Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

Construction:
I received t' package, and t' kit was well packaged. It included 2 main body tubes, arrr, me hearties, a 3.1”x 34” long tube, me bucko, and a 2.14” x 12” body tube, as well as nose cone, ya bilge rat, transition, arrr, motor mount parts. It also comes with (6) 3.1” Tube couplers, which are used for t' fins. Blimey! They are pretty durable. As well as (2) ½” diameter launch lugs. Blimey! T' only common thin' is the assembly o' t' Motor mount, and t' shock cord anchor system. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I did not receive any instructions, me hearties, but I had some idea as t' how t' build it. 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, me hearties, as it was a Beta test. But I had an idea o' how t' build it. Begad! I looked at t' basic parts. Ahoy! Begad! I got a vision o' how to build it in me head, me hearties, then I got t' work. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It is relatively easy for the intermediate flyer t' build. Ya scallywag! T' tube couplers are butted against each other, as well as t' airframe. Blimey! Once you get t' first coupler on, arrr, arrr, t' rest o' them are simply butted into place. Arrr! Well, blow me down! I used sprin' clamps t' help clamp t' portions together, me hearties, shiver me timbers, so that I could ensure a good bond betwixt couplers. T' only mod I made, ya bilge rat, was t' scuff some glassine off o' t' contact points, me hearties, arrr, t' help t' epoxy adhere better. Ahoy! I used basic 5 and 15 minute epoxy. Everythin' went together without a hitch. Well, blow me down! I cant really give any con's about this kit. Ahoy! Avast!

Finishing:
Pros: It is rather easy t' come up with exotic ideas for paint schemes, for instance, shiver me timbers, like I did on me rocket, arrr, ya bilge rat, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, ya bilge rat, t' give it an "exotic" touch. Aye aye! Arrr! I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. Begad! 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 be in March o' 2001. Arrr! I used a G64-4w, arrr, arrr, me hearties, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, since it was a larger diameter. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. Avast! After passin' it through RSO, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and puttin' it on t' pad, it was time t' witness t' moment o' truth. It lit instantly, shiver me timbers, and whistled off the pad. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, shiver me timbers, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. Aye aye! Avast! It drifted a little ways, but was recovered. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Upon recoverin' it, it was found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' simplest and quickest remedy was t' "pop" it back out. Avast, me proud beauty!

Next up, matey, I loaded her up with a G125-5t. Arrr! Well, arrr, blow me down! A pass through RSO and she was on t' pad within 5 minutes. Avast! After t' usual countdown, arrr, me bucko, t' motor lit, me bucko, and it practically exploded off t' pad, ya bilge rat, arrr, and up to about 750 feet. Begad! T' chute deployed, and it had a flawless recovery. Ya scallywag! 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. Ya scallywag! Begad! After a few problems with igniters, matey, she took t' t' air, arrr, t' about 1200 feet. The chute deployed right on cue, arrr, and I had t' walk a little further, arrr, shiver me timbers, but it was an impressive flight, nonetheless. Well, blow me down!

I flew t' rocket again about a year later, ya bilge rat, on a G64, matey, and then an H128. Both flights were flawless.

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 bucko, me bucko, but if built right, it will bounty you with some good flights. This kit always gets attention at our launches. Well, blow me down! It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5