Brief:
A three finned 18mm rocket that has a quick assembly o' t' fin unit, arrr, has a payload area, and recovers via two 12 inch parachutes. Avast, me proud beauty! I bought mine in a job lot from a shop that closed down a few years ago. I probably would nay have bothered buildin' it, matey, me bucko, me hearties, but it be on t' EMRR Hit List...

Construction:
Kit consists of:

• motor clip
• blue thrust ring
• yellow motor mount tube
• blue centerin' ring
• yellow body tube
• black payload tube
• upper and lower plastic fin ring
• 3 plastic fins
• 2 plastic launch lugs
• large plastic reducer
• plastic tube coupler
• plastic nose cone
• 24inch elastic shock cord
• 21 inch Keelhaul®©™® shock cord
• 2 12 inch parachutes
• 2 packs o' 26 inch shroud lines
• 12 gripper tabs
• Decals

To build t' kit I used:

• white glue
• model knife
• sandpaper
• plastic glue

T' instructions are very clear, and this rocket builds in minutes plus glue dryin' time. Ahoy! T' snap together fin system is a new one on me, but it is easy to build and that is what Quest was goin' for. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! It sure is ugly though. Why they did nay go for a plastic fin can? I don't know.

T' tubes are pre-colored, however, thar are noticeable spiral groves on all o' them. Arrr! Well, blow me down! T' plastic couplers, matey, transitions, me hearties, me hearties, etc. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! don't fit t' body tubes so great either, me hearties, although thar are shoulder shims included t' overcome this.

T' only downfall in t' design be t' small shoulder on t' transition. At only 6mm, t' top payloader section is nay securely fixed in place even with the shims added. Well, blow me down! I have doubt whether t' two sections would stay together in flight if thar be a heavy payload be in t' top section. Arrr! I would also have liked t' see a clear payload body tube so you can see t' payload, but I'm bein' a bit picky here. Aye aye! If you want access t' t' payload bay, then t' nose cone should nay be glued on. Blimey! Ahoy! I be concerned that t' coupler and the transition were both hollow, shiver me timbers, me bucko, so t' ejection charge could pressurize both the body tube and t' payload area. Blimey! Ahoy! T' be on t' safe side, arrr, I filled t' small hole in t' transition. Aye aye! This isn't really necessary as t' parachute/waddin' fill the gap on ejection.

If you've flown Quest rockets before, ya bilge rat, then you know t' ditch t' stiff parachutes for anythin' else. Begad! Blimey! I swapped mine for Estes bin bag chutes.

For a first flight I don't normally change much it t' rocket design, but I really doubted t' 2 parachute recovery. Arrr! This is nay a heavy rocket without the payload, and with two twelve inch parachutes, one on each section, I can imagine a long drift. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! So I tied both sections together, added a swivel t' the top o' t' shock cord, matey, and used an 18 inch Estes chute with a spill hole cut out. Arrr! T' chute was attached t' shock cord swivel via a snap swivel. Ahoy! I also added an anti-zipper cloth tape t' t' Keelhaul®©™® where it would meet t' shoulder o' t' body tube.

Finishing:
You just add t' two decals provided. Aye aye! These are t' peel and stick type and go on easily.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
It flies on B6-4, me hearties, B6-2, C6-3, C6-5, but t' longer delays are needed for when there isn't a payload. Avast! I used Nomex® wadding. T' first (and possibly last) flight was nice and straight. Begad! Blimey! It came off t' pad at a good speed. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Durin' t' boost phase, shiver me timbers, t' payload section separated before ejection. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! At ejection t' parachute failed t' deploy. The whole lot came in ballistic. Avast! Blimey! T' body tube be smashed. Ahoy! Blimey! It will be possible to repair, but I currently have several more pressin' projects. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' small shoulder on t' payload section be partially t' blame, arrr, matey, however, matey, ya bilge rat, t' failure of deployment be t' main reason and I'll take t' blame for poor packin' o' the Nomex® wadding.

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a good rocket for those that want t' move up from RTFs but don't want to get into gluin' fins on. Well, blow me down! Avast! As a payloader, matey, ya bilge rat, thar are better choices on the market, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but for t' younger rocketeer, ya bilge rat, then it's a step up from an basic 3FNC rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I personally would nay recommend this kit t' anyone.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5