Brief:
A small, 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. Avast! T' first kit featured a nice balsa nose cone, but t' second kit, me bucko, matey, while otherwise identical, had a plastic nose cone. Well, blow me down! But both kits featured a paper body tube, ya bilge rat, die cut balsa fins, a short piece o' elastic, a streamer, shiver me timbers, and a decal. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! t' quality o' components was excellent, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, except for t' shock cord, which was comically short on each kit.

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

Finishing:
T' balsa nose needed considerable fillin' and sandin' t' be paintable. Arrr! T' plastic piece was ready t' go right from t' box, arrr, once t' shoulder be sanded. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I chose t' use automotive primer on t' original, me bucko, applyin' thin coats and sandin' in betwixt applications t' get rid o' t' spiral and fin grain. Avast! Then I applied some black enamel, arrr, followed with a coat o' clear t' keep t' decals on. Ahoy! Unfortunately, this one disappeared soon. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' second kit be 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. T' subsequent kit was flown on "A" motors only for a while, but I couldn't help tryin' a C6-7. Aye aye! We lost it too, but fortunately someone in our club found it and brought it t' t' RSO. Blimey! It has since been modified for 13mm motors, and does well enough on an A10-3T. Arrr! I've never had a recovery failure, me hearties, but if it did, t' thin' is so light weight it would probably recover just fine.

Recovery:
T' supplied shock cord is just too small. 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! Avast, me proud beauty! A good thin' t' do would be t' double t' cord length, me bucko, at least. Blimey! Also, t' bottom o' t' fins are gettin' crisp, though nay quite burnt. Ahoy! Begad! Overall, me bucko, though, me bucko, this is a great flier.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5