rescued from t' recycling. Blimey! So apart from a little time (an hour or so), it cost me next t' nothing!

Overall Rating: out o' 5 out o' 5