Brief:
This is an E2X kit single stage with parachute for t' body and helicopter recovery for t' nosecone.

Construction:
T' kit consists o' a pre-molded fin/MMT unit, 12" plastic parachute, single BT-60 tube, me hearties, and plastic nose cone.

This is an easy kit t' assemble. Aye aye! Instructions are straightforward and easy to follow. Assembly can take betwixt 30 minutes or so, shiver me timbers, dependin' on the modeler's abilities. Well, blow me down! T' Cosmic Cobra is a very sturdy kit with pre-colored body tube and self-adhesive decals. Avast, me proud beauty! T' molded plastic fins feature an integrated MMT. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' engine is retained by a twist lock retainer. Ahoy! Assembly is straightforward with little use for a hobby knife. Well, blow me down! I used Testor's plastic cement t' assemble t' fins/MMT section. You can probably use CA t' assemble the unit, but I chose nay t' out o' concern that it might be too brittle. Avast! Well, me hearties, blow me down! The nose cone has a blade rin' that attaches where t' chute/shock cord normally would. Avast! T' fins are made o' flexible plastic and are easily attached. Arrr! T' kit comes with small rubber bands that cause t' blades t' extend when t' NC is ejected from t' rocket. Begad! Arrr! I used thick CA t' attach t' blade rin' t' the nosecone. T' launch lug is a molded plastic piece that is glued t' t' body tube at 6.5" from t' aft end o' t' rocket. Avast! I used Testor's plastic cement t' attach t' lug t' t' body tube and after some time, arrr, I checked t' see if it was adhered properly however it snapped off with ease. Blimey! I then used thick CA t' attach it after scrapin' some o' t' leftover cement, me bucko, and after about 10 minutes, shiver me timbers, all was well. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' shock cord attaches with t' usual tri-fold method and connects t' t' chute via a loop a t' end.

Finishing:
Just apply t' self-adhesive decal and you are done! Blimey! All left is load t' motor and launch. Avast! Aye aye! Blimey! T' rocket looks good with t' fins forward swept. Aye aye! With its black and yellow scheme, me hearties, it's an eye catcher.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
If moderate t' high winds are normal for your area, me hearties, ya bilge rat, arrr, I recommend cuttin' the spill hole from t' center o' t' chute as it may drift away. Blimey! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! I used 6 squares of waddin' for me first launch and it may have been too much. First launch is with a B6-4 and an approximate altitude o' 125 feet. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! My observation concludes that 6 squares is too much for this rocket. Aye aye! Blimey!

Recovery:
I also recommend foldin' t' blades for t' nosecone around t' chute due to the fact that on me first launch t' chute was burned away completely and the rocket recovered without a chute. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' kit is o' sound structure so this wasn't a concern as it recovered without damage. Aye aye! Blimey! It may however take damage if it were to land on a hard surface like concrete or asphalt. T' nosecone recovered smoothly just like on t' package, ya bilge rat, spinnin' fast and soft landing.

T' nose cone recovered perfect each flight. Avast! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! On t' first flight, the nosecone be tip down on descent and t' second flight it was tip up. Blimey! Blimey! No damage to t' rubber bands so far. Well, blow me down! T' shock cord is holdin' up well after 2 flights. I replaced t' stock rubber one for a longer piece made o' polyester/rubber. T' overall assembly o' this kit is a snap. Blimey! T' parachute shroud lines were burned into on t' first flight for unknown reasons. Well, blow me down! On t' second flight the shroud lines were torn from t' holes in 3 places. Avast! T' chute was lost on the first flight. Well, blow me down! No meltin' o' t' chute on t' second flight. Avast! T' blades on the nosecone are holdin' up nicely. Ahoy! Blimey! T' second flight led t' nosecone t' land in the middle o' t' street with no damage.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a good kit for those who are new t' this hobby. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! I recommend this one. Blimey! Arrr!

PROs: ease o' assembly, arrr, ease o' finishing.

CONs: t' blades on t' nosecone protrude into t' body tube in a manner that it pushes t' parachute close t' t' motor. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! If nay enough waddin' is used, it will either melt t' chute or sever t' shroud lines. Well, blow me down! Begad! Wrappin' t' chute in a couple squares o' waddin' could possibly alleviate this problem. Avast, me proud beauty! I also recommend cuttin' t' spill hold from t' chute t' reduce drift. Arrr! T' kit is strong enough t' handle t' landings.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5