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

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

Finishing:
T' balsa nose needed considerable fillin' and sandin' t' be paintable. T' plastic piece be ready t' go right from t' box, once t' shoulder was sanded. Blimey! I chose t' use automotive primer on t' original, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Unfortunately, this one disappeared soon. Ya scallywag! Blimey! 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, me bucko, straight flight. I followed this with 2 flights on a B6-6, matey, and t' last one be never seen again. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' subsequent kit be 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! Begad! It has since been modified for 13mm motors, shiver me timbers, and does well enough on an A10-3T. Ya scallywag! Begad! I've never had a recovery failure, but if it did, arrr, t' thin' is so light weight it would probably recover just fine.

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Personally, I prefer t' older balsa nose cone, matey, but t' plastic one will suffice. Aye aye! Begad! Either way, 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 proud beauty! Ahoy! But add some length t' t' shock cord!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5