Brief:
This is a semi-scale model o' t' Jupiter C. Aye aye! Aye aye! Dr. Blimey! Booty has coined t' phrase "Ant Scale" t' describe his models. This rocket easily fits that description. T' rocket is propelled by 18mm motors and comes with t' standard "trash bag" parachute. Don't be fooled by t' scale appearance. Begad! Often, matey, scale kits sacrifice performance for good looks, arrr, but that's nay t' case with this kit. Reaches dizzyin' heights on C motors.

Construction:
Parts list:

• 1 BT-50
• 1 BT-20 engine tube
• 1 Explorer I Jupiter C spacecraft balsa core
• 1 snap swivel
• 1 screw eye
• 1 engine clip
• 1 CR205P engine block
• 1 launch lug
• 2 CR35P centerin' rings
• 1 piece 1/8" dowel
• 1 short piece BT-5
• 2 CR2050P centerin' rings
• 1 sheet balsa fin stock
• 1 accessory and cut out wrap sheet
• Recovery package includin' one parachute, shroud lines, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, Keelhaul®©™ cord, me bucko, elastic shock cord, and sticky rings.

Dr. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Zooch is a fellow MDRA club member who asked if I would beta test this kit for him. Well, blow me down! Begad! Without hesitation I accepted t' request. Avast! Avast! There be in a bit o' a time crunch t' get this kit tested and released, ya bilge rat, so I began workin' on it as soon as it arrived via Priority Mail.

I read through t' instructions before buildin' since this this fits into t' whole Zooch experience! I wanted t' be thorough as this was me first time beta testin' for anyone. Avast, me proud beauty! T' sarcastic humor and well illustrated instructions make t' steps go by very smartly once you get started.

Dr.Zooch has you begin with t' Explorer I spacecraft. Begad! Begad! T' balsa transition, t' two smallest centerin' rings, wood dowel, me hearties, and short BT-5 get used here. Avast! An emery board is required t' carefully shape t' upper part o' t' transition. Ahoy! This was nay very difficult at all, me hearties, me bucko, although I must admit, shiver me timbers, me bucko, matey, I be a little nervous about shapin' me own balsa. Ya scallywag! There was no need t' be.

T' balsa spacecraft has a dowel shaped protrusion that extends from t' top. Ya scallywag! T' small centerin' rings are supposed t' slide over it and get glued into place. This was a very tight fit, so I removed a layer o' paper from t' inside o' each rin' and they fit perfectly. Avast! T' BT-5 slides over t' rings and completes t' "canister" part o' t' spacecraft. T' Explorer rocket on top o' t' spacecraft is simulated with t' 1/8" dowel. Ahoy! You need t' make a provision for t' dowel by usin' your own drill bit t' make a small depression in t' balsa core. Avast, me proud beauty! Very easy t' do.

After t' glue had dried, I filled t' balsa with Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish and set it aside t' dry.

T' motor mount be a standard 18mm assembly. Aye aye! Blimey! While that was drying, I cut out and applied t' body tube wrap.

Finishing:
There is no paintin' required for t' main tube, however, matey, me bucko, it's good idea t' clear spray t' wrap with Krylon Crystal Clear or similar. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! This protects t' wrap from dirt and smudges as your applyin' it t' t' body tube. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Follow t' instructions when applyin' t' wrap. T' technique described in t' instructions works so avoid t' temptation t' deviate.

T' fin assemblies are next. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Each fin is comprised o' two pieces that get glued together. Begad! Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! Set them on wax paper while they are drying. Begad! Blimey! Once t' glue was dry, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I filled and painted t' fins separately but masked t' root edge. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! This will give a better gluin' surface later on.

While t' paint on t' fins dried, I sanded t' Explorer spacecraft, shiver me timbers, me bucko, primed, me bucko, and painted. Ahoy! This took very little time and came out great.

After t' fins dried, I cut a slot in t' wrap so t' fins could glue directly t' t' body tube. Avast! Ya scallywag! I used white glue t' attach t' fins and made small fillets as well. Follow t' diagrams in t' instructions t' apply black paint t' t' appropriate fin. Ya scallywag! Begad! I used regular Testor's gloss black enamel t' hand paint t' black areas on t' fins and very tip o' t' spacecraft.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
My initial test were on B6 motors. Arrr! These are ideal for this rocket. Well, blow me down! Anymore than that and you take a chance at nay gettin' it back.

Durin' flight testin' we realized t' engine mount needed t' be moved aft just a fraction o' an inch t' prevent scorchin' t' fins. Arrr! Dr. Ahoy! Zooch immediately made adjustments t' his own prototype and flew his t' next day and t' problem be solved. Aye aye! Despite movin' t' motor mount location, me bucko, t' rocket be super stable and flew like a champ. Arrr! Ahoy! After hearin' how well t' flight tests went on a B, me hearties, Dr. Ahoy! Zooch prompted me t' use a C motor. Begad! Holy cow!

Usin' t' RockSim program, it shows gettin' close t' 1500' on a C motor, shiver me timbers, and I believe it gets every inch o' that in reality. Ahoy! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Very impressive flights from this little monster.

Recovery:
Fortunately on t' first C flight I opted t' put a streamer on it considerin' t' diminutive nature o' t' rocket and light t' moderate winds that day. That turned out t' be a good choice. Had I used a chute, I'm nay sure I would have gotten it back. T' little dowel on top o' t' spacecraft got jarred out o' t' hole slightly but was easily fixed on t' spot with some CA. You can't even tell it was damaged.

T' plastic chute that came with t' kit partially melted on t' first flight. Arrr! Arrr! It still deployed well enough t' slow it down with no sustained damage. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' only hitch I have found with t' Zooch kits would be t' parachute. Despite tryin' different waddin' techniques, shiver me timbers, they seem t' be susceptible t' melting. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I've got enough homemade chutes and spare plastic chutes that it's really a non-issue for me. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! He'll tell ya straight up, arrr, they are cut from trash bags. Ya scallywag! Worst case, me bucko, me hearties, you grab a new trash bag from under t' kitchen scuttle and cut yourself a new parachute.

Some Keelhaul®©™® strin' is included as a leader for t' elastic shock cord. Ahoy! Ahoy! Dr. Aye aye! Zooch recommends anchorin' t' Keelhaul®©™® with t' popular tri-fold method. I used CA for this and it has held up just fine. Aye aye! T' leader shows a little wear after several flights but is still intact.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I be very happy with t' way this kit turned out. Aye aye! Hard t' believe this was a beta kit. Ya scallywag! There were only very minor adjustments needed before it was released. Ahoy! Anyone buildin' and flyin' this kit will be in for a treat.

Only con be t' chute.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5