As everyone knows I like altitude and big rockets are no exception so I was rambling through the LOC catalog looking for a bird for my level two attempt at SOM 4 and I came across the Expediter. I liked it because it resembled an ICBM (inter continental ballistic missile, i.e. a Minute Man) so I bought it. The Expediter consists of a 4.0 inch booster that contains a single 54mm motor mount reduced to 3.10" and is 61" tall and is recovered by a single 48" parachute. 

To build the Expediter I constructed the motor mount using 30 min. epoxy and installed a recessed kaplow mount to retain the motor which required me to modify the fins a bit. Next I constructed the fin tabs which was the hard part. The big gripe I have about this kit is the FIN TABS which requires separate tabs to be glued to the bottom of the fin root which is very weak, to fix this I glued the tabs as to the instructions on wax paper and installed 3/4 oz. fiberglass on both sides of the tabs, this greatly increases the strength of the tabs. 

Next I installed the motor mount in the tube with 30 min. epoxy followed by the fins. Note: install an eye-bolt to the motor mount to attach the shock cord. Whatever you do, DO NOT USE THE STOCK SHOCK CORD MOUNT, IT WILL RIP OUT OF THE ROCKET CAUSING IT TO GO SPLAT on the hard surface which is not funny. 

Next I built the payload section by the instructions with epoxy. 

Finally, I painted the entire rocket with Rustoleum paint.

Its first flight was at SoM-4, the flight was picture perfect with no nose weight. The motor I used for the flight was an I357-m which produced a perfect, straight as an arrow, no roll flight which was recovered very close to the pad. The next planned flight is on a J350 . . . can you say Mach! One suggestion: relocate the shock cord mount to the center ring because the tube mount is not strong enough to handle the load.