Picture courtesy o' ARC     

Brief:
This is a parallel staged rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! 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. Blimey! Avast! T' 13mm x 5.5" boosters attach in betwixt each fin. Begad! T' main body transitions t' a 32mm body tube, me hearties, which separates in t' middle for parachute deployment. Aye aye! Begad! 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. Aye aye! T' fins were laser cut, and t' recovery system was an ASP sport chute with Keelhaul®©™ shock cords. T' instructions are extensive and include many excellent photographs. This kit is definitely meant for experienced builders, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and it requires pre-fittin' all parts and patience.

There are two areas where t' builder needs t' take care. Avast! Begad! One area is durin' t' attachment o' t' lower launch lug. Avast! Due t' t' transition from t' 32mm main body tube t' t' 18mm core tube a standoff is called for in t' directions. Aye aye! You are directed t' cut a standoff from balsa and glue t' lug t' it. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' directions are unclear here, shiver me timbers, but you must glue t' lug t' t' EDGE o' t' balsa, arrr, 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. Avast! T' instructions indicate t' retainers glued t' t' right o' an alignment line (and this is what t' directions state). I had t' center t' retainers on t' alignment line t' get t' boosters on straight. 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, t' interlocks and forward retainers. Care must be taken nay t' build up too much paint/primer in these areas. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' tubin' is top quality and I had no problem with t' finish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
1/4A3-2, shiver me timbers, 1/2A3-2, A3-4 and A10-3 are all recommended for t' 13mm boosters. A8-3, me hearties, B6-6 and C6-7 are recommended for t' core. 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. Begad! This is best achieved with boosters with a short burn (A10-3) and long burn core motors, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, 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. Begad! Begad! I had one failure, when t' core motor failed t' light (probably due t' detachment o' igniter clip prior t' launch). T' motor was recovered with minor damage t' one fin. Begad! 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). Motor retention is by friction fit, 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. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' ASP parachute is very nice and easy t' assemble, matey, and appears adequate for this light model. Aye aye! Blimey! I lost a booster nose cone, shock cord and streamer. Ahoy! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' only thought be that t' Keelhaul®©™ burned through - or had flaw/weak spot. There is plenty o' room in t' main body tube for waddin' and t' recovery system. Aye aye! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' streamers fit well in t' boosters, matey, matey, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' instructions are bein' updated by t' company t' clear up any confusion. This is a complex kit, ya bilge rat, and should be purchased/flown by modelers o' intermediate/advanced levels o' experience. Avast! Blimey! This model looks and flies impressively - a real crowd pleaser! Blimey! T' quality o' t' materials, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and t' obvious thought and care put in by t' designers is a major plus! Blimey! Customer service by t' company is excellent.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5