Brief:
A simple mid-power 3 fin, 29mm MMT, stubby rocket. Arrr! I believe this rocket is meant for those "graduating" from t' Estes low power and want t' next step up in materials and capabilities. Avast! My 9-year old daughter chose this as a birthday present and as her first mid-power rocket. Blimey! She loves t' thin' so darned much I cannot get her t' fly it a second time!

Construction:
Everythin' is one step up from low power materials but nay exactly a high-power kit (although it could probably take an H128). Begad! Tube is cardboard, fins are light plywood, shiver me timbers, plastic nosecone, shiver me timbers, and t' motor mount consists o' light plywood centerin' rings and a cardboard tube. Well, blow me down! T' cardboard tubes are nay t' Estes glassine type, but closer t' LOC without bein' as heavy/strong. Ya scallywag! There are two shock cords. Arrr! one is a Keelhaul®©™® cord (~18") that attaches t' t' main motor mount, and t' other an elastic cord (~3') that attaches t' the Keelhaul®©™® cord. Arrr! We built our GD stock, shiver me timbers, but if I were t' change anythin' it would be t' make t' recovery harness stronger and less zipper prone with a nylon 1/8" line.

Construction was honestly very easy. Avast! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! This was me daughter's first mid-power rocket kit. Avast! We used Titebond III and CA only--no epoxy needed in me opinion. Arrr! T' manual was easy for her t' follow and had a logical progression. There were no problems at all durin' t' build. Ahoy! T' fit o' t' materials be excellent with very little t' no sandin' required to make things fit just right. Begad! Begad! There are fin slot boxes on t' tube that must be cut out with a sharp knife. Ya scallywag! This was easily done as t' tube is nay high power tube thick. Avast! Begad! T' fins were reassuringly strong (as compared t' balsa) due to the through t' wall mountin' and light plywood material. Blimey!

T' nosecone comes with clay that is smashed into t' tip for proper weight and balance. Blimey! I added an extra ounce o' fishin' weights and used PML foam t' hold it all in place. Well, blow me down! Well, me hearties, blow me down! This was probably nay needed, it's just extra stability insurance after reviewin' RockSim. Arrr! This be an easy kit for anyone who has built a couple low power kits. No special skills or techniques needed.

Finishing:
T' fins were shaped, shiver me timbers, filled, me hearties, and sanded before assembly and did nay show wood grain after a couple coats of primer/paint. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' decals are nay that great, matey, bein' t' peel and stick kind. Arrr! Blimey! After one flight, matey, t' decals were peeling up at t' edges. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I would much prefer waterslide or vinyl decals myself, but this is a relatively inexpensive kit. Begad! The nosecone required a normal amount o' sandin' t' make it smooth. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' stock paint scheme was easily copied and looks fantastic with t' included decals. Blimey! Blimey! From a couple feet away you cannot tell t' decals are peel and stick.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first flight be on an Aerotech E23-5T, which was a perfect match for this rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Through a RockSim validation, I found t' D12 and E9 Estes motors t' be OK t' marginal for use in wind, matey, so I went with t' friction fitted 29/40-120 AT motor. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Friction fittin' is nay a technique I am fond o' in anythin' other than low power, but it was done very easily with a couple 4" lengths o' maskin' tape. Ya scallywag! T' boost be arrow straight, quick, and ejected right at apogee without a problem. Avast, me proud beauty!

Recovery:
T' included chute is a nice reinforced nylon one. Arrr! It's a definite step up or two from t' junky plastic, matey, low power chutes. Avast! There was no zipper or no nosecone din' from t' elastic--it be long enough--no problems at all. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' descent rate seemed just right with t' stock chute, ya bilge rat, nay too fast and nay too slow.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a very nice and versatile rocket for those wantin' more than a low power kit and wantin' t' get into solid mid-power. Ya scallywag! There were no surprises in construction. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' materials were very good (except for t' decals), ya bilge rat, and I would think this a fantastic first mid-power kit. Begad! Aye aye! It's simpler than t' AeroTech kits, nay as heavy and with better instructions than t' LOC mid-power kits, matey, ya bilge rat, and is relatively inexpensive. Ya scallywag! Overall, me hearties, it's a winner o' a kit.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5