Brief:
This was one o' those kits that I found at Hobby Lobby and had a 50% off coupon. Well, blow me down! It looked like an interestin' build, me hearties, so I purchased it even though thar was a weird alien in t' lander. Begad! Arrr! After hearin' about how underpowered t' Venus Probe was on 18mm motors, I decided t' change t' rocket t' a 24mm motor mount and remove t' alien t' make it more o' a real lander. Ahoy! Avast! This be t' story o' t' Mods.

Modifications:
T' modification for a 24mm motor mount is relatively easy as long as you have t' correct parts on hand. Begad! First you substitute a BT-50 body tube for t' BT-20 body tube that is in t' kit, me bucko, ya bilge rat, which be t' body tube that doubles as a motor mount. Aye aye! Avast! Then you replace t' four "small green" centerin' rings (BT-20 t' BT-55) with BT-50 t' BT-55 centerin' rings. Assembly follows t' instructions with t' exception o' t' different parts. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I also installed a Keelhaul®©™ leader t' t' upper centerin' rin' in booster assembly step 3. Arrr! T' rest o' t' assembly continues just t' same as t' instructions state until you get t' step 11 o' t' booster assembly. Begad! Ahoy! At this point t' tab o' t' built up fins will need t' be shortened due t' t' larger interior tube that is bein' used for t' motor mount. Begad! T' rest o' t' instructions are followed for t' booster build without any changes. Begad! On t' lander I removed t' alien and replaced it with a balsa bulkhead that was epoxied in place. An eye bolt be added for t' parachute connection. Begad! Ahoy! T' last difference be t' decal for t' lower tube. Since t' diameter is larger than t' original, it will nay completely wrap around t' body tube, in this case I just turned it 90 degrees and it does nay look too different from t' original.

Construction Rating: 4

Flight and Recovery:
T' recommended motors were all 18mm and underpowered. With this modification, t' world o' 24mm motors awaits. I have used t' Estes C11-3 and D12-3 since I fly in a small field. Larger motors can be used at your own risk.

There are three flights on t' Venus Probe t' date. Begad! Blimey! T' first two were for me t' get t' bugs out. On t' first flight, shiver me timbers, t' parachute for t' lander be nay attached, matey, it landed with no damage. Arrr! Blimey! T' second flight was with a D12-3. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' delay is a tad too long for me taste, me bucko, and t' ejection charge be very powerful. Arrr! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' booster parachute be burned off and t' lander parachute was scorched, but thar be no damage. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Well third time be t' charm. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I had noticed that t' space for t' recovery system in this rocket was small so this time I packed t' engine tube full o' dog barf waddin' then added three sheets o' Estes waddin' and two nice mylar parachutes that pack smaller than t' plastic ones. Ahoy! Blimey! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! Finally, matey, thar was a good fight and a good recovery. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' lander landed on it's feet and t' booster landed without damage.

Flight Rating: 4

Summary:
From what I have read here and elsewhere, t' Venus Probe was a very underpowered rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This modification eliminates t' weaker motors and gives a variety o' higher powered options t' t' flier. Arrr! T' space for a recovery system is at a premium in this rocket. Begad! What is nay expected be t' lander extends a far way into t' upper booster tube. Blimey! Begad! T' alien would take up even more space. This modification o' alien removal, me hearties, me hearties, gives more room for t' parachutes and stuffin' t' smaller motor tube with dog barf waddin' leaves a larger area for t' parachutes as well. Begad! With these modifications, me hearties, this is a good flyin' rocket that is just slightly different than your typical Estes rocket.

Overall Rating: 4