Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

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

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

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

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

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

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5