Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. Arrr! Begad! 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, PML solid urethane nose, Acme fin can and launch lugs, ya bilge rat, Keelhaul®©™® heat shield and shock cord, arrr, shiver me timbers, a Slimline circle rin' motor retainer, shiver me timbers, and an optional Slimline motor adapter. I suppose you could put a payload section on for altimeters and dual deployment.

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

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

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

Summary:
Tough as anything. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. I consider it a work o' art. Ahoy! Begad! It is easily the best o' me fleet (that is sayin' something). It goes high and fast, can survive hard landings, matey, shiver me timbers, and requires zero fin alignment (A definite + for me! I hate alignin' surface mounts on large rockets). Begad! Easy build.

Cons: Price. $80. Arrr! OUCH if you are 12, and I should know. Well, blow me down! 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.. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I learned that the hard way. Avast, me proud beauty! It took a lot o' sandpaper t' get it nice again.