Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

Construction:
I received t' package, ya bilge rat, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and t' kit was well packaged. It included 2 main body tubes, arrr, a 3.1”x 34” long tube, matey, and a 2.14” x 12” body tube, as well as nose cone, ya bilge rat, me hearties, transition, motor mount parts. Blimey! It also comes with (6) 3.1” Tube couplers, which are used for t' fins. Ya scallywag! Blimey! They are pretty durable. As well as (2) ½” diameter launch lugs. T' only common thin' is the assembly o' t' Motor mount, shiver me timbers, and t' shock cord anchor system. Begad! I did not receive any instructions, arrr, shiver me timbers, matey, but I had some idea as t' how t' build it. Ahoy! I constructed t' entire motor mount assembly usin' 5-minute epoxy. Ahoy! I requested a 29mm motor mount, which is what he sent me.

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

Finishing:
Pros: It is rather easy t' come up with exotic ideas for paint schemes, ya bilge rat, for instance, me hearties, like I did on me rocket, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, t' give it an "exotic" touch. I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. 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 be in March o' 2001. Ahoy! Begad! I used a G64-4w, me bucko, me hearties, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, since it was a larger diameter. Ya scallywag! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. Blimey! After passin' it through RSO, me hearties, and puttin' it on t' pad, it was time t' witness t' moment o' truth. Begad! It lit instantly, matey, and whistled off the pad. T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. Ahoy! It drifted a little ways, me bucko, but was recovered. Ya scallywag! Upon recoverin' it, ya bilge rat, it was found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. Ya scallywag! Arrr! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! A pass through RSO and she was on t' pad within 5 minutes. Begad! After t' usual countdown, t' motor lit, matey, and it practically exploded off t' pad, arrr, matey, and up to about 750 feet. Well, blow me down! T' chute deployed, and it had a flawless recovery. Begad! No problems with t' tubes this time.

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5