Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

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

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

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5