Brief:
Tube Rocket, matey, matey, with transition

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

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

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

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

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, shiver me timbers, it will bounty you with some good flights. Avast, me proud beauty! This kit always gets attention at our launches. Avast! Blimey! It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5