Brief:

If you're readin' this t' see whether or nay this would be a good kit t' buy, save your time, matey, shiver me timbers, as this limited edition kit from EMRR's rocket kit division sold out before t' first kit even shipped, me hearties, me bucko, makin' this kit as hard t' find as an Aston Martin Vanquish (but for only a fraction o' t' cost).

Two-stage, matey, shiver me timbers, funnel booster, me bucko, me hearties, matey, and fairly unusual nose cone design (similar to the Honest John) make this an interestin' design and fun flyer.

Construction:

T' kit arrived at t' end o' February as promised, and was virtually complete (missin' a centerin' ring, ya bilge rat, missin' from all kits and immediately shipped out).

T' parts list includes:-

• Balsa Sheet (for 3 fins)
• Card Stock Cone
• Tube Markin' Guide
• Balsa Nose Cone
• Nose Weight (washers)
• (1) Eye-Screw
• (2) Body Tubes (BT-50)
• (1) Body Tube Coupler
• (2) 18mm Motor Tubes
• (4) 18mm Centerin' Rings
• (2) Thrust Rings
• (2) 1/8" Launch Lugs
• Keelhaul®©™® + Elastic Shock Cord
• Streamer (1x48 plastic, dayglo green)
• Decals (water slide, very nice quality)

Note that this kit also came in a parachute version, but bein' stingy I opted for t' slightly less expensive streamer version (and I also have a large stash o' spare chutes).

T' parts were all very good quality.

T' instructions were very impressive, loaded with color photos at every step. Ya scallywag! Even more helpful were simple things like clearly markin' t' forward and aft ends o' tubes and dimensions on parts in t' photos. Begad! Nay that any o' you would ever blow this, but I've occasionally pulled a Homer (D'OH!) by ambling through motor mount construction in cruise mode, only t' find that I'm off 1/4" and can't get parts t' fit.

Since this is a two-stage design, me bucko, construction starts with dual motor mount assemblies, and care must be used t' get t' rings mounted in correct positions. T' motor mount assemblies are standard 2.75" tubes, matey, centering rings, blocks, me hearties, each mounted in BT-50 body tubes, joined with a coupler. Begad! Since I DID pay attention t' t' dimensions on this one, me hearties, I found everythin' fitted perfectly. Avast, me proud beauty! This uses gap staged ignition, so t' booster assembly also includes punchin' a small hole in t' tube for ventilation o' ejection gasses. Ya scallywag! Having worked with a couple o' TARC teams, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I can tell you this minor detail, often overlooked, makes a big difference in sustainer ignition reliability.

Kudos t' Nick and EAT for payin' attention t' what's got t' be t' #1 peeve on t' rocketreviews site with modroc kit design - this kit comes with a generous amount o' Keelhaul®©™®, mounted t' t' motor mount assembly for recovery. Well, blow me down! It's supplemented by elastic, but much more durable than t' typical mainstream kits.

T' booster "body" is a funnel, rolled from a cardstock pattern included in t' kit. Avast! This can be a very tricky step if done right and goin' for a smooth, bend/wrinkle-free finish. Avast! Begad! I especially liked that t' glue tab is a separate piece INSIDE t' seam - most shroud patterns direct you t' overlap the tab, leavin' a very noticeable seam. Aye aye! This shroud/cone is virtually seamless. Ahoy! Avast!

T' booster cone is reinforced with a centerin' rin' (the one that was missin' originally). Blimey! This looked a bit flimsy t' me, as t' centerin' rin' goes up t' within about 1" from t' top o' t' cone, but I went with it anyway. It does need t' remain above t' vent hole, though, t' avoid blowin' out the side o' t' cone on t' first flight. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I should also point out here that the instructions initially clearly warn about attempts t' substitute materials or techniques, ya bilge rat, and this cone is a good example o' why. Ya scallywag! T' instructions call for white glue in several places. Aye aye! I'm a fan o' t' faster-tackin' yellow glue, me hearties, and used this frequently. I was smart enough t' use white glue t' form and seal the cone, shiver me timbers, but used yellow glue t' bond t' centerin' ring/stiffener, ya bilge rat, and t' result was a minor shrink o' t' cone around t' ring. Well, blow me down! Nay too obvious t' t' casual observer, me bucko, but definitely a case where white glue, which doesn't shrink, would have been best.

Sustainer construction is pretty easy, arrr, considerin' t' (3) fins are simple rectangles 2x5", arrr, cut along t' grain lines o' t' balsa. Aye aye! Blimey! Dependin' on how you intend t' finish t' rocket, you don't even need t' fill t' balsa grain--the kit includes a very nice gold prismatic adhesive sheet for covering the fins (after painting).

T' balsa nose cone was a bit rough, and took several coats of filler/sealer and sanding. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It then gets a couple o' washers for weight, me hearties, held in place by a screw eye glued t' its base. T' screw eye is then attached t' the shock cord and recovery device (for me kit, me bucko, ya bilge rat, t' recovery was a pretty nice dayglo green streamer, a whoppin' 48" long).

Construction wraps up with placement o' t' launch lug, matey, which is done with the booster cone in place. Avast! There's a small hole in t' cone for t' rod t' fit through, and this needs t' be carefully aligned with a lug mounted t' the sustainer's fin. Arrr! My kit included a small piece o' balsa in case I opted for a standoff bonded t' t' body tube, matey, shiver me timbers, though no reference was included in the instructions for this.

Overall, this be a fairly easy build, thanks t' excellent instructions, though t' skills involved would definitely make this around a skill level 3 kit on t' standard 1-5 scale.

Finishing:

I went with t' kits recommended gold/black paint scheme for t' finish, me bucko, so after fillin' tube spirals (Elmer's Fill N Finish, diluted), I applied two coats o' primer t' everything, then painted t' booster cone gold metallic and the sustainer a gloss black (avoidin' t' fins except for some overspray). Arrr! The fins got t' aforementioned gold prismatic decal paper, me hearties, which looked great but wound up bein' very tricky t' cut and apply. Blimey! I'm nay very good at wrapping Christmas presents, matey, arrr, and found cuttin' one piece t' completely cover t' fins, includin' edges, matey, was hard t' do without leavin' some sort o' visible seam, and I found that t' small sections have trouble bondin' t' t' edges o' t' fins (I've tacked some edges on with CA, but will probably wind up usin' a good clear tape). Ahoy! It be especially painful t' tack t' adhesive around t' launch lug.

I'm nay sure what t' do about t' decals provided, though. Avast! Aye aye! They are very good water-slide decals, and offer attractive detailing, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but havin' painted a gloss black base, shiver me timbers, I am nay sure they'd offer any accent, ya bilge rat, so I'm holdin' off to use them on a clone o' this at a later date, matey, shiver me timbers, usin' lighter colors for t' base.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:

Two straight first-flight dates were rained out, me bucko, and I probably jumped the gun a bit decidin' t' fly in very windy conditions after helpin' a TARC team get a few practice flights in. Avast, me proud beauty! With steady 15 MPH winds, matey, me bucko, I went with t' lowest impulse I could get away with, me hearties, usin' a B6-0 booster and A8-3 sustainer.

T' rocket lifted off nicely, shiver me timbers, and bein' overstable with t' nose weight and big, me hearties, shiver me timbers, fat fins, matey, weathercocked at a roughly 30 degree angle right away. Avast, me proud beauty! T' upper stage lit without a hitch, and t' sustainer continued on a straight flight path. Blimey! Ejection probably occurred at apogee, arrr, though on that flight line apogee's kind o' hard t' nail down.

T' booster tumbled down very close t' t' pad, and sustainer, under the bright streamer, me bucko, ya bilge rat, landed roughly 75 feet from t' pad. Blimey! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Had t' flight gone vertical, it would probably have been good for about 300-350 feet.

Recovery:

My sustainer just happened t' land on t' edge o' one o' those big fat fins, crackin' t' fin at t' body tube joint (despite good fillets). Begad! It's an easy repair, and probably a good indication that I should switch t' a chute next time (and avoid t' heavy winds).

Under normal conditions, arrr, arrr, I would think t' streamer is fine, and I attribute me broken fin t' dumb luck, ya bilge rat, arrr, nay t' t' design or construction. Blimey! Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:

I was very impressed with this kit, and at $19.50 (includin' shipping), feel I got a reasonable value. Arrr! Unless EAT loosens up and goes for larger production runs, shiver me timbers, me hearties, you'll have t' be quick t' get any o' their kits, though, so be prepared to enjoy t' innovative designs vicariously.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5