Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

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

I didn't get any instructions for this kit, me bucko, arrr, as it be a Beta test. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! But I had an idea o' how t' build it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I looked at t' basic parts. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I got a vision o' how to build it in me head, 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. Avast! Blimey! Once you get t' first coupler on, ya bilge rat, t' rest o' them are simply butted into place. Arrr! Blimey! I used sprin' clamps t' help clamp t' portions together, me bucko, shiver me timbers, so that I could ensure a good bond betwixt couplers. T' only mod I made, was t' scuff some glassine off o' t' contact points, shiver me timbers, t' help t' epoxy adhere better. Blimey! Blimey! I used basic 5 and 15 minute epoxy. Ahoy! Blimey! Everythin' went together without a hitch. I cant really give any con's about this kit. Arrr! Blimey!

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

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

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

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

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, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but if built right, it will reward you with some good flights. Aye aye! Begad! This kit always gets attention at our launches. Arrr! It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5