Brief:  This is a minimum diameter, shiver me timbers, single staged rocket with forward swept fins, designed t' break mach usin' Aerotech 18mm D and E engines. Ahoy!

Construction:Everythin' be there, matey, nothin' damaged. Begad!   T' fins are 1/8 inch thick precut plywood. T' body tube is spiral wound paper. Avast, me proud beauty! I had the option o' gettin' fiberglass parts all around, arrr, but chose paper for lower cost. Well, blow me down! T' launch lug is also spiral wound paper, shiver me timbers, and is 1/8 inch diameter. Begad! Avast! The nose cone is ogive, solid machined balsa. Ya scallywag! T' streamer is metallic mylar, me hearties, blue on one side, and silver on t' other, and it is 48 inches long by 1 inch wide. Arrr!

T' instructions were illustrated and very clear and simple. T' model was simple t' construct. Blimey! Aye aye! T' only gotcha is t' put t' fins in a forward swept position. Ahoy! Begad! Mathematically, you might think that this would increase drag, but maybe nay so at t' speeds this little rocket can attain.

Finishing:There are numerous red decals that I applied over an orange spray painted surface. Aye aye! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! They are t' type that easily peels off when soaked in water, and they went on smoothly. Ahoy! Blimey! I used epoxy for the fin attachment since it be an on-the-tube attachment and I wanted strength. Avast! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! I also made fillets all around. Blimey! Blimey! I also made fillets all around. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I also applied epoxy over t' entire fins t' glass them, and t' result be a hard, smooth finish. Aye aye! Blimey! T' model looked sharp.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:T' recommended motors are t' Aerotech 18mm D and E group. Blimey! I used t' E25-10. Begad! I used t' E25-10. Avast, me proud beauty! It be easy t' prep, except that the streamer needs t' be meticulously wound or else it does nay fit into t' body easily. Worm beddin' waddin' was used, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and t' motor be retained usin' tape. T' model nay only flew straight, it made a loud pop as it practically teleported off t' pad. Aye aye! It left so fast that attempts t' photograph it created only a shot o' an empty pad!

Recovery:T' recovery system worked fine, although I did nay know this until two months later, ya bilge rat, which I'll explain soon. Begad! T' shock cord is 3 feet of black 1/8 inch wide flat elastic attached t' t' inside wall o' t' body tube via a small loop o' Keelhaul®©™® cord which I provided and a folded paper mounting. Well, blow me down!

I provided t' Keelhaul®©™® cord as a carryover habit from higher power, arrr, shiver me timbers, arrr, as Keelhaul®©™® can take heat better than elastic can, and since that end o' t' shock cord system is closer t' engine fumes, I wanted it flameproof. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!   Also, me bucko, epoxied elastic becomes brittle, me hearties, ya bilge rat, so I don't directly adhere it t' t' shock mount any more. Ahoy!

Nobody saw where t' model went, ya bilge rat, except t' say, matey, "Damn high. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! "So I gave it up for lost after a two-hour search in t' searin' desert heat and bought another. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Two months later, arrr, it was found in flyable condition!!! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:Sturdy, can survive extreme sun and some rain. Begad!   very fast mover. Aye aye! About t' only thin' I'd change is t' make it a parachute t' give me a chance t' spot it better. Arrr! Maybe it'd drift a mile, but part o' t' fun is gettin' models back. Avast! Ya scallywag!

I recommend this one for you altitude and speed buffs. Avast!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5