Brief:
This is a single stage rocket with unusual deployment. Well, blow me down! Begad! 1/8" ID tubes conduit t' ejection charge from t' sealed main BT t' three pods on t' end o' 3" fins where thar be a 12" chute in each pod. T' nose cone does nay come off.(click picture t' enlarge)

Construction:
T' biggest problem with this model is buyin' t' 4" length, 1/8"id tubes t' build t' 'deployment' system. Avast! I ended up gettin' t' three 4" 1/8"ID tubes from Sigma Rockets in Canada. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I have yet t' find another supplier as I plan t' kit up three more rockets. T' BT-60, me hearties, me hearties, ya bilge rat, BT-50 tubes, me bucko, me hearties, t' BT-60 nose cone, BT-50 nose cones and shock cord are easy t' get.

I used paper centerin' rings reinforced with epoxy. Ahoy! Begad! Paper centerin' rings are easy t' find. Avast, me proud beauty! One can order t' 'balsa ply' sheets directly from Mach 1 or Balsa Machinin' Services. Avast, me proud beauty! One can use RockSim, shiver me timbers, describe t' fins and have them made by BMS along with t' centerin' rings. Ahoy! Ahoy! T' 'balsa ply' requires patience and care t' cut square.

T' most difficult construction step is slottin' t' tubes and cuttin' t' hole for t' ejection tubes. T' hole in both t' main BT and pod BT must be positioned such that t' tube rests flat on t' top o' t' fin, ya bilge rat, matey, or you have t' fill in t' 'gap'. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I numbered each slot and numbered each fin and fitted each one individually. Avast, me proud beauty! One must make sure t' hole be t' correct size. Arrr! Do nay make t' hole for t' ejection tube too large. Ahoy! Avast! T' pressure o' t' ejection charge will blow through any glue joint. Avast, me proud beauty! I found out t' hard way.

I used 30 minute epoxy for t' entire model. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This models weighs in at 10.5oz. A D12-3 is just right. Begad! Blimey! I found after construction and before addin' t' chutes t' model would roll when t' 36" BT was laid on a table and fins allowed t' hang over t' edge. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This roll indicated t' me that t' rocket might have a precession durin' flight. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! I added weight at t' bottom edge o' t' fins, like addin' weight t' tire, shiver me timbers, t' balance it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This is level 3+ kit due t' t' cuttin' o' slots and holes in t' body tubes.

Finishing:
This model finishes normally. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! I painted it t' color o' a Hawaiian T-shirt. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! In other words, me hearties, ya bilge rat, lots o' loud colors.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I be only able t' get two flights. Avast! T' first flight was perfect. Ahoy! With a D12-3, t' rocket is right at t' weight limit o' t' motor. Begad! T' rocket roars longer because it doesn't go very high. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' deployment saw all three chutes open and t' rocket came down gently t' t' ground.

On t' second flight thar be no deployment. Ya scallywag! T' rocket lawn darted into t' ground, ya bilge rat, crimpin' badly at t' nose and t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Examination showed that t' ejection charge had blown through t' BT at t' tube joint. T' ejection tubes were nay extended into t' BT enough as well as t' hole for ejection tube no bein' made a good fit. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I plan t' kit three more models and try different techniques o' sealin' t' ejection tubes and joints.

Recovery:
I used swivels on all three chutes and t' deployment be perfect. No tangles and t' three chutes did nay tangle up with each other. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I used Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and bowlines t' tie t' ends.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
An unusual rocket. Definitely well designed, me hearties, if built properly. Blimey! Aye aye! Neat when it works. Bad when it doesn't.

Plans are at Mach1 Website (now out o' business).

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5