T' Nova Hobbies ASP is a 1/12 scale model o' the Atmospheric Soundin' Projectile (ASP) that was used t' carry instruments through t' mushroom clouds o' nuclear test explosions. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' completed kit produces a rocket that is 12.25" long and .544" in diameter. Well, blow me down!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

T' kit comes in t' standard clear plastic bag. Avast! All o' t' parts for the kit were included and all were in excellent shape. Begad! T' kit includes die cut balsa fins, balsa nose cone, matey, a small hardwood dowel, washers for nose weight, paper body tube, shiver me timbers, a sheet o' heavy paper details, me hearties, me bucko, a Keelhaul®©™® Shock cord and two sheets o' instructions. T' assembly instructions are printed on t' back o' a sheet o' 8.5 x 14 paper that has t' paintin' guide, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, parts list, and package display information.

T' second sheet o' instructions includes, shiver me timbers, paintin' tips, Flying instructions and t' NARRRRR safety code. Begad! They are in a logical order, but I like to re-arrange t' order t' make t' most efficient use o' time by doin' one step while another is drying. Begad! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! They are clear and easy t' follow, provided that you have build a few rockets before you start this one, me bucko, this is definitely not a beginner kit! They include templates for t' fin details and a tube marking guide. Well, blow me down!

T' ASP is a skill level 2.5 for difficulty on t' Estes scale. Arrr! There are several small parts that must be cut out o' t' heavy paper sheet that comes with t' kit. Arrr! Avast! T' instructions have a template for their position on t' fins. T' spin tabs and flares are tricky items t' glue t' t' fins. Arrr! Use t' wax paper t' instructions call out, me bucko, but tape it t' your workspace, and allow the instructions t' slide underneath. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! This way you can use t' template in the instructions as a guide for one fin, ya bilge rat, and then slide it over for t' next fin. T' spin tabs at t' bottom o' t' fins are easier t' glue once you have made a jig t' prop them in place while drying. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I made one from scrap balsa t' hold the tabs all at t' same angle (probably overkill :). Aye aye!

I also deviated from t' instructions in t' assembly o' t' nose cone. The instructions say t' insert t' screw eye into t' nose cone, remove it, add glue t' t' hole, and then assemble t' washers t' t' nose cone with t' screw eye. Arrr! Historically I have had trouble with t' screw eye pullin' out o' soft balsa. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! So I did t' following; First I centered t' screw eye in t' nose cone and screwed it in, then I removed it and added epoxy t' t' hole and t' bottom of t' nose cone, then I added t' washers, careful t' ensure that they were glued together and t' t' base in t' center, me hearties, Finally I added t' screw eye, snugged it down and filled t' center o' t' washers with epoxy, makin' sure that I covered t' bottom o' t' openin' o' t' screw eye, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and leavin' t' rest open and glue free. Ahoy! I set that assembly aside for several days t' ensure that the glue had hardened. Arrr! T' result is a bullet-proof assembly that should last for many flights. Well, blow me down!

All o' t' parts fit well and resulted in a sturdy rocket with one exception, me hearties, t' flares on t' tips o' t' fins, they are easy t' break off. Blimey! Begad!

There are no special tools needed for t' construction. Avast, me proud beauty! The second sheet o' instructions gives instructions for sealin' t' balsa, painting the rocket, ya bilge rat, me hearties, arrr, and applyin' t' decals. Avast! Blimey! T' paintin' guide on t' first sheet of instructions shows where t' apply t' decals. Blimey! Arrr! There are two paint schemes that are included with t' kit, matey, one is for a test round and t' other is for an operational round used at Bikini Atoll. Ya scallywag! T' decals are water transfer and are sharp and clear. Well, blow me down! I painted t' rocket in t' "Test Round" paint scheme, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and t' result is a sharp lookin' model. Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

T' shock cord is a long piece o' Keelhaul®©™® that is tied around a heavy piece of paper glued into t' body tube. Well, blow me down! I was skeptical at first but it produces a very strong mount. T' other end is tied t' t' nose cone and streamer. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! A small amount o' waddin' is required t' ensure t' ejection gasses do nay melt the plastic streamer.

T' Motor is retained by a friction mount as thar be no room for a clip in the minimum diameter model. Arrr! T' recommended motors are: 1/2A3-2T, shiver me timbers, 1/2A3-4T, A3-4T, arrr, arrr, A10-3T. Blimey! I used a A3-4T on t' first flight. Aye aye! Fortunately thar were several people with me when I launched t' rocket, me bucko, as t' ASP disappeared into the sky. I lost track o' t' small fast-movin' rocket, and had t' be pointed to where it landed. Avast, me proud beauty! I suggest usin' a smaller motor, and possibly trackin' powder in this little beauty. Begad! Blimey!

I have flown t' ASP on an Estes 1/4A3-4t. It seems about perfect for the little rocket. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' ejection was near apogee and t' rocket accelerated quickly off t' pad even with t' low thrust. On landin' I lost another flare, shiver me timbers, but those are easily replaced. Avast, me proud beauty! If you can figure out a way t' use somethin' other than a butt joint when attachin' t' flares, they will be much sturdier.

Conversely, this could be an excellent scale altitude model for 1/4A t' A contests. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' only damage on recovery was t' loss o' one o' the flares from t' fins. Ahoy! There was plenty o' dowel in t' kit t' make several extra flares, so be sure that you keep it in your parts box!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

I give this kit a 4.5 for it's balsa nose cone, and overall excellent materials and instructions. It is a slightly challengin' kit, me bucko, shiver me timbers, matey, but it rewards the builder with a first rate, and great flyin' model. Ahoy! Begad! With t' exception of the flares on t' fins, this kit should fly for many years in your fleet. Blimey!