Brief:
I "won" this kit on a rocketry forum. A build thread hosted by Powderburner followed t' steps o' the assembly.

After t' last assembly post, t' host asked t' readers t' find t' mistake in his build. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! If you found t' error you would receive a Cutaway Engine Kit as a prize. Ahoy! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I read through t' storyline tryin' t' find t' error. Arrr! I guessed wrong twice and another post got t' correct answer.

I was disappointed, me bucko, as I could see afterwards where t' mistake was made. Begad! Blimey! T' host said all t' participants would receive a prize from FlisKits! Blimey! I forwarded me name and address t' Jim Flis.

Five days later a box came in t' mail. Arrr! It be a Cutaway Kit Model! Jim Flis gave all five participants a Cutaway Engine Kit. Aye aye! Arrr! A congratulatory letter from Jim Flis accompanied t' kit.

T' old OOP Estes cutaway engine was t' standard engine size, 3/4" x 2 3/4". This is a 3.1 upscale enlargement. Ahoy! If you have ever tried explain how an engine works t' a classroom o' sixth graders, you will certainly appreciate this model. Aye aye!

In t' pictorial review I noticed t' nozzle wasn't an accurate depiction o' a B6-4. Blimey! T' throat widens where the clay meets t' black powder. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I know in t' next "run" o' kits this will probably be corrected. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! I thought I would build a nozzle closer t' t' actual contours o' t' intended engine. Aye aye!

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 8.5" length o' BT-60
• 8.625" length o' BT-70
• 1.75" length o' 60 size black coupler
• Laser cut sheet o' Ribs, me bucko, Spines and "Plates" (Thick)
• Nozzle Shroud pattern sheet (Thin)
• Instructions

T' modification was actually pretty simple. I substituted a 3/16" launch lug in place o' nozzles #1 and #2.

I did have t' build up t' #3 nozzle t' support t' lug. Avast! Blimey! T' half circle cut o' nozzle Rin' #2 was widened slightly. Well, blow me down! And, I added back t' triangular sides (nozzle contour) t' t' propellant plate. I cut them from t' original laser cut sheet. Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Since they were cut from t' same piece, shiver me timbers, they fit perfectly.

While leavin' out nozzles #1 and #2, ya bilge rat, this actually makes for an easier t' build kit. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! I've never been a fan of paper shrouds. Avast! But, FlisKits included two extras o' each shroud. If you messed one up, simply cut out another and try again. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

T' top o' t' lug was plugged with a piece o' half-round cardstock. Aye aye! Blimey! I formed t' half-round plug (end) into a round shape by rollin' it around t' end o' a paint brush handle.

Finishing:
After construction you can download t' "Cutaway Wrap Set" from t' FlisKits website. Because I modified the nozzle, t' downloads wouldn't fit me "engine" anymore. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye!

I decided t' use painted cut-out cardstock pieces t' define t' propellant, me hearties, delay, me bucko, and ejection sections. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I made half-round ends t' roll over backs o' t' propellant and delay/ejection pieces. Well, blow me down! T' three main sections were solid colors.

T' ejection charge be a little different. A base coat o' gray was followed by a mist coat o' black. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I used a black Sharpie pen t' simulate t' loose charge granules. I then added a few white dots from a white out pen.

T' engine casin' be shot with a Rustoleum Cinnamon color. Arrr! While I could have gone with a color closer t' an actual engine's paper wrap, arrr, I wanted a good contrast.

I gave t' kit a 4 1/2 point ratin' as t' nozzle isn't an accurate depiction o' a real model rocket. Avast! Aye aye! This is really a moot point. Blimey! Begad! T' kit was a great build, but I would imagine FlisKits would work in this change on t' next batch o' kits. Begad!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Some ("well thought" by FlisKits) observations:

• T' fiberboard was very thick and strong, more like matte board for picture framing. Avast, me proud beauty!
• T' pattern sheet has four nozzles t' cut out and form. Blimey! You are also given two extra nozzles (each) in case you aren't happy with t' first attempt.
• Well illustrated instructions, matey, more o' a 3-D renderin' than t' standard 2-D look. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag!
• T' finished model is plenty big and strong.

This is a well engineered model. Arrr! A nice change and a good challenge. Ahoy! This is nay a 3 fin/nose cone build. Blimey! No manufacturer has produced somethin' like this before.

Congrats Fliskits! You have provided a valuable tool that has been needed for a long time.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5