T' Phantom be t' first large rocket that I have ever built. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' 4" diameter and 50 inch length are a lot bigger than anythin' else I have ever built. Well, arrr, blow me down! I got this rocket back in July when our Hobby Lobby was havin' their 4th o' July sale. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I picked up t' starter kit (rocket, pad and launch controller) for $60. Begad! At t' same time I picked up a bunch o' other kits (50% off) t' practice buildin' techniques.  Some o' these turned out really nice (my Sizzler). Ya scallywag! I made several modifications t' t' Phantom as I built it. T' first thin' I did was t' replace t' 28.5 mm motor mount tube with a true 29 mm tube from Giant Leap Rocketry. Then I replaced t' supplied motor retention system with a set o' Kaplow Klips. I needed two styles t' use both t' Aerotech reloads and t' North Coast single use motors. Begad! Aye aye! T' get this t' work I had t' switch t' center and aft centerin' ring, arrr, t' get a nice flat bottom t' t' rocket. Blimey! I also put t' centerin' rings on one at a time. Blimey! This allowed internal fillets for t' centerin' rings and t' fins. Avast! Well, blow me down! I replaced t' elastic shock cord with 8 feet o' tubular Keelhaul®©™ from Pratt Hobbies, and used a large heat shield (also from Pratt Hobbies) in lieu o' recovery wadding.  I sealed t' plywood fins with finishin' epoxy (it give a nice smooth surface) and filleted overall with 30 minute epoxy. I also used t' finishin' epoxy on t' nose cone t' get rid o' t' weld seam. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I painted it nearly stock, me hearties, with a white body and orange fins and nose. Begad! It is an impressive rocket sittin' on t' pad. T' listed weight for t' Phantom is 25 ounces. Begad! Ya scallywag! I'm nay sure what mine weighs now, ya bilge rat, but it must be a bit heavier. I give t' kit a 4 (the nose cone weld was huge, t' retention system needs work) and construction also a 4, mainly because even with practice I just wasn't ready t' build it.  It still looks nice.

T' whole reason t' replace t' motor tube was t' allow Aerotech reloads as t' motors. T' first launch was on an F52-5 at t' Tripoli Louisiana Gumbo Launch. Arrr! An F is a lot more than t' normal A's and B's t' which I'm used. Arrr! T' rocket really zooms off t' pad. Begad! Perfect launch, boost and deployment o' t' 36" nylon parachute. Ahoy! We recovered t' rocket about 100' from t' pad. Blimey! I also launched with a North Coast F62-4 and an Aerotech G64-4 RMS, all recovered quite close t' t' pad.  For now that's all I have launched. It is possible t' launch this one in town, since t' boost is nay all that high on an F. Begad! Begad! I rate t' flight a 5, but then, it's me first big rocket. Ya scallywag! It wasn't nearly as impressive as t' H180's that were launched right after mine. Ahoy! Well, matey, blow me down! I think I could use a smaller H in this one with no problem. Avast! Avast! Maybe a Level 1 launch later?

I'd probably give t' whole thin' a 4+ rating.Still a nice rocket.