Brief: Single staged, lightweight model with three swept back fins, shiver me timbers, comin' with choice o' 10.5, 13, and 18mm motor mounts. Avast! Meant t' demonstrate performance differences betwixt these three motor types. Begad! Avast! My guess is that it is meant t' show observers that t' 10.5mm motors boot models higher.

Construction: Apogee gives great service. Begad! I ordered this rocket online along with others and it arrived in less than five days. Arrr! Ya scallywag! All t' parts were there, me hearties, matey, and were t' correct ones, shiver me timbers, and were undamaged and non-defective.

You get three die cut balsa fins, a spiral wound paper body tube that can take up t' 18mm engines, spiral wound paper motor tubes for 10.5 and 13mm motors with appropriate paper centerin' rings for them. T' nose cone is very lightweight hollow plastic with a built in loop at t' bottom for t' shock cord t' be tied. Blimey! This shock cord is three feet o' thin Keelhaul®©™/nylon threadin' which is mounted t' t' inside o' t' body tube via a folded paper mounting. Avast! T' streamer is thin orange/red nylon one inch wide and one foot long.

Overall, t' model is easy t' build, and t' instructions are clear and illustrated. A kid could build it, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, as t' instructions are suitable t' be understood by beginners too.

Finishing: There weren't any decals, matey, shiver me timbers, me hearties, so I played with me airbrush a bit, matey, me hearties, matey, variegatin' cream color into green. Begad! Aye aye! Yes, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' model is called Blue Streak, me bucko, so mine is more o' a Green Streak. Well, blow me down! T' fins were sealed ahead o' paintin' usin' airplane dope and sanded smooth. Avast! A cream colored primer coat be then laid down. Well, blow me down! Arrr! then came t' variegated layer. It looks rather nice. I probably won't change it t' blue after all.

Construction Rating: 4

Flight: As mentioned, matey, matey, ya bilge rat, you get motor mounts t' allow choices o' engines. You can use: 1/4A2-2, A2-3, and B2-5 for 10.5mm flights, shiver me timbers, 1/2A3-2T, A3-4T, A10-3T, and B7-6 for 13mm flights, and 1/2A6-2, me hearties, A8-3, A6-4, B4-4, matey, matey, B4-6, B6-4,B6-6, C6-5, C6-7, C4-7, C10-7, arrr, and D3-7 for 18mm shots. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I've so far used t' A8-3, A10-3T,B2-5, and C6-5. Arrr! Blimey! All make nice straight performances. Avast! Blimey! I nearly lost it on t' B2-5 shot. Avast! Blimey! Better carry binoculars.

Recovery: T' shock cord, ya bilge rat, matey, as mentioned, shiver me timbers, is Keelhaul®©™ and nay stretchy. Begad! I'd prefer somethin' stretchy, me hearties, but this system worked fine. Aye aye! Recovery was just about right, me hearties, only I'd perhaps make t' model a small chute like other Apogee kits have, t' help with sighting. Avast! Begad! Assembly be easy, and two small sheets o' recovery waddin' be all that was needed. Ahoy! T' model is unburnt and still flying.

Flight Rating: 4

Summary: Easy t' build, fun t' choose engines and experiment. No glarin' cons. Begad! Any mods I'd make are for me taste only, arrr, shiver me timbers, as t' model works fine as is. Good price, too. Avast! Maybe you teachers out thar would consider this one for classes? I might consider it for birthday parties.

Overall Rating: 3