Brief:
This is a scale high power rocket. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It's a very nice kit, which was custom made for me by Blackhawk R&D. Very easy t' deal with and you get what YOU want, and for a VERY good price!

Construction:
T' quality o' t' rocket be VERY nice. Well, blow me down! It used flexible phenolic for tubes, 1/4" 5 ply ply-wood for fins and centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, a electronics bay, ya bilge rat, PML nose cone and LOC motor tubing. Aye aye! I had him leave out recovery hardware since I wanted t' do me own. Begad! There were no instructions for t' kit, matey, me bucko, but if you have built a few high or mid power rockets before then its very easy t' build. Blimey! You do need epoxy, CA, wood glue, etc. Begad! for assembly. I used 5 minute for tacking stuff down and 30 minute epoxy for doin' all t' fillets and puttin' stuff together. Begad! When this was all built it was one VERY sturdy rocket, ya bilge rat, I used no fiberglass at all. Avast! Since it's unnecessary in me opinion. Avast, me proud beauty! Also t' altimeter bay that was included with t' kit be very nice, shiver me timbers, and it can hold up t' 2 altimeters.

Finishing:
I used Rockets o' T' World t' help with finishing. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! It is a pain t' paint as there are 6 different colors, shiver me timbers, which takes a lot o' time t' mask t' rocket off. But is well worth t' effort because it makes t' rocket look very nice. Other then I did have a problem with me copper paint 'orange peeling', but after some work I got it t' look pretty good.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I have flown this rocket 4 times since I built it (in August o' 1999), me bucko, arrr, the first flight was with a Kosdon 54mm J480 FAST, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, it really ROCKED! It got up there in a hurry, me hearties, very fast, straight and loud boost! I used a Olsen M2 altimeter for recovery, t' 18" drogue chute came out at apogee as planned, shiver me timbers, then at 550 feet t' main chute charge fired, matey, but t' main got tangled. It came in for a VERY ruff landin' on t' hard dirt. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! But thar was NO damage at all. T' recorded altitude on that flight was 3837 feet! I have also flown it on a Kosdon 54mm J300 FAST, a Ellis Mountain Works J330 and a Vulcan 38mm I250 Smokey Sam, all for perfect flights and recoveries!

Recovery:
Since I did nay have him include any recovery hardware, I made me own, for shock cord mounts I used a steel cable in both t' booster and payload section, with bungee cord attached t' that with a quick link. Ahoy! For chutes I used a 18" chute for t' drogue and a 48" chute for t' main. Aye aye! Begad! Which brings the rocket down at t' right speed. Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall t' rocket is very nice. Begad! I do nay recommend a custom kit by him for a first mid or high power rocket. Ahoy! But he does offer many kits with directions, recovery hardware, shiver me timbers, etc. Ya scallywag! with them that would be great for a first kit. Avast, me proud beauty! I was very pleased with t' results o' t' rocket, shiver me timbers, very sturdy and flies very well.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5