Brief:
Huge plastic funnel. Well, blow me down! 29mm motor mount. Arrr! Avast! 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' be t' first thin' that came t' mind. Aye aye! T' label did say 'Multi Purpose', ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, so I guess they meant rocket, too!

I started by selectin' a length o' motor mount tube and be pleased t' find that it wedged quite well about 2" from t' top o' t' spout. Begad! I then cut two centerin' rings with a hole saw. Avast! 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, 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 be 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, ya bilge rat, I estimated t' point where t' launch lug was t' exit at t' side o' t' cone. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, arrr, t' exit point was marked on t' outside o' t' funnel. Avast! 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. Begad! Liquid Nails will stick t' virtually anythin' and, once dry, shiver me timbers, is slightly flexible. Ahoy! I was worried that if I used epoxy t' bond would be weak and subject t' cracking, shiver me timbers, leadin' t' failure after flights. Arrr! Ya scallywag! 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, arrr, motor prep is done before loadin' into t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! No special retention is used and recovery is by tumble/drag.

This rocket was flown on a G79 KNO3 + Sorbitol experimental motor. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Any AeroTech RMS/Single use motor with a similar thrust profile would work. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! 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. 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, recovery be faster than I would have liked. Blimey! 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, me hearties, me bucko, 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. Begad! Arrr! T' only issue may be t' tip o' t' funnel crackin' over time. Well, blow me down! After t' second flight, me hearties, thar be 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. Ahoy! (It was in a half-price sale!) T' ply came t' me in a box o' rockets as packagin' and t' motor mount tube be rescued from t' recycling. Arrr! Blimey! So apart from a little time (an hour or so), ya bilge rat, it cost me next t' nothing!

Overall Rating: out o' 5 out o' 5