Brief:
A small, arrr, lightweight 3FNC rocket with an unusual nose cone.

Construction:
Actually, I built 2 Yankee kits; one t' replace t' initial rocket that disappeared after its third flight. Begad! T' first kit featured a nice balsa nose cone, but t' second kit, matey, while otherwise identical, had a plastic nose cone. But both kits featured a paper body tube, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, die cut balsa fins, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, a short piece o' elastic, matey, a streamer, and a decal. Ahoy! Ahoy! t' quality o' components was excellent, arrr, ya bilge rat, except for t' shock cord, me bucko, me hearties, which be comically short on each kit.

T' plastic nose cone was a tight fit, me bucko, and needed considerable sandin' before it would fit. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' balsa piece fit nicely but had quite a bit o' grain t' it. Avast! Blimey! I prefer this t' plastic, however. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! At any rate, shiver me timbers, it is a straightforward build, matey, and t' instructions seemed t' be somewhat better than normal Estes fare.

Finishing:
T' balsa nose needed considerable fillin' and sandin' t' be paintable. Well, blow me down! T' plastic piece be ready t' go right from t' box, once t' shoulder was sanded. Ahoy! I chose t' use automotive primer on t' original, ya bilge rat, me hearties, applyin' thin coats and sandin' in betwixt applications t' get rid o' t' spiral and fin grain. Arrr! Then I applied some black enamel, shiver me timbers, followed with a coat o' clear t' keep t' decals on. Unfortunately, ya bilge rat, this one disappeared soon. Avast, me proud beauty! T' second kit was simply sanded and sprayed with red and black and was considered finished after t' decals were applied.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Launchin' with an A8-3 produced a good, straight flight. Well, blow me down! I followed this with 2 flights on a B6-6, and t' last one was never seen again. Avast, me proud beauty! T' subsequent kit was flown on "A" motors only for a while, matey, but I couldn't help tryin' a C6-7. Arrr! We lost it too, but fortunately someone in our club found it and brought it t' t' RSO. Begad! It has since been modified for 13mm motors, me bucko, and does well enough on an A10-3T. I've never had a recovery failure, but if it did, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' thin' is so light weight it would probably recover just fine.

Recovery:
T' supplied shock cord is just too small. Well, blow me down! After about 6 flights some wear can be seen on t' end o' t' body tube because o' t' shock cord whippin' it. Well, blow me down! A good thin' t' do would be t' double t' cord length, ya bilge rat, at least. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Also, me hearties, t' bottom o' t' fins are gettin' crisp, me hearties, though nay quite burnt. Ahoy! Overall, matey, shiver me timbers, though, me bucko, this is a great flier.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Personally, ya bilge rat, arrr, I prefer t' older balsa nose cone, but t' plastic one will suffice. Either way, it's a great beginner kit that a kid will have no problem constructing, and will deliver many good flights, me hearties, me hearties, so long as you can find it again. But add some length t' t' shock cord!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5