Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

Construction:
I received t' package, and t' kit was well packaged. Ahoy! It included 2 main body tubes, a 3.1”x 34” long tube, and a 2.14” x 12” body tube, as well as nose cone, transition, motor mount parts. Avast! It also comes with (6) 3.1” Tube couplers, shiver me timbers, which are used for t' fins. Begad! They are pretty durable. As well as (2) ½” diameter launch lugs. Ahoy! T' only common thin' is the assembly o' t' Motor mount, me hearties, and t' shock cord anchor system. I did not receive any instructions, ya bilge rat, but I had some idea as t' how t' build it. Ahoy! Avast! I constructed t' entire motor mount assembly usin' 5-minute epoxy. Avast, me proud beauty! I requested a 29mm motor mount, which is what he sent me.

I didn't get any instructions for this kit, as it was a Beta test. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! But I had an idea o' how t' build it. Aye aye! I looked at t' basic parts. I got a vision o' how to build it in me head, ya bilge rat, then I got t' work. Begad! It is relatively easy for the intermediate flyer t' build. Aye aye! T' tube couplers are butted against each other, as well as t' airframe. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Once you get t' first coupler on, matey, shiver me timbers, t' rest o' them are simply butted into place. I used sprin' clamps t' help clamp t' portions together, me bucko, so that I could ensure a good bond betwixt couplers. Blimey! T' only mod I made, ya bilge rat, was t' scuff some glassine off o' t' contact points, shiver me timbers, matey, t' help t' epoxy adhere better. Blimey! I used basic 5 and 15 minute epoxy. Aye aye! Everythin' went together without a hitch. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! I cant really give any con's about this kit. Ya scallywag! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down!

Finishing:
Pros: It is rather easy t' come up with exotic ideas for paint schemes, for instance, like I did on me rocket, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, shiver me timbers, t' give it an "exotic" touch. Avast! I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. Cons: If you want t' paint t' inside o' t' couplers, arrr, it will be extra work for you.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight was in March o' 2001. I used a G64-4w, matey, me hearties, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, since it was a larger diameter. Begad! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. After passin' it through RSO, and puttin' it on t' pad, it be time t' witness t' moment o' truth. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! It lit instantly, ya bilge rat, me bucko, arrr, and whistled off the pad. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. Ahoy! It drifted a little ways, but was recovered. Ahoy! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Upon recoverin' it, me bucko, arrr, it was found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' simplest and quickest remedy be t' "pop" it back out.

Next up, I loaded her up with a G125-5t. Avast, me proud beauty! A pass through RSO and she be on t' pad within 5 minutes. After t' usual countdown, ya bilge rat, matey, t' motor lit, matey, and it practically exploded off t' pad, me bucko, and up to about 750 feet. Blimey! T' chute deployed, and it had a flawless recovery. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! No problems with t' tubes this time. Blimey!

I teamed up with a friend o' mine, shiver me timbers, and we loaded up an H128-M for it. Ya scallywag! After a few problems with igniters, arrr, she took t' t' air, t' about 1200 feet. The chute deployed right on cue, me bucko, and I had t' walk a little further, but it was an impressive flight, matey, nonetheless.

I flew t' rocket again about a year later, me bucko, on a G64, matey, me bucko, and then an H128. Both flights were flawless. Blimey! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I'd suggest this kit for t' intermediate flyer, arrr, me hearties, as it requires a little patience t' build, ya bilge rat, but if built right, it will bounty you with some good flights. This kit always gets attention at our launches. It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5