Brief:
T' Solar express from Madcow Rocketry is a mid-power rocket kit that flies on 29mm F and G motors. Ya scallywag! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! It's a great addition t' an established mid-power fleet, 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, 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, shiver me timbers, and t' add an Aeropack motor retainer. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I also swapped out t' included parachute for a 28" one.

T' fit o' Madcow's parts are exceptional. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I be able t' dry-fit t' whole kit together right out o' t' bag.

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

Next, me hearties, I ignored t' instructions and installed t' forward centerin' rin' with spacin' equal t' t' lengh o' the fin's TTW tabs... Ahoy! this be a mistake.

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

T' motor mount be then epoxied into t' rocket, followed by attachin' some rail buttons. Begad! Aye aye! Next was epoxyin' the fins into their pre-cut slots. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Each fin got epoxy fillets, matey, and construction was complete.

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

I painted t' nose cone while t' rest o' t' rocket was bein' assembled. First, matey, t' NC got a 180 grit sandin' and was washed. Next came several thick coats o' Rustoleum automotive primer. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! After sandin' that smooth, shiver me timbers, t' NC got two coats o' Rustoleum gloss white.

T' airframe recieved t' same treatment as t' NC. Begad! It was sprayed with Rustoleum automotive primer, then two fins were masked off and it was painted white. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' maskin' was then reversed and t' unpainted fins were painted blue.

I was smartly tryin' t' get t' rocket finished before a launch, shiver me timbers, so I didn't have time t' apply t' decals. After t' launch, matey, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! It flew on a Cesaroni F36 Smoky Sam, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, a motor for which RockSIM predicted a flight o' about 650'.

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

T' rocket's next flight be on an AeroTech G64W. Begad! Blimey! This flight was much quicker off t' pad than t' last motor, producin' a nice, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! By t' time o' t' rocket's second flight, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' wind had picked up a good amount. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! 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. Ahoy! It's easy t' build, flys well on a very wide range o' motors, arrr, and is a cool lookin' rocket t' boot. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! T' only potential con I can think o' is the small size o' t' included parachute, ya bilge rat, but an established mid/high-power flyer should have a large enough collection of 'chutes t' remedy this.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5