T' kit was packaged fine in a long plastic bag with a colorful picture o' t' kit on t' front cover. Well, blow me down! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! There's an inlay picture showin' t' use o' t' payload section for electronic experiments.

Upon inspection, arrr, me hearties, t' kit was missin' a 12-inch piece of white elastic shock cord which is used on t' top section. Aye aye! I used some Keelhaul®©™® that I had t' replace it. Arrr! Everythin' else was in order. Aye aye!

T' instructions were very clear, usin' pictures for each step. Ya scallywag! It be a nice touch t' add two illustrations showin' t' difference between an over-hand knot and a figure-8 knot. Ahoy! Ahoy! They gave clear measurements as to where parts should align and t' assembly instructions were in a logical order. Ahoy! Overall, matey, very fine instructions which are needed for a level 2 kit since it is geared for those with only some experience. Blimey! Ahoy!

T' kit is comprised o' two body tubes, me bucko, a coupler with a bulkhead, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, a motor mount assembly includin' motor clip, me hearties, two 12" Tuff-Chute™ (plastic) parachutes with shroud lines and gripper tabs, shiver me timbers, a balsa wood sheet with three die-cut fins, matey, matey, a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord for t' lower section and a elastic shock cord (missing) for the upper section, me hearties, a plastic nose cone and lastly a decal sheet. Begad!

I used Quick Grab glue on this model (additional comments about Quick Grab glue) for everythin' except the fin fillets where I used 5-minute epoxy. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I also sealed t' balsa fins with CA. Avast! Ya scallywag!

There was only one problem durin' t' entire assembly of this kit. Well, blow me down! One o' die-cut fin tips be already separated along t' grain o' the balsa sheet, therefore, shiver me timbers, that had t' be glued on and carefully sanded and handled. Ya scallywag!

Durin' t' finishin' stage I experienced a self-induced tragedy which took a good bit o' time t' correct. Avast! I always use Plasti-Kote primer, since it is heavy and fills t' grooves fast. Avast! It also sands easily. Apparently, me hearties, Rustoleum paint isn't fully compatible with this primer. Begad! I discovered this AFTER paintin' me payload section and findin' a nice grouping of bubbles. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This was corrected by sandin' off t' entire finish, arrr, me bucko, ya bilge rat, re-primin' and re-paintin' with a different paint. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey!

I chose t' paint t' payload section gloss black and t' bottom section gloss white, it worked out well. Begad! The decals were a bit disappointin' though. They are solid colors on white, me hearties, not transparent. Begad! Avast! Therefore, matey, arrr, if t' rocket was nay painted white on t' bottom, the decals would look bad. Avast, me proud beauty! In addition, matey, thar was a black band-decal that was supposed t' go around t' body tube which was no long enough. I didn't use it.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points and strongly suggest that Quest addresses their decals.

T' Icarus™ is a bit unique due t' a mid-separation which releases nose cone and payload section to descend on it's parachute and then t' second parachute carries t' bottom section down. I tested mine with a B6-4 which installed and was clipped by the motor mount without any problem. Begad! Begad! Because o' it's length and weight a B6-4 motor gives a nice lift off and moderate distance flight. Ya scallywag! T' flight be straight and true. Begad! T' flight was straight and true. Ejection was just at apogee and both sections returned without damage. Arrr! Blimey! No signs o' burnin' or stress on t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and t' parachutes both opened cleanly.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, shiver me timbers, I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points. Begad!

Overall, for t' price and skill ratin' (2), ya bilge rat, the Icarus™ is a good kit for someone lookin' fora payload rocket or someone that would like a bit o' uniqueness in recovery. Aye aye! Blimey! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 points.