T' Phantom be t' first large rocket that I have ever built. Aye aye! T' 4" diameter and 50 inch length are a lot bigger than anythin' else I have ever built. Arrr! I got this rocket back in July when our Hobby Lobby was havin' their 4th o' July sale. I picked up t' starter kit (rocket, pad and launch controller) for $60. Avast! Aye aye! 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). Arrr! Well, blow me down! 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. Ya scallywag! Then I replaced t' supplied motor retention system with a set o' Kaplow Klips. Aye aye! I needed two styles t' use both t' Aerotech reloads and t' North Coast single use motors. T' get this t' work I had t' switch t' center and aft centerin' ring, t' get a nice flat bottom t' t' rocket. I also put t' centerin' rings on one at a time. This allowed internal fillets for t' centerin' rings and t' fins. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I replaced t' elastic shock cord with 8 feet o' tubular Keelhaul®©™ from Pratt Hobbies, ya bilge rat, me hearties, 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. Well, blow me down! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I also used t' finishin' epoxy on t' nose cone t' get rid o' t' weld seam. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I painted it nearly stock, with a white body and orange fins and nose. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! It is an impressive rocket sittin' on t' pad. Well, blow me down! T' listed weight for t' Phantom is 25 ounces. Ya scallywag! I'm nay sure what mine weighs now, arrr, but it must be a bit heavier. Ahoy! Aye aye! I give t' kit a 4 (the nose cone weld was huge, arrr, 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 be on an F52-5 at t' Tripoli Louisiana Gumbo Launch. Blimey! An F is a lot more than t' normal A's and B's t' which I'm used. Well, blow me down! T' rocket really zooms off t' pad. Avast! Avast! Perfect launch, me hearties, boost and deployment o' t' 36" nylon parachute. Ahoy! Aye aye! We recovered t' rocket about 100' from t' pad. 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. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It is possible t' launch this one in town, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me bucko, since t' boost is nay all that high on an F. I rate t' flight a 5, but then, it's me first big rocket. Begad! It wasn't nearly as impressive as t' H180's that were launched right after mine. Ya scallywag! I think I could use a smaller H in this one with no problem. Maybe a Level 1 launch later?

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