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

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

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

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Recovery:T' recovery system worked fine, me bucko, ya bilge rat, me hearties, although I did nay know this until two months later, ya bilge rat, arrr, which I'll explain soon. Arrr! 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, ya bilge rat, as Keelhaul®©™® can take heat better than elastic can, matey, and since that end o' t' shock cord system is closer t' engine fumes, I wanted it flameproof. Avast, me proud beauty!   Also, shiver me timbers, arrr, epoxied elastic becomes brittle, so I don't directly adhere it t' t' shock mount any more. Ya scallywag!

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5