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

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

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

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:T' recommended motors are t' Aerotech 18mm D and E group. I used t' E25-10. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! I used t' E25-10. Blimey! It be easy t' prep, except that the streamer needs t' be meticulously wound or else it does nay fit into t' body easily. Well, blow me down! Begad! Worm beddin' waddin' was used, and t' motor was retained usin' tape. T' model nay only flew straight, ya bilge rat, it made a loud pop as it practically teleported off t' pad. Blimey! Avast! 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. Arrr! Blimey! 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. Ahoy!

I provided t' Keelhaul®©™® cord as a carryover habit from higher power, as Keelhaul®©™® can take heat better than elastic can, and since that end o' t' shock cord system is closer t' engine fumes, ya bilge rat, I wanted it flameproof. Aye aye!   Also, epoxied elastic becomes brittle, so I don't directly adhere it t' t' shock mount any more. Begad!

Nobody saw where t' model went, arrr, ya bilge rat, except t' say, me bucko, "Damn high. Aye aye! "So I gave it up for lost after a two-hour search in t' searin' desert heat and bought another. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Two months later, me bucko, it be found in flyable condition!!!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

I recommend this one for you altitude and speed buffs.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5