Brief:
T' Art Applewhite Cone rocket is a single stage, cone stabilized rocket. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Construction:
Art's rockets are amazing. They are comprised o' a small number o' lightweight parts. Aye aye! This kit comes with a 1/4" foamcore board with printed patterns, a piece o' gold mirror cardstock with patterns printed on t' back, matey, a piece of plain cardstock with parts printed on it, two nice white motor mount tubes (24 and 29mm), and a couple o' feet o' gold (!!) elastic shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! That's it! All the components are o' very good quality.

Although Art's rockets may be tricky for you t' build if you are unfamiliar with paper construction techniques, shiver me timbers, his instructions are clear and t' the point. He will "walk" you through t' process, and even if it is difficult for you, ya bilge rat, his instructions will get you there.

Construction o' t' cone rocket is unlike anythin' I've ever seen. Begad! Blimey! The rocket is o' a skeleton/shroud construction nay unlike builtup R/C planes. Centerin' rings are cut out o' t' foam core with an X-Acto knife, then the edge is tapered with it. Ahoy! T' shrouds are cut from t' card stock and fit over the centerin' rings- these support t' shroud and help maintain t' shape. Ya scallywag!

There are two shrouds, me hearties, me hearties, matey, an inside structural shroud and an external finish shroud. T' internal one can be tricky t' do- it has t' be rolled precisely to the correct form. Ya scallywag! Begad! I had a little too much glue on mine, ya bilge rat, matey, and it started to "grab" before it was in t' proper position!! Fortunately, thar was time t' slip it into alignment before it set. Begad! T' manufacturer has been informed o' this, and will include a note in future instructions. Aye aye! Arrr!

Next, me hearties, you cut out t' external shroud from t' gold card stock, me hearties, roll it to form, and glue a tab over t' seam t' form t' shape. Blimey! Additional gold reinforcin' strips are added along t' bottom 1/2" o' t' inside diameter. This is then glued over t' structural shroud.

This rocket builds quickly, and despite me lack o' experience and cautious pace, me bucko, ya bilge rat, it be assembled and ready t' fly in 2 hours!

Finishing:
Absolutely no finishin' o' any kind is required, ya bilge rat, and this rocket looks STUNNING. Begad! If you have other than t' mirrored finish, you may want t' spray the outside in clear enamel t' preserve t' preprinted graphics. Ahoy! Well, blow me down!

Easy and looks great- outstanding!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Prep is super easy. Avast! Begad! Blimey! T' completed rocket has a base plate with t' motor tube built in, that "nests" into t' forward shroud and tube. Begad! Blimey! They are connected by t' shock cord. Begad! Blimey! Just tape in your motor, shiver me timbers, feed t' shock cord into the shroud, and nest t' tubes back together. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! (Be sure t' align launch rod holes in t' shroud with t' one in t' base plate) You are now ready t' add ignitor and launch!!

Although this rocket requires no wadding, I put a generous ball o' Quest waddin' into t' forward shroud (not motor mount) tube. Begad!

Since this rocket is built without a thrust ring, me bucko, you can theoretically use a large variety o' motors. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Just extend them out t' top o' t' motor mount tube and into t' shroud tube. Ya scallywag! It is recommended that they protrude no more than 1/2" from t' bottom, though. Avast, me proud beauty! For t' first flight, an Estes C11-3 was used. Begad!

T' rocket was stood off from t' blast plate 6" as directed in the instructions. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Lift-off was fairly slow. Boost be straight, shiver me timbers, but nay as leisurely as Art's saucers. Begad! Blimey! This rocket gains some speed! T' wide, flat base results in a HUGE smoke trail. Avast! It nosed over at apogee and fell for about a second before t' ejection charge went off. Begad! Altitude looked t' be about 250-300'. Begad! Ya scallywag!

T' Cone is a GREAT candidate for demo flights on small fields. Ahoy! Begad! One o' the most interestin' low altitude flights I've ever seen. Ahoy! Begad!

Recovery:
T' cone rocket separates into 2 pieces at ejection. Ahoy! Blimey! T' shock cord is retained by t' centerin' rin' at t' top, arrr, and by an Estes-style tri-fold mount onto the bottom centerin' ring. Blimey! T' motor mount has a rolled paper gasket on t' top which seals it into t' 29mm tube. Blimey! When t' ejection charge goes off, arrr, shiver me timbers, it pressurizes t' 29mm tube and separates t' rocket with a loud POP! The lightweight pieces then tumble down, ya bilge rat, held together by t' shock cord. Avast!

T' tip o' t' nose stuck into t' turf with a THUNK, but thar was no sign of damage other than some soot stains on t' base and inside. Begad! Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
If you are willin' t' take your time and learn t' required techniques, ya bilge rat, the cone rocket is a rewardin' build. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! You will want t' be cautious durin' forming of t' shrouds and taperin' t' centerin' rings. Aye aye!

Even with all due caution, me hearties, it builds fast. Arrr! You get a simple but VERY UNIQUE lookin' rocket that flies unlike any other you'll ever see. Avast! It's a wonderful addition t' Art Applewhite's line.

Get one o' these!!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5