Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

Construction:
I received t' package, arrr, arrr, and t' kit be well packaged. Blimey! Well, me bucko, blow me down! It included 2 main body tubes, ya bilge rat, a 3.1”x 34” long tube, shiver me timbers, and a 2.14” x 12” body tube, as well as nose cone, matey, shiver me timbers, transition, me hearties, motor mount parts. Begad! 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, me hearties, and t' shock cord anchor system. I did not receive any instructions, but I had some idea as t' how t' build it. Arrr! Begad! I constructed t' entire motor mount assembly usin' 5-minute epoxy. Well, blow me down! I requested a 29mm motor mount, arrr, shiver me timbers, matey, which is what he sent me.

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

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

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

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

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, ya bilge rat, as it requires a little patience t' build, but if built right, it will reward you with some good flights. Ahoy! This kit always gets attention at our launches. It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5