Picture courtesy o' ARC     

Brief:
This is a parallel staged rocket. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' four 13mm boosters detach while t' main body continues on its 18mm core motor. This vehicle has four fins on an 18mm by 5.5" long core. T' 13mm x 5.5" boosters attach in betwixt each fin. T' main body transitions t' a 32mm body tube, ya bilge rat, me bucko, which separates in t' middle for parachute deployment. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Each booster is recovered by its own streamer.

Construction:
T' parts were top quality totally tubular tubin' and high quality balsa nose cones and transition. Begad! T' fins were laser cut, me bucko, shiver me timbers, matey, and t' recovery system was an ASP sport chute with Keelhaul®©™ shock cords. Avast! T' instructions are extensive and include many excellent photographs. Aye aye! This kit is definitely meant for experienced builders, me hearties, and it requires pre-fittin' all parts and patience.

There are two areas where t' builder needs t' take care. Avast! One area is durin' t' attachment o' t' lower launch lug. Ahoy! Due t' t' transition from t' 32mm main body tube t' t' 18mm core tube a standoff is called for in t' directions. Arrr! You are directed t' cut a standoff from balsa and glue t' lug t' it. T' directions are unclear here, but you must glue t' lug t' t' EDGE o' t' balsa, matey, nay t' surface. Instead, I attached me lower launch lug t' a fin and it works fine.

T' second area that needs care is in t' positionin' o' t' booster forward mount retainers. Aye aye! Blimey! T' instructions indicate t' retainers glued t' t' right o' an alignment line (and this is what t' directions state). Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I had t' center t' retainers on t' alignment line t' get t' boosters on straight. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Both o' these issues were easily overcome and nay a significant problem for an experienced builder.

Finishing:
This model has small tolerances betwixt t' boosters, t' core, ya bilge rat, me bucko, t' interlocks and forward retainers. Ahoy! Care must be taken nay t' build up too much paint/primer in these areas. Ahoy! T' tubin' is top quality and I had no problem with t' finish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
1/4A3-2, 1/2A3-2, shiver me timbers, me bucko, A3-4 and A10-3 are all recommended for t' 13mm boosters. Arrr! Begad! A8-3, me bucko, B6-6 and C6-7 are recommended for t' core. Avast! T' kit was shipped with a special flight instruction manual for those inexperienced in clusters etc.

T' model is designed so that t' boosters will fall away from t' core and then eject t' streamers while t' core continues on. Ya scallywag! Arrr! This is best achieved with boosters with a short burn (A10-3) and long burn core motors, but should work as long as t' boosters burn out before ejection from t' core motor.

My model flew straight and true with complete separation o' boosters and deployment o' all recovery devices. Avast! Blimey! I had one failure, when t' core motor failed t' light (probably due t' detachment o' igniter clip prior t' launch). Blimey! Blimey! T' motor be recovered with minor damage t' one fin. Aye aye! Blimey! I experienced a little scorchin' o' t' main body tube transition by t' booster ejection charge durin' this flight (the boosters did nay separate until ejection - probably due t' t' slow speed). Blimey! Blimey! Motor retention is by friction fit, me hearties, and I used cellulose wadding.

Recovery:
Keelhaul®©™ is used for t' entire booster shock cords, and is attached t' t' motor block. T' main recovery harness is Keelhaul®©™ and elastic and seems satisfactory. Aye aye! Blimey! T' ASP parachute is very nice and easy t' assemble, ya bilge rat, and appears adequate for this light model. I lost a booster nose cone, matey, shock cord and streamer. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' only thought was that t' Keelhaul®©™ burned through - or had flaw/weak spot. Ahoy! There is plenty o' room in t' main body tube for waddin' and t' recovery system. Arrr! T' streamers fit well in t' boosters, but thar be less room for waddin' etc.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I do nay feel thar are any major cons involved. Begad! T' instructions are bein' updated by t' company t' clear up any confusion. Well, blow me down! Arrr! This is a complex kit, and should be purchased/flown by modelers o' intermediate/advanced levels o' experience. Ahoy! This model looks and flies impressively - a real crowd pleaser! T' quality o' t' materials, and t' obvious thought and care put in by t' designers is a major plus! Customer service by t' company is excellent.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5