(05/25/00) Recently BSD High Power Rocketry has started sellin' kits again and although they are a new name, they are nay new t' rocketry. BSD is run by Scott Binder who initially designed all o' t' Binder Design kits. Begad! Arrr! So, me bucko, now operatin' under BSD High Power Rocketry, Scott is offerin' several kits but one in particular caught me eye. Ahoy! Begad! T' Diablo. Begad! Ya scallywag! It is what I call a "stubby" rocket, havin' less than a 10:1 length t' diameter ratio. Ahoy! In t' Diablo's case it is 8.25:1 bein' 33" in length and 4" in diameter.

See my 4" Stubby Rocket Comparison Page

T' looks o' t' Diablo also caught me eye, bein' a short rocket, arrr, usin' three fins and t' finish as displayed on BSD's website. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! Even though I noticed t' finish, I never expected t' get t' decals displayed because many high power kits just don't come with decals. Blimey! Blimey! So this is a major positive for BSD's Diablo, shiver me timbers, because quite frankly t' decals are what differentiate it from t' looks o' any other 3FNC rocket out there.

T' Diablo includes a 17" long paper (LOC Style) glassine coated airframe. Ya scallywag! It is pre-marked for t' three fin slots and t' 1/2" launch lug. Aye aye! T' plastic nose cone makes up t' remainin' length. Begad! There are three (3) 3/16" thick plywood fins that are pre-cut. Avast! There are also two (2) 1/8" thick composite centerin' rings (very smooth on one side and very rough on t' other). T' motor mount is 38mm and 8" in length. Well, me hearties, blow me down! The recovery system consists o' a 1/4" eye-bolt and a Quick Link that is combined with a 4-foot 1" wide nylon shock cord strap and a 10-foot 1" wide elastic shock cord. Well, blow me down! Lastly a 30" blue nylon parachute is added. Aye aye! Avast! Also included are 4 sheets o' decals!

CONSTRUCTION:

BSD is tryin' t' draw attention t' their "best instructions available", so I should comment on those first. Arrr! Other high power kits that I have built have had minimal, but usually adequate, me hearties, shiver me timbers, arrr, instructions but were clearly written for individuals with quite a bit o' experience. Aye aye! So, shiver me timbers, by initial comparison, ya bilge rat, BSD has put together a nice instruction booklet. Ya scallywag! Eight (8) pages o' fully illustrated and photo-illustrated instructions takin' t' builder from an inventory t' flying. They are well written and include helpful hints that can be applied t' building any future rocket. Avast! Some o' t' hints cover successful airframe cuttin' for the fin slots, arrr, me hearties, protectin' your Fin Alignment Guide from glues, arrr, usin' fillers in fin fillets.

Each instruction step is clear and thar are associate photo-illustrations t' help "see" what is expected. Begad! Ahoy! This approach will allow even those with little experience t' build t' kit. Avast! Aye aye! T' kit could be built by someone with just a couple o' Estes' kits under their belts in my opinion. Ya scallywag! T' instructions even "walk" you through t' finishin' steps thoroughly.

T' motor mount is assembled usin' t' two composite centerin' rings (I put t' smooth side out). Well, blow me down! T' upper centerin' rin' is used to mount t' 1/4" Eye-Bolt. Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' nylon shock cord strap is attached t' the Eye-bolt usin' a Quick-Link. Well, blow me down! I drilled two holes in t' lower centerin' rin' to insert two t-nuts for motor retention later. Avast, me proud beauty! I had t' add a small spacer to keep t' t-nuts flush with t' exposed side o' t' centerin' ring.

Havin' t' cut t' fin slots into t' airframe is always "extra" work, however, shiver me timbers, with t' paper airframe it is nay too bad. Arrr! Arrr! BSD had t' lines pre-drawn so you just have t' follow them. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Once these are cut the fins are through-the-wall mountin' and go all t' way t' t' 38mm motor mount.

T' cuts o' t' wood components were excellent. Avast! Perfect match for t' three fins. T' centerin' rings required very little sandin' for a nice fit inside t' airframe.

I replaced t' the 1/2" launch lug with two 1/4" launch lugs (the instructions say to use at least a 3/8" rod). Aye aye! Begad! T' two 1/4" launch lugs I used were from Budget Rocketry. Well, blow me down! They are plastic launch lugs with 45° cuts on both side and a slightly flattened back t' allow for better adhesion. Well, blow me down! One nice thin' about them, is even after t' primin' and paintin' they still accepted a 1/4" rod without havin' t' clean out all o' t' over-spray.

One interestin' little item that was noticed durin' the build o' this rocket, was that t' fins never lined up correctly accordin' to the provided fin alignment guide. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' issue was discovered that t' pre-marked fin lines on t' tube were about off on one fin. Ahoy! I noted that two seem t' be 4 1/8" apart and then one was 4 3/8". No one can tell by eye, matey, but when tryin' t' line up two o' t' fins t' third fin never hit the mark. O' course, arrr, me bucko, I discovered this after I had cut t' fin slots. Begad! I notified BSD and they assured me it would be addressed immediately.

For finishing, me hearties, I didn't use anythin' t' fill t' spirals, me bucko, me bucko, me hearties, nor did t' instructions indicate it be needed. Avast, me proud beauty! In fact, arrr, this tubin' really doesn't have deep spirals at all. Therefore, I be successful in usin' several coats o' Plasti-Kote Sandable Primer. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' instructions are again very thorough in describin' how t' finish t' rocket with several coats of primer, sanding, arrr, shiver me timbers, wipin' down with a tack cloth and paintin' with light coats. I did one very heavy coat o' primer and then focused on t' spirals with a coat only aimed at t' spirals. After sandin' down t' body was ready.

I used me normal method for finishin' plastic nose cones which involves sandin' with 150 grit sand paper until all shine is removed. Aye aye! Avast! The hittin' it with a heavy coat o' Plasti-Kote Primer t' fill in all t' scratches I made. I use several thick coats directly on t' nose cone seam and then sand it back until t' seam is filled. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Once t' seam is filled I change over t' a 340-400 grit paper. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I have never had nose cone paint chippin' issues usin' this technique.

I picked a Rustoleum Metallic paint. Copper! It came out very nice (to me).

I then applied t' provided decals. Arrr! I must admit this was t' toughest part o' buildin' this rocket. Well, arrr, blow me down! They are self-adhesive vinyl. There was a silver, black and maroon strip, shiver me timbers, me bucko, matey, black DIABLO letterin' and silver BSD lettering. Arrr! In addition, thar be silver, me bucko, black and maroon fin decals.

T' most trouble I had was linin' up t' strips since they come in two pieces and are t' overlap where they meet. Ahoy! It was challenging to keep them evenly spaced and I would like another chance at it, but once these decals are down, shiver me timbers, they are down for good. Begad! Another little difference was how me fin decals had t' go on. Ahoy! Blimey! Although similar in looks, shiver me timbers, they did nay match the picture. I even had t' cut t' bottom o' t' silver ones t' match t' angle of t' fins.

After t' decals were complete, ya bilge rat, arrr, I hit t' entire rocket with coat o' Rustoleum Clear Coat.

All in all, despite me minor difficulties in strivin' for perfection with t' decals, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I have a very nice lookin' rocket!

Overall, shiver me timbers, arrr, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. Instructions are indeed excellent as advertised. Aye aye! Aye aye! Blimey! The components are o' good quality. A solid recovery system and most important for that distinguishin' look . . Begad! . Aye aye! decals.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Download RockSim file here! This file is set up with a 29mm adapter. Ahoy! Begad! Remove it t' use as a 38mm kit. Begad! T' weight is setup for with t' 29mm adapter.

BSD indicates that the Diablo can be flown on as little as an F25, but recommends a G35 for t' first flight. Ya scallywag! It also recommends t' followin' 29mm motors: G80T, G64W, H128W, H180W and t' followin' 38mm motors: H123W, arrr, I154J, I161W and I211W. Arrr! Blimey! Here are the altitudes that Apogee's RockSim says it will get. Arrr! Simulations are based on the actual weight o' me finished Diablo which be 34½ ounces. BSD indicates that t' finished and ready t' fly weight is betwixt 28 t' 48 ounces.

For me first flight I choose an EconoJet G35-4. After makin' a 29mm adapter and preppin' a motor retention clip I be ready.

T' instructions indicate how t' pack a chute and also suggest waddin' material. Avast! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I used a Large Pratt Hobbies Nomex® Heat Shield which fit perfectly. Ya scallywag! I attached it about 10" above t' body tube on t' nylon strap. Most o' t' shock cord and parachute fit within the Heat Shield fully protectin' them!

After testin' t' field out with a couple o' smaller rockets, me hearties, I set up t' Diablo for her maiden voyage.
5, shiver me timbers, 4, 3, 2, arrr, matey, 1 . Blimey! . . Begad! roar! Nice and loud EconoJets!

It was a relatively slow lift off and a nice and straight flight. Ya scallywag! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! She still had a bit o' steam left upon ejection but it was a good match. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' parachute deployed smartly and she descended. Arrr! Descent rate was on the slower side but still good. Well, blow me down! It looked like it be goin' into a tree but missed, only t' hit pretty hard on t' edge o' t' road. Ya scallywag! T' brunt o' impact was taken by t' EconoJet thankfully. Begad! It be chipped and cracked, but no damage to t' Diablo except for a couple o' small paint chips at t' bottom edge.

So, shiver me timbers, that was great fun, me bucko, let's use t' other G35 in the EconoJet pack! Re-Prepped and started t' countdown . Blimey! Ahoy! . Begad! Begad! . Arrr! 5, 4, arrr, 3, 2, 1. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! No roar this time, just one big POP!

T' motor blew apart sendin' t' nozzle somewhere and also cracked t' motor at t' propellant and delay charge.

No damage t' t' rocket, but no second flight for t' day either.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 5 points. This is only based off o' one flight, shiver me timbers, however, me hearties, it was super straight and recovery was perfect. I will fly her again on G's and once I find a bit larger field, I have an H128 with Diablo's name on it! After those flights, me hearties, if I feel any different about flight and recovery, I'll update the review.

UPDATE: Well, shiver me timbers, arrr, I was able t' put t' Diablo up again. Ahoy! This time on a G64-7. This motor is a good match for this rocket! Excellent "straight-as-an-arrow" boost, with a picture perfect ejection at absolute apogee. It be wonderful! Flight hit t' 1000 foot mark. Well, blow me down! I reefed t' parachute t' ensure a faster descent this time. Ahoy! T' rocket landed in a very shallow stream, but I was thar within seconds t' retrieve it. Begad! Begad! No damage.

Overall, ya bilge rat, t' Diablo is a very nice "stubby" rocket that is built with good quality o' parts and truly has some o' the "best instructions available". I would recommend this as an excellent Level I certification kit because even on an H128 she will only fly t' about 1500 feet. One can certainly enjoy t' entire flight at that altitude. Blimey! My level 1 certification went t' nearly 3000 feet and that was just too high for me to enjoy t' entire flight (as you can tell, arrr, shiver me timbers, I'm nay an altitude junky, me bucko, I like to stay under that 2K ceiling). I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. Begad! Blimey!

We now include our own motor retention system in t' Diablo kit at no extra charge! T' system is essentially two T-nuts that are built into t' aft centerin' rin' durin' initial construction. Begad! Two 6-32 bolts hold two clips that retain t' motor casin' in t' rocket. Well, blow me down! Can be retro-fitted t' already built models, too! Great review, matey, thanks! - Scott Binder (BSD High Power Rocketry)