Brief:
T' Love Bug is one o' Excelsior's Original lines o' plans but unlike most of them which are based on bashin' t' Baby Bertha kit, this one utilizes t' Big Bertha as an origin. T' Love Bug kit comes packaged in a heavy, ya bilge rat, plastic sleeve and contains instructions, ya bilge rat, me bucko, fin templates, matey, matey, and a sheet o' decals t' replace those parts o' t' Bertha kit. Well, blow me down!

Construction:
T' Love Bug goes together exactly as t' Big Bertha instructions direct with the exception o' t' fins. Begad! T' Love Bug has only three fins, so t' builder is left with t' task o' makin' his own markin' template for t' fin locations. T' fin shape is also dramatically different from those o' t' Bertha. Excelsior supplies t' template for markin' and cuttin' these. Avast, me proud beauty! I added a length of Keelhaul®©™ t' t' kit supplied elastic just because we all know those kit cords are just too short.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Finishing:
T' final finishin' is ultimately up t' t' builder, me hearties, shiver me timbers, but in keepin' with the theme o' t' plan set, me bucko, pink would be t' obvious color o' choice. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Other possible choices might be white or maybe a light blue. T' decal sheet contains various markings in red, ya bilge rat, arrr, white, shiver me timbers, me bucko, arrr, silver, ya bilge rat, and pink. Included are two "wraps" which fit PERFECTLY around t' BT-60. Avast, me proud beauty! I think this is the first time that I ever see a wrap type decal or sticker that fits this well, there is NO overlap. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! T' me, arrr, that is one signal o' quality. T' remaining markings consist o' one larger "love bug", four smaller ones, me hearties, ya bilge rat, arrr, and many hearts o' different colors. T' instructions advise coatin' t' sheet with a thin layer o' Micro Scale Liquid Decal Film. Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! I wasn't aware o' this requirement until I had t' rocket painted and ready for decals. Luckily I had a bottle o' this from me plastic model buildin' interest. Aye aye! T' decals went on very smoothly and I applied a coat o' Future, matey, as directed by t' instructions, over t' entire rocket after t' decals were completely dried. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Flight:
My idea be t' have me wife prep t' rocket from step 1. Unfortunately, ya bilge rat, my 3-year old did nay agree with that idea, shiver me timbers, me hearties, so I did t' preppin' but let her perform t' actual launch which she handled with much expertise. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' Love Bug lifted off on a C6-5 and flew straight up with a perfect ejection at apogee and then slowly drifted down t' within 50' o' t' pad. Aye aye! Blimey! Can't ask for much better. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Overall:
Overall, I can't think o' any reason t' give this kit a complete "thumbs up". T' "parts" are o' great quality and t' instructions are easily followed. Begad! It is well worth t' price. Aye aye! Ahoy! Besides, matey, me bucko, at least when I showed my wife this rocket, she got a little smile on her face. Ya scallywag! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5