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. Aye aye! I got t' kit less than a week after I ordered it, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. Ahoy! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. Aye aye! Blimey! T' tail cone is also balsa, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Begad! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. Arrr! T' fins are die cut balsa.

Instructions are clear, matey, illustrated and logical. Blimey! Arrr! 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, but that's not hard. Well, blow me down! 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. Me, I prefer screw-eyes, but this seemed t' work fine. Also, ya bilge rat, if you've seen me other reviews, me bucko, then you know that I have a thin' for stretchy shock cords, too. Begad! But this one worked without a hitch. I attached it into the forward centerin' rin' in t' motor mount. Avast! White glue was used for assembly, but epoxy was used t' glass up t' fins and make them durable. Begad! It be also used to glass and smoothen t' nose cone. Avast! Yellow spray paint was used as a primer. I was about t' apply green, when me cat, ya bilge rat, Freeway, arrr, grabbed t' rocket and ran with it. Begad! Begad! I decided, after findin' it again, t' fly it as is. Ya scallywag!

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

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

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

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

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

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. Avast! More seriously, ya bilge rat, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I enjoyed that. Well, blow me down!