I got t' Mean Machine for me birthday and have just finished it. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! There were a few requirements for t' finished rocket:

• It must break into sections for easy transport.
• Center break recovery.
• Baffle system t' eliminate recovery wadding.

I began construction as in t' stock kit, except I used 30 min Epoxy instead o' white glue. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Blimey! When I got t' t' step about t' tube couplers, ya bilge rat, matey, I stopped and planned out t' remainder o' t' construction. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I used one centerin' rin' and a circle o' thin balsa with holes drilled into it for t' baffle. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! 1/4" black elastic be attached t' t' tube coupler by a wire looped through t' balsa with t' drilled holes and around t' coupler lengthwise. Avast, me proud beauty! I also placed steel wool in t' open end t' aid in t' trappin' o' hot particles. Avast! T' open end o' t' baffle (with t' steel wool) be glued into t' rocket with THE STEEL WOOL TOWARDS THE FINS! I then cut a bulkhead out o' 3/16" aircraft plywood (I think) and looped another wire through a hole in that. Arrr! I attached t' other end o' t' shock cord (it is pretty long) t' t' wire on t' bulkhead. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I then decided t' have a HPR type long payload section on top, so I glued t' third coupler onto one length o' tubing. T' nose has a few layers o' tape t' keep it on tight. Arrr! I filleted everything, ya bilge rat, especially t' top bulkhead, with industrial hot glue. Aye aye! I filled t' fins with Rock Hard putty, ya bilge rat, matey, slightly diluted. Avast! Aye aye! It is painted black. I will probably put in a nylon parachute smaller than t' stock plastic one.