Brief:
T' Lamprey was one o' t' kits that Custom released around 1992 as part o' their "second wave" o' kits. This a rather sharp lookin' design, even thought it's your basic 3FNC model. Ahoy! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' Lamprey, named after an eel, last appeared in t' Custom Rockets catalog in 1998. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I purchased and built mine in t' 1993-94 time period.

Construction:
T' Lamprey was supposed t' resemble some sort o' air-to-air missile. Avast! Blimey! It be presented in an industry-standard plastic bag with a cardboard header. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' instructions were lackin' somewhat in detail but covered t' basics.

T' main airframe is an 18" length o' 1.325" OD kraft paper tubing--essentially it's an Estes BT-55. Aye aye! In fact, me hearties, it is quite possible that all o' t' components o' Custom kits at this time were o' Estes origin. Blimey! Aye aye! T' fins in the kit were (or should I say, ya bilge rat, are) o' good quality 3/32" balsa, die-stamped onto t' wood. Avast, me proud beauty! There be no laser cutting yet. Arrr! T' rest o' t' parts are standard design: 2.75" piece o' 18mm tubin' for t' motor mount, a steel motor retention hook, and two 20/50 paper rings. T' rubber shock cord is held in place with t' familiar tri-fold paper mount. Blimey! T' nose cone is o' interest. Begad! It's hollow but o' a standard shape. I'd say it compares t' a SEMROC BNC-55X.

I used yellow aliphatic resin glue throughout in construction. There were no "gotchas" at all in this build. Begad! T' parachute be somewhat unique t' Custom at t' time. Begad! Begad! It was an 18" chute o' a silver mylar-type material. Begad! However, ya bilge rat, I recall that t' chute had a somewhat slick, non-mylar surface.

Custom listed this as a Skill Level 2 model. Arrr! Aye aye! I'd say it be more like a Skill Level 1.

Finishing:
I finished mine in t' colors shown on t' kit card. I used Krylon gray primer followed with a couple o' coats of Krylon white. Ahoy! Usin' me officially calibrated eyeballs, ya bilge rat, I masked off a portion o' t' lower body, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and sprayed it with Testor's Competition Orange. T' nose cone was sprayed with Krylon glass black. Aye aye! T' water transfer decals, which were of good quality, me bucko, arrr, were added as per t' kit card. After givin' t' model and decals adequate time t' dry, I shot the whole thin' with Testor's clear glass.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors are t' ones one would suspect for a model o' this size: A8-3, B4-2, ya bilge rat, B4-4, me bucko, B6-2, shiver me timbers, B6-4, arrr, and C6-5. Aye aye! Blimey! I've flown mine over t' years on B4-4s and B6-4s with good results. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! I have also flown it on B6-6 and C6-7 motors, shiver me timbers, and they've turned in great flights.

Recovery:
T' only problem I've encountered in flyin' t' Lamprey was t' kit parachute--it didn't last past t' first flight. T' tape tabs provided with t' kit did nay adhere well t' t' rather slick surface o' t' parachute material. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! It's now long gone, me bucko, replaced with a standard plastic chute. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! If built with care (like makin' sure t' fins are on straight), the Lamprey is a high flier even on B4 and B6 motors. Begad!

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Ease o' construction, ya bilge rat, me bucko, quality o' parts, and basic design.

CONs: It's out o' production!

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5