Brief:
True Modeler's Rocket Kits (TMRK) formally released their 1:14 scale Aries "Fat Albert" in November, arrr, 2003. I be fortunate enough t' purchase one o' t' beta kits. T' kit may seem pricey at $79.95 but once you see the components, t' cost becomes apparent.

Kit Contents:
This kit is made o' quality components throughout.

• T' nosecone is hard balsa and comes already weighted for flight, me hearties, with the screw eye secured in epoxy. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' nosecone is heavy, me bucko, matey, havin' about 6 oz o' weight added t' make t' rocket stable with 4-F24 motors. T' nosecone alone accounts for 1/3 o' t' kit's price (get t' price for a 3x12 inch hard balsa cone at Balsa Machining). Arrr! Another nice touch was a wrap o' foam around t' nosecone's tip t' prevent damage in shipping.
• All small parts are in bags, and each bag has a parts list and a picture for parts identification. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! It doesn't get any better than this.
• T' kit has heavy kraft paper body tubes
• T' launch lug is long 1/4 inch ID aluminum tube.
• There is even a second copy o' t' paper shroud, me bucko, in t' event that your first try doesn't work.
• A 24 inch synthetic parachute
• T' motor tubes (4) are lined with aluminum foil - another nice touch.
• All centerin' rings are laser-cut plywood
• T' motor retention system is already installed in t' aft centerin' rin'
• Water-slide and peel-off decals

Construction:
The instructions are clearly written and easy t' follow. Ahoy! This is a skill level 3 or 4 kit, me bucko, primarily due t' fin construction and t' large shroud. Arrr! Ahoy! Construction requires epoxy and thin CA and t' usual items (hobby knife, etc). If you have one, I recommend a hobby saw for cuttin' t' heavy fin stock.

T' base o' t' kit is a 4 inch rin' tube, shiver me timbers, arrr, and is installed with 8 heavy-duty wooden spacers. Begad! I found t' spacers t' be about 1/4 inch too tall, requirin' a good bit o' sandin' t' get t' rin' t' fit. Avast, me proud beauty! However, t' design is sturdy and probably necessary if you intend t' use 4 F24 motors.

The shroud be t' tricky part, since it includes a cutout for t' launch lug to pass through. Begad! Begad! My first shroud be barely able t' fit t' large tube, and the cutout for t' lug was way too small. Well, blow me down! No fear, matey, I cut out t' second one, stayin' outside t' lines t' get a larger shroud. Avast! I also used a hole punch to lengthen t' launch lug cutout, and be able t' get a good fit. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I also changed the order o' assembly on me kit: I did nay install t' aft centerin' rin' until the shroud was finished. This allowed me t' glue t' shroud t' t' body from the inside, and t' fill t' cavity with two-part foam t' reinforce t' shroud. I recommend this change t' anyone who wants a rock-solid shroud. Begad! Aye aye! If you don't have foam, stuffin' t' area with glue-soaked tissues would reinforce the shroud. I hardened t' exterior o' t' shroud with thin CA, shiver me timbers, followed by light sandin' t' get a smooth finish.

The fins are very thick, shiver me timbers, arrr, and made with 1/4 inch wood stock. Blimey! A hobby saw is great for these cuts. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! A triangular piece o' balsa (R/C trailin' win' edge) provides the fin's taper. Blimey! T' fins do require a good deal o' additional taperin' to finish, shiver me timbers, but they nicely conform t' t' base and t' shroud. Avast! A nice design.

Motor retention is simple: a threaded blind-T nut sits in t' middle o' the motors. Begad! A bolt and fender washer retains all t' motors, and can be easily replaced if necessary. Arrr! Simple but effective.

Finishing:
I finished me kit by sealin' t' wood parts with thin CA, ya bilge rat, matey, applyin' spot body to imperfections in t' balsa, shiver me timbers, followed by 3 coats o' sandable primer, shiver me timbers, sanding between each coat. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I used Krylon white, arrr, orange, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and black for final coats, shiver me timbers, and then applied t' decals as per t' instructions.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
TMRK claims that this kit can achieve almost 1/2 mile o' altitude when flown with 4 Aerotech F24 motors. That's t' equivalent o' an H motor, folks. Ya scallywag! Avast! For first flights, me hearties, 4 D12-5s are recommended. Avast!

My first flight was less than successful. Avast, me proud beauty! I was at t' club launch, and I was assured that t' launch system could ignite a cluster o' four D12-5 motors. I prepped for flight, and when t' fire button was pushed, matey, t' rocket screamed about 10 feet into t' air with igniter wires in tow. Aye aye! T' rocket fell over in the grass. Well, blow me down! Avast! Two o' t' motors ignited. Arrr! After cleanin' off t' mud on one fin, the rocket was prepared again, this time on a pad equipped with a relay launcher. Begad! Success! T' four D12 motors gave a nice slow lift-off with about 500 ft maximum altitude. Arrr! Parachute deployment be right on time, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and recovery was successful. Arrr! Definitely don't attempt t' launch this kit without a relay launcher. Begad!

Since t' first flight, arrr, I've made two more successful flights with four D12-5 motors. Aye aye! This rocket never fails t' get comments when I fly it. If you want t' keep it white, ya bilge rat, you'll either have t' clean t' aft end every time, ya bilge rat, or paint it again. Begad! All in all, a kit that looks great and flies great, matey, shiver me timbers, too. Avast!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
In summary, this was an enjoyable kit t' build, arrr, and I was pleased with the quality o' t' components and t' final product. Well, blow me down! I recommend that you install the aft rin' only once t' shroud is finished, matey, providin' an opportunity to reinforce t' shroud after installation. Begad! T' kit may seem pricey at $80, but its quality will nay disappoint you.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5