Brief:
This is a single staged HPR capable rocket. It can use anythin' from a big E to a J570. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! 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, matey, ya bilge rat, PML solid urethane nose, shiver me timbers, Acme fin can and launch lugs, ya bilge rat, Keelhaul®©™® heat shield and shock cord, me bucko, a Slimline circle rin' motor retainer, and an optional Slimline motor adapter. Begad! Ya scallywag! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I got all the parts besides t' nose cone and fiberglass cloth from Giant Leap Rocketry. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! The nose cone I got from PML, t' fiberglass I got from a hobby shop. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! After I fiberglassed t' tube, me bucko, ya bilge rat, t' fin can fit exactly. T' launch lugs liked t' slide around while t' epoxy is drying, ya bilge rat, but other wise it be easy. Begad! Blimey! T' fins needed no alignment, besides linin' up with t' launch lug. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I taped and epoxied the shock cord t' t' body tube. Begad! Blimey! After I completed t' construction I painted it red and black. Red on t' fins, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and red on t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, arrr, but black on t' body tube and part o' t' fin can and Slimline. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! 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, me bucko, t' next on a G35-7W, arrr, and t' next on an F20-7W. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I put in a home made parachute. Begad! Blimey! It is a very large parachute, but I will reef it on breezy days. Aye aye! It is over stable, matey, matey, accordin' t' Rock-Sim and SpaceCAD. Avast, me proud beauty! All simulations show straight flights, me hearties, high (approx. Blimey! 3250' on F’s and G’s), and fast, me bucko, despite t' weight.

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

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

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