Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. Ya scallywag! It can use anythin' from a big E to a J570. Arrr! Blimey! It can easily break Mach 1 on an H, ya bilge rat, 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, matey, Keelhaul®©™® heat shield and shock cord, a Slimline circle rin' motor retainer, arrr, and an optional Slimline motor adapter. Begad! 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. Ya scallywag! I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. Begad! The nose cone I got from PML, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. After I fiberglassed t' tube, shiver me timbers, t' fin can fit exactly. T' launch lugs liked t' slide around while t' epoxy is drying, but other wise it be easy. Begad! Begad! T' fins needed no alignment, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. Avast! After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Well, blow me down! Red on t' fins, me hearties, arrr, and red on t' nose cone, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Begad! Well, arrr, blow me down! Overall, ya bilge rat, this is a very sturdy rocket — it could survive a tar landin' easily.

Flight:
I still have nay flown this, 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, matey, and t' next on an F20-7W. Aye aye! I put in a home made parachute. Arrr! It is a very large parachute, but I will reef it on breezy days. Ahoy! It is over stable, ya bilge rat, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. All simulations show straight flights, high (approx. Blimey! 3250' on F’s and G’s), and fast, despite t' weight.

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

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

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