Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

Construction:
I received t' package, and t' kit was well packaged. It included 2 main body tubes, me hearties, a 3.1”x 34” long tube, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and a 2.14” x 12” body tube, as well as nose cone, matey, transition, motor mount parts. Blimey! It also comes with (6) 3.1” Tube couplers, which are used for t' fins. Arrr! 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, and t' shock cord anchor system. I did not receive any instructions, but I had some idea as t' how t' build it. Ya scallywag! I constructed t' entire motor mount assembly usin' 5-minute epoxy. 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. But I had an idea o' how t' build it. Blimey! Blimey! I looked at t' basic parts. Begad! I got a vision o' how to build it in me head, shiver me timbers, matey, then I got t' work. Aye aye! Blimey! It is relatively easy for the intermediate flyer t' build. Arrr! T' tube couplers are butted against each other, as well as t' airframe. Once you get t' first coupler on, matey, me hearties, t' rest o' them are simply butted into place. I used sprin' clamps t' help clamp t' portions together, matey, so that I could ensure a good bond betwixt couplers. Avast! Blimey! T' only mod I made, matey, was t' scuff some glassine off o' t' contact points, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' help t' epoxy adhere better. I used basic 5 and 15 minute epoxy. Blimey! Everythin' went together without a hitch. Avast, me proud beauty! I cant really give any con's about this kit. Ya scallywag!

Finishing:
Pros: It is rather easy t' come up with exotic ideas for paint schemes, for instance, like I did on me rocket, arrr, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, matey, me bucko, matey, t' give it an "exotic" touch. Avast, me proud beauty! I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. Cons: If you want t' paint t' inside o' t' couplers, ya bilge rat, 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, me hearties, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, arrr, since it be a larger diameter. I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! After passin' it through RSO, me bucko, me bucko, and puttin' it on t' pad, it be time t' witness t' moment o' truth. Avast! It lit instantly, and whistled off the pad. T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. Blimey! It drifted a little ways, shiver me timbers, but was recovered. Avast! Upon recoverin' it, it was found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. T' simplest and quickest remedy was t' "pop" it back out. Begad! Ahoy!

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

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5