Roger...thanks for the info. Your one of the guys I was hoping to hear from...I've been to your build site (payload bay) numerous times.
So did you switch from kevlar to wire on the center spar for a horizontal landing...reasons for that?
The first time I tried it with the Kevlar, the string broke. So, when I later had to repair the nose, I used a wire and that worked pretty well.
I didn't look very good, though, so, next time, I might get fancy and mount a t-nut or something near the nose so I can detach the harness for display.
I was worried the wire might catch on the wings or another part and damage the rocket, but, in six or seven flights with that rig, it never happened.
I've thought of a few more things ...
I bought a Top Flight thin-mil 'chute that packed a little tighter than the original 'chute which I think made deployment more reliable. But, it was a challenge to pack because the thin-mil stuff is slippery. I think you can find something better to use for the shock cord, too - something that would be as strong but pack in a tighter space.
Also, I recall having a problem filling the gaps between the plastic pieces when building my first one. I don't recall what I was trying to use. For the second one, I used Squadron Green Putty (I think it is recommended in the instructions) and it worked well.
I couldn't find anything that worked very well at gluing the plastic trim parts to the wood parts. I ended up using epoxy. Some trim pieces would come off, but only when the rocket landed. So they were easy to find and easy to glue back on.
Wow ... I'm making this rocket sound like the Ford Pinto I drove (and repaired daily) when I was in high school.
-- Roger