Brief:
First, arrr, I want t' point out that thar be already a review o' this product, arrr, matey, and I concur with EMRR’s opinions. Begad! However, I received this kit as a prize from the Fantasy Rocket Photo Contest, and felt that t' least that I could do is write a review. When EMRR offered me t' Snipe as a replacement for t' advertised kit (which be a no-show), arrr, it didn’t take me long t' warm up t' this nice sized, 24mm cluster rocket. Begad! I haven’t built many clusters, and thought this one would be fun on a trio o' E9s.

Construction:
T' Snipe is 2.6” in diameter and 58.5 inches long (actual measurement - t' instructions say its only 56”). Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' main tube is 30” long, t' payload bay is 15”, and t' plastic nosecone is 13 inches. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' three rounded fins remind me o' a template that Estes used t' provide in their Designer’s Special, ya bilge rat, and which I had used many years ago for a rocket I built for me daughter. T' fins, payload bulkhead, and two centerin' rings are all 1/8” ply. While t' fins were very neatly cut, ya bilge rat, t' rings were slightly rough. Begad! Begad! This, however, arrr, isn’t a problem. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! There are three long 24mm motor tubes, me hearties, which are long enough t' handle any available 24mm motors. T' recovery system consists o' an 18” steel cable, ya bilge rat, ~9’ length o' ½” elastic, and a 28” nylon chute. T' cable is pre-attached t' t' front CR and has a loop on t' other end. Begad! Arrr! An eyebolt is used t' attach t' elastic t' t' payload bulkhead plate.

This is an easy rocket t' build. Aye aye! T' instructions are on one double-sided 8 ½” x 11” sheet and are generally adequate. Begad! I first built t' fin can per t' instructions. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I did this while I was workin' on a bigger project and went ahead and glued on both rings. Avast! I normally don’t glue on t' aft rin' until I’ve had a chance t' add internal fillets, but wasn’t payin' attention this time. Begad! Begad! Unfortunately, ya bilge rat, t' fins only have ½” tabs, which are nay long enough t' reach t' motor mount assembly. Aye aye! Havin' had mid power rockets with both through t' wall and surface mount fins, arrr, ya bilge rat, I know that internal fillets would have been a good idea on this rocket. It be suggested that I could glue on t' fins, arrr, add internal fillets, arrr, and notch t' forward CR so t' motor mount would slide in. However, I found that one o' t' notches would interfere with t' steel shock cable that was pre-installed. Arrr! Therefore, I punted.

T' fin slots are nay pre cut, but were pre-marked. Arrr! I didn’t trust t' markin' so I double checked them, me hearties, findin' that they were very accurate. Arrr! T' slots were easy t' cut with a sharp Exacto knife. I inserted t' motor mount and then glued t' fins on with hefty doses o' t' black rubberized CA. Aye aye! Since t' fin tabs are only about half as long as t' fins, I was able t' partially extract t' mount and gain access t' t' back o' t' tabs. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! I formed thin rolls o' LocTite epoxy putty and laid them against t' fin tabs. Ya scallywag! I used a long thin screwdriver, dipped in rubbin' alcohol, matey, t' compress them against t' fin joints. Avast! I have never tried this before, only time will tell whether it be a good idea.

T' payload assembly was typical, me bucko, consistin' o' a coupler, pre-drilled bulkhead, shiver me timbers, and eyebolt hardware. Arrr! For motor retention, I cut t' head off a small bolt and epoxied it into t' gap betwixt t' three motor tubes. A small washer and a bolt should hold t' three motors nicely.

Finishing:
I filled t' fins with Fill ‘n Finish and gave it one coat o' white primer. Well, blow me down! Arrr! For t' first time, me bucko, matey, I tried plasti-kote Fleck Stone. Well, blow me down! I got t' ‘Manhattan Mist’, which is gray with black and white spots. Arrr! This is interestin' stuff. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It spurts out o' t' can like a giant ‘raspberry’ and leaves a coatin' that looks like a stone surface. Maybe nay optimal for rockets (too rough), me bucko, shiver me timbers, but interesting. Aye aye! I bought this brand over t' competitor because it be cheaper, matey, me bucko, only t' find that you also need a sealer, me hearties, which t' competitor includes. After some testing, I used Testor’s clear acrylic over t' Fleck Stone finish. Begad! Aye aye! Finally, me bucko, t' add some contrast, I painted t' nose cone with Rustoleum Hammered Gold.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I used t' parachute that be supplied with t' kit and a home-made protector made from a car air bag. I wrapped tape around three E9-4’s and then installed t' nut and washer t' hold them in. Aye aye! For ignition duties, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I used three Igniterman igniters. These long igniters are easier t' prep, and provided an added guarantee o' reliable ignition. Avast! They are overkill for these BP motors.

T' kit weighed in at 22 oz on me home scale and Rocksim said it would be about 28 oz with t' E9s (I didn’t have t' motors t' weigh it loaded). Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' launch was slow and thar be a slight wobble in t' first 20 feet until t' rocket came up t' speed. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It easily reached 1000 ft, and ejection appeared t' be just before apogee. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' stock chute seemed fine. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' rocket banged into t' side o' a metal barn, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but was undamaged.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Even though this is a standard 3FNC rocket, its stylin' is somewhat unique due t' t' curved fins and long nosecone. It was easy t' build, arrr, but t' fin tabs should be long enough t' touch t' motor mount assembly. Begad! Well, matey, blow me down! Barrin' this, t' instructions should have told you t' wait t' glue in t' aft CR until you have added internal fillets. Arrr! T' flight on t' E9s was cool. Well, blow me down! Three F’s should really rock!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5