Brief:

A very simple ARF rocket. Ahoy! Plastic snap together construction. Avast! This would make an excellent first rocket for younger rocketeers or for a low altitude demo.

Construction:

Inner body tube: Paper. External airframe is plastic.

Fins: four pre-screen printed with art.

Motor mount: intnerior small paper tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Also houses t' streamer and engine.

Nose cone: also plastic. Begad! Snaps together like t' rest o' t' airframe and comes in 2 halves.

Engine retainer ring: Is a bit tricky t' use as it turns then locks onto t' airframe. Well, blow me down! Very easy t' break. Begad! Fortunately, me bucko, our kits contain two o' these rings.

Construction took about 1/2 hours with me son. No special tools needed although some muscle is needed t' snap t' body tube together snugly. Blimey! Ahoy! I opted t' use plastic cement on t' nose cone halves t' keep it firmly together.

Finishing:

Finishin' was with a full body self-adhesive decal. Begad! Decal application is required as it helps t' hold t' outer plastic airframe together. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Final look is a high gloss purple rocket with orange flames. Perfect "kid colors"

Construction Rating: 4

Flight:

We flew this rocket on 1/2A3-4Ts. This put t' rocket up about 80 feet or so. Ahoy! Begad! Very smooth straight flight with ejection at apogee and landed perhaps 20 feet from launch pad every time.

Waddin' or dog barf is a must. Avast! Aye aye! Blimey! T' inner tube made packin' t' streamer and shock cord a bit tight. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! I was afraid it was in too tight, arrr, but t' ejection charge handled it fine.

Recovery:

Shock cord was attached betwixt t' plastic outer airframe and t' inner tube. Avast! Begad! Nay your conventional method. Aye aye! Assemblin' t' recovery system be t' most complicated part o' this kit. Ya scallywag! Streamer was so tightly packed that when it come out for recovery, it stayed somewhat crumpled.

We did experience slight singin' on t' shockcord and streamer.

Flight Rating: 3

Summary:

This is a simple build and would be excellent for kids. If you don't want a pure RTF rocket, me hearties, this is a nice intermediate step.

Overall Rating: 4