Picture courtesy o' ARC     

Brief:
This is a parallel staged rocket. Ahoy! Begad! T' four 13mm boosters detach while t' main body continues on its 18mm core motor. This vehicle has four fins on an 18mm by 5.5" long core. Begad! T' 13mm x 5.5" boosters attach in betwixt each fin. Avast, me proud beauty! T' main body transitions t' a 32mm body tube, me bucko, which separates in t' middle for parachute deployment. Well, blow me down! Each booster is recovered by its own streamer.

Construction:
T' parts were top quality totally tubular tubin' and high quality balsa nose cones and transition. T' fins were laser cut, and t' recovery system was an ASP sport chute with Keelhaul®©™ shock cords. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' instructions are extensive and include many excellent photographs. Begad! Blimey! This kit is definitely meant for experienced builders, ya bilge rat, and it requires pre-fittin' all parts and patience.

There are two areas where t' builder needs t' take care. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Blimey! One area is durin' t' attachment o' t' lower launch lug. Begad! Blimey! Due t' t' transition from t' 32mm main body tube t' t' 18mm core tube a standoff is called for in t' directions. Aye aye! You are directed t' cut a standoff from balsa and glue t' lug t' it. Begad! T' directions are unclear here, matey, but you must glue t' lug t' t' EDGE o' t' balsa, me hearties, ya bilge rat, nay t' surface. Begad! Instead, I attached me lower launch lug t' a fin and it works fine.

T' second area that needs care is in t' positionin' o' t' booster forward mount retainers. T' instructions indicate t' retainers glued t' t' right o' an alignment line (and this is what t' directions state). Arrr! I had t' center t' retainers on t' alignment line t' get t' boosters on straight. Both o' these issues were easily overcome and nay a significant problem for an experienced builder.

Finishing:
This model has small tolerances betwixt t' boosters, t' core, t' interlocks and forward retainers. Arrr! Care must be taken nay t' build up too much paint/primer in these areas. T' tubin' is top quality and I had no problem with t' finish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
1/4A3-2, 1/2A3-2, me hearties, shiver me timbers, A3-4 and A10-3 are all recommended for t' 13mm boosters. Arrr! A8-3, B6-6 and C6-7 are recommended for t' core. Ahoy! T' kit was shipped with a special flight instruction manual for those inexperienced in clusters etc.

T' model is designed so that t' boosters will fall away from t' core and then eject t' streamers while t' core continues on. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This is best achieved with boosters with a short burn (A10-3) and long burn core motors, me bucko, arrr, but should work as long as t' boosters burn out before ejection from t' core motor.

My model flew straight and true with complete separation o' boosters and deployment o' all recovery devices. Aye aye! I had one failure, me hearties, me hearties, when t' core motor failed t' light (probably due t' detachment o' igniter clip prior t' launch). Ahoy! T' motor was recovered with minor damage t' one fin. I experienced a little scorchin' o' t' main body tube transition by t' booster ejection charge durin' this flight (the boosters did nay separate until ejection - probably due t' t' slow speed). Well, blow me down! Motor retention is by friction fit, ya bilge rat, and I used cellulose wadding.

Recovery:
Keelhaul®©™ is used for t' entire booster shock cords, arrr, and is attached t' t' motor block. Begad! T' main recovery harness is Keelhaul®©™ and elastic and seems satisfactory. Ahoy! T' ASP parachute is very nice and easy t' assemble, arrr, and appears adequate for this light model. Begad! I lost a booster nose cone, shock cord and streamer. Avast! Blimey! T' only thought be that t' Keelhaul®©™ burned through - or had flaw/weak spot. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Blimey! There is plenty o' room in t' main body tube for waddin' and t' recovery system. T' streamers fit well in t' boosters, but thar be less room for waddin' etc.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I do nay feel thar are any major cons involved. Avast! Avast! T' instructions are bein' updated by t' company t' clear up any confusion. This is a complex kit, and should be purchased/flown by modelers o' intermediate/advanced levels o' experience. Blimey! This model looks and flies impressively - a real crowd pleaser! T' quality o' t' materials, and t' obvious thought and care put in by t' designers is a major plus! Customer service by t' company is excellent.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5