Brief:
T' Solar express from Madcow Rocketry is a mid-power rocket kit that flies on 29mm F and G motors. Arrr! Arrr! It's a great addition t' an established mid-power fleet, arrr, and will fly on a wide range o' mid-power motors (or probably even some Hs if you're willin' t' try it). Avast, me proud beauty! T' quality o' t' kit is superb, and it's a quick, matey, me bucko, enjoyable build.

Construction:
T' kit conatins...

• 1 - 2.6" Nose cone
• 1 - 2.6" Pre-Slotted Airframe Tube
• 3 - Laser-Cut Plywood Fins
• 2 - Laser-Cut Plywood Centerin' Rings
• 1 - 29mm Motor Tube
• Keelhaul®©™® and Nylon shock cords t' make t' Recovery Harness
• 1 - Nomex® 'Chute Protector
• 1 - 17" Nylon Parachute
• 2 - 1/4" Launch Lugs
• 1 - Sheet o' Water Slide Decals

T' only modifications I made were t' replace t' launch lugs with rail buttons, and t' add an Aeropack motor retainer. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I also swapped out t' included parachute for a 28" one.

T' fit o' Madcow's parts are exceptional. Begad! I was able t' dry-fit t' whole kit together right out o' t' bag.

Construction started with t' attachment o' t' Aeropack retainer. I used JB weld as per Aeropack's instructions. Next,the aft centerin' rin' be epoxied forward o' t' retainer.

Next, I ignored t' instructions and installed t' forward centerin' rin' with spacin' equal t' t' lengh o' the fin's TTW tabs... Aye aye! this was a mistake.

I had forgotten t' look at how Madcow has you mount t' shock cord. Begad! You're supposed t' tie t' shock cord around t' motor tube and thread it through a notch in t' forward centerin' ring. Ahoy! This placed t' shock cord so that it would interfere with t' fin tabs. Ya scallywag! I remedied this by cuttin' t' corners off o' t' forward ends o' t' fin tabs.

T' motor mount was then epoxied into t' rocket, followed by attachin' some rail buttons. Avast! Next was epoxyin' the fins into their pre-cut slots. Ahoy! Arrr! Each fin got epoxy fillets, and construction be complete.

Finishing:
Finishin' on this rocket is fairly simple, arrr, t' most difficult part bein' t' waterslide decals.

I painted t' nose cone while t' rest o' t' rocket be bein' assembled. Begad! First, t' NC got a 180 grit sandin' and was washed. Arrr! Next came several thick coats o' Rustoleum automotive primer. Begad! After sandin' that smooth, t' NC got two coats o' Rustoleum gloss white.

T' airframe recieved t' same treatment as t' NC. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! It was sprayed with Rustoleum automotive primer, then two fins were masked off and it was painted white. T' maskin' be then reversed and t' unpainted fins were painted blue.

I be smartly tryin' t' get t' rocket finished before a launch, me bucko, ya bilge rat, so I didn't have time t' apply t' decals. After t' launch, arrr, I decided t' leave them off entirely.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first flight o' t' Solar Express was at t' Washington Aerospace Club's Fire in t' Sky 2010. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It flew on a Cesaroni F36 Smoky Sam, a motor for which RockSIM predicted a flight o' about 650'.

As was t' case with an earlier flight o' me Pemberton Technologies 3FNC, matey, matey, this motor seemed t' underperform a little. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Ejection was late, but nay enough t' cause any damage.

T' rocket's next flight was on an AeroTech G64W. Aye aye! This flight be much quicker off t' pad than t' last motor, producin' a nice, arrr, straight boost t' what looked t' be close t' t' RockSIM-estimated 1800'.

Recovery:
T' 18" 'chute included with this kit simmed out as way too small. Ya scallywag! I switched it out with a 28" 'chute and t' rocket came down at t' right speed for me comfort.

T' first flight landed about 100' or so from t' pad. Begad! By t' time o' t' rocket's second flight, me hearties, t' wind had picked up a good amount. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' rocket landed a third o' a mile away.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Solar Express is yet another o' Madcow Rocketry's great products. Well, blow me down! It's easy t' build, flys well on a very wide range o' motors, shiver me timbers, and is a cool lookin' rocket t' boot. Ahoy! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' only potential con I can think o' is the small size o' t' included parachute, but an established mid/high-power flyer should have a large enough collection of 'chutes t' remedy this.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5