Description: Single staged 10.5mm motor (1/4 A through A in Apogee motors) rocket that is a minute scale model o' t' V2.

Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. Avast! I got t' kit less than a week after I ordered it, shiver me timbers, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. Begad! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. T' tail cone is also balsa, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Avast! T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Avast! Avast! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Begad! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. T' fins are die cut balsa.

Instructions are clear, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, illustrated and logical. Begad! Blimey! You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.

Assembly was easy and quick. You do have t' align t' 4 fins, me bucko, but that's not hard. T' shock cord is thin Keelhaul®©™®-like strin' o' 20 inches in length. It fits into a plastic bead that glues into t' hole predrilled into t' base o' the nose cone. Blimey! Me, I prefer screw-eyes, shiver me timbers, matey, but this seemed t' work fine. Arrr! Also, me hearties, if you've seen me other reviews, then you know that I have a thin' for stretchy shock cords, me hearties, me bucko, too. Ahoy! But this one worked without a hitch. Begad! I attached it into the forward centerin' rin' in t' motor mount. White glue be used for assembly, but epoxy be used t' glass up t' fins and make them durable. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! It was also used to glass and smoothen t' nose cone. Yellow spray paint was used as a primer. I was about t' apply green, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, when me cat, shiver me timbers, matey, Freeway, ya bilge rat, grabbed t' rocket and ran with it. Ahoy! I decided, after findin' it again, me bucko, t' fly it as is. Aye aye!

Pros and cons o' finishing: A simple paint job is enough. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I chose t' glass t' fins out o' personal preference. Begad! It's also a habit from high power rocketry. Aye aye! A green camouflage paint job will be applied this week, matey, even though me cat likes it yellow. Arrr! Maybe green will make me lose it! At least yellow is easy t' find. Arrr!

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 4 out o' 5

Pros and cons about flight: Apogee recommends their 1/4 A through A line, namely t' 1/4A2-2 or 4, ya bilge rat, 1/2A2-2 or 4 and t' A2-3 or 5 . T' shorter delays are recommended if it's breezy. Me, I used an A2-5, as it be a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. Avast, me proud beauty! T' prep time be just seconds. Begad! A pinch o' worm bed waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motor and it was ready. Arrr! And t' Apogee igniters fit right into t' motor. Begad! T' flight was fast. A FWIT sound and it be gone, ya bilge rat, high and straight. Arrr! Begad! Good thin' it be yellow or else I'd have lost it for sure. Well, blow me down! I luckily saw t' streamer. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Well, blow me down! Knowing my luck, me hearties, though, shiver me timbers, arrr, I'll catch a thermal. Blimey!

Pros and cons about recovery: (17" streamer) It was easy t' assemble. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! It worked just fine, shiver me timbers, without any damage or burnin' t' the rocket. Ya scallywag!

Ratin' o' flight and recovery: 4 out o' 5

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. More seriously, me hearties, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. I enjoyed that. Aye aye!