Brief:
First, shiver me timbers, I want t' point out that thar be already a review o' this product, matey, and I concur with EMRR’s opinions. Ahoy! Blimey! However, I received this kit as a prize from the Fantasy Rocket Photo Contest, me bucko, and felt that t' least that I could do is write a review. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! When EMRR offered me t' Snipe as a replacement for t' advertised kit (which be a no-show), it didn’t take me long t' warm up t' this nice sized, 24mm cluster rocket. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! 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”). Begad! T' main tube is 30” long, shiver me timbers, t' payload bay is 15”, and t' plastic nosecone is 13 inches. T' three rounded fins remind me o' a template that Estes used t' provide in their Designer’s Special, me bucko, and which I had used many years ago for a rocket I built for me daughter. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' fins, me bucko, payload bulkhead, matey, and two centerin' rings are all 1/8” ply. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! While t' fins were very neatly cut, ya bilge rat, me bucko, t' rings were slightly rough. Begad! This, however, shiver me timbers, isn’t a problem. Blimey! There are three long 24mm motor tubes, which are long enough t' handle any available 24mm motors. T' recovery system consists o' an 18” steel cable, ~9’ length o' ½” elastic, shiver me timbers, arrr, arrr, and a 28” nylon chute. T' cable is pre-attached t' t' front CR and has a loop on t' other end. An eyebolt is used t' attach t' elastic t' t' payload bulkhead plate.

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

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

T' payload assembly was typical, consistin' o' a coupler, shiver me timbers, pre-drilled bulkhead, matey, and eyebolt hardware. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Aye aye! For t' first time, I tried plasti-kote Fleck Stone. Well, blow me down! I got t' ‘Manhattan Mist’, which is gray with black and white spots. This is interestin' stuff. Arrr! It spurts out o' t' can like a giant ‘raspberry’ and leaves a coatin' that looks like a stone surface. Ya scallywag! Maybe nay optimal for rockets (too rough), me hearties, but interesting. Avast, me proud beauty! I bought this brand over t' competitor because it was cheaper, matey, only t' find that you also need a sealer, shiver me timbers, which t' competitor includes. Begad! After some testing, I used Testor’s clear acrylic over t' Fleck Stone finish. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Finally, matey, t' add some contrast, arrr, 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. Well, blow me down! I wrapped tape around three E9-4’s and then installed t' nut and washer t' hold them in. For ignition duties, I used three Igniterman igniters. Well, blow me down! These long igniters are easier t' prep, and provided an added guarantee o' reliable ignition. Arrr! Begad! 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). Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' launch was slow and thar be a slight wobble in t' first 20 feet until t' rocket came up t' speed. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It easily reached 1000 ft, and ejection appeared t' be just before apogee. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! T' stock chute seemed fine. T' rocket banged into t' side o' a metal barn, arrr, but be undamaged.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5