Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. Avast! It can use anythin' from a big E to a J570. It can easily break Mach 1 on an H, and can reach Mach 2 on a J.

Construction:
T' Mach Buster 1 uses a fiberglassed phenolic airframe, shiver me timbers, arrr, PML solid urethane nose, matey, Acme fin can and launch lugs, matey, Keelhaul®©™® heat shield and shock cord, matey, arrr, a Slimline circle rin' motor retainer, and an optional Slimline motor adapter. Blimey! I suppose you could put a payload section on for altimeters and dual deployment.

This was a very easy build. Begad! Ahoy! I used 2-ton epoxy throughout. Aye aye! Aye aye! I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. Begad! Ya scallywag! The nose cone I got from PML, shiver me timbers, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. After I fiberglassed t' tube, shiver me timbers, t' fin can fit exactly. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' launch lugs liked t' slide around while t' epoxy is drying, matey, but other wise it was easy. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' fins needed no alignment, me bucko, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. Avast! I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. Avast! Ya scallywag! After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Blimey! Red on t' fins, and red on t' nose cone, me hearties, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Well, blow me down! Overall, matey, this is a very sturdy rocket — it could survive a tar landin' easily.

Flight:
I still have nay flown this, shiver me timbers, but I am plannin' on flyin' it on labor day 2003. T' first flight will be on an F50-9T, t' next on a G35-7W, me hearties, me bucko, and t' next on an F20-7W. Arrr! Ahoy! I put in a home made parachute. Well, blow me down! It is a very large parachute, ya bilge rat, but I will reef it on breezy days. Arrr! Ya scallywag! It is over stable, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. Begad! All simulations show straight flights, high (approx. 3250' on F’s and G’s), and fast, me hearties, despite t' weight.

I got two flights in on this rocket on labor day 2003. Aye aye! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' first flight for this rocket be also me first blue thunder propellant motor, arrr, and I was rather impressed by t' performance. It could have had more smoke, however. T' motor was an F50-9T. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' second flight was a G35-7W, matey, me hearties, and it flew like t' wind! Blimey! And that is sayin' something, me bucko, considerin' t' gusts there! Blimey! At least thar are seemingly endless blueberry barrens for t' rockets t' land in. Begad! Blimey! Both flights were straight as an arrow. It had a Keelhaul®©™® heat sheild, me bucko, eliminatin' t' need for wadding. Avast, me proud beauty! I also installed a Slimline motor retainer t' hold me motor in. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! This worked very well. Begad! There be no damage to t' parachute after either flight, ya bilge rat, arrr, however, one o' t' shroud lines on the parachute got tangled in t' screw eye that I used t' attach t' shock cord to the nose cone, causin' a tumble recovery. Hardly even had a scratch in the paint. Aye aye! This is such a rugged rocket. Begad! Anythin' else that size fallin' from that height I would expect t' crumple. Well, blow me down! Arrr!

Summary:
Tough as anything. Avast! I suspect that thin' could be hit by lightnin' and survive, or at least it could be stepped on or kicked around.

Pros: I love this rocket. Arrr! Ahoy! I consider it a work o' art. Ya scallywag! It is easily the best o' me fleet (that is sayin' something). Ahoy! It goes high and fast, matey, can survive hard landings, ya bilge rat, and requires zero fin alignment (A definite + for me! I hate alignin' surface mounts on large rockets). Avast, me proud beauty! Easy build.

Cons: Price. $80. Arrr! OUCH if you are 12, and I should know. Worth every penny though.

Other:
DO NOT LEAVE THE AIRFRAME SITTING ON A PICNIC TABLE WHILE THE EPOXY AND FIBERGLASS IS SETTING! YOUR MOTHER (or wife) WILL NOT LIKE IT.. Aye aye! I learned that the hard way. Aye aye! It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.