Brief:
Scale HPR parachute recovery rocket.

Construction:
Components include:

• 2 4" diameter body tubes
• 29mm motor tube
• thick fiber centerin' rings
• plastic nose cone and boat tail
• 1/4" plywood fins
• 36" nylon chute
• bungee shock cord
• 1/2" brass launch lugs

I like t' way this went together. Well, blow me down! First off, t' kit be designed t' have a 38mm motor mount and I asked Public Enemy for 29mm and he made t' mods t' t' fins for me. Avast! Blimey! T' instructions were complete and easy t' follow. Avast, me proud beauty! I liked t' method o' fin construction. Begad! Blimey! They are glued directly t' t' motor tube before t' motor tube/boat-tail assembly is glued t' t' airframe which makes it easier t' complete a sturdy connection. Aye aye! Blimey!

A nylon strap is included t' be glued t' t' motor tube for t' recovery (in typical fashion). Well, blow me down! More on that later. Ya scallywag!

T' instructions direct you t' fill t' completed boat-tail with foam for rigidity. Begad! Since I used a 29mm mount and will never be able t' put more than and "I" impulse in it, arrr, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I did nay fill it. Ya scallywag! I did use blind tee-nuts for motor retention that were nay included with t' kit. Begad!

My glue o' choice these days is System 3 epoxy which I used exclusively throughout construction. Begad!

T' upper canards are attached by first markin' t' location and then removin' t' outer layer o' paper on t' airframe. Aye aye!

T' last thin' that I did in t' construction phase be t' drill small holes through t' airframe and secure t' nose cone onto t' payload bay with small screws, that was a nice touch. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down!

Finishing:
T' finishin' be straightforward. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Blimey! After filling, ya bilge rat, sanding, arrr, me bucko, and primer, I used white semi-gloss paint from a rattle can. Begad! Several coats o' white later and it was dry time. Arrr! Blimey! T' only decal that came with t' kit was t' lettering "U.S. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! AIR FORCE" in high quality 1" lettering. Begad! But that's not quite enough for this kind o' rocket, shiver me timbers, arrr, is it? I went t' t' ROL website for more information and found a WORD document for a 3" Bullpup. Begad! Blimey! I scaled that up to 4" and printed it on self-adhesive decal paper and applied them. Arrr! After several flights over many months, I be so impressed with t' look o' this one that I needed a more realistic look. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I used black automotive pin stripin' and thin cut lengths o' silver monokote for t' rings around t' airframe. Well, blow me down! When those were applied, ya bilge rat, I masked off and hand painted some o' t' red details on the side. Arrr! Ahoy! Blimey! I am very happy with t' overall look o' t' finished product. The ONLY thin' that could be improved upon would be more scale data included with the instructions.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
This rocket flies great - straight and true. Aye aye! T' first flight be at NYPower 2000 on an H238 for me Level 1 certification attempt. I first purchased a Nomex® heat shied from one o' t' many vendors in attendance, next I built t' reload and waited in line. Avast, me proud beauty! On t' first attempt, I did nay pack t' 'chute properly. It did separate at apogee normally but t' 'chute was tangled. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Always make sure you have t' proper packin' prior t' a certification flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Fortunately, the rocket was undamaged as a result o' me ignorance. Begad!

For me second attempt, arrr, ya bilge rat, I asked for guidance from our club president. Ahoy! Blimey! That flight was flawless. Arrr! Blimey! Since then it has had numerous flights on 29mm H's and I's. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

Recovery:
I indicated what was included for recovery in t' beginnin' o' this review, I made some modifications out o' both preference and necessity. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I did eliminate the bungee cord and I replaced it with tubular nylon. Arrr! But, it wasn't quite as simple as that. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! On one particular flight, shiver me timbers, t' ejection charge burned through the nylon strap that be glued t' t' motor tube. Blimey! Apparently, I did nay make sure that t' strap was clear o' t' top o' t' motor tube (my mistake). Ya scallywag! The rocket fell from t' heavens without a chute. IT fell quite a way too because it happened on t' I-200 flight. Arrr! With crossed fingers, matey, shiver me timbers, I retrieved t' two sections and t' me relief, matey, NO damage was incurred. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! (WHEW!) I wasn't goin' to allow that t' happen again so I crafted a bulkhead out o' 1/4" plywood , secured an eyebolt in t' center and glued it down inside t' airframe. Ya scallywag! While I was makin' mods t' t' recovery, matey, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I ditched most o' t' bungee and replaced it in two parts. Aye aye! Part one was t' replace t' shock absorbin' section. Avast, me proud beauty! I used an 8' section o' t' bungee and threaded it into a 12' piece o' tubular nylon, attached a quick link t' t' end and hooked it t' t' eyebolt in t' bulkhead. T' section from t' chute t' t' nosecone is a 12'-14' piece if tubular nylon without t' internal bungee. Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This rocket is a nicely priced kit for t' strength o' materials provided. Arrr! Ahoy! I would rather have t' price reduced and use me own detailin' materials t' make. I feel that it leaves some o' t' creative license t' me. Avast, me proud beauty! T' copper launch lugs are a small part o' t' total kit but very nice. Begad! I didn't like t' bungee cord but that was easily rectified. Begad!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5