Brief:
True Modeler's Rocket Kits (TMRK) formally released their 1:14 scale Aries "Fat Albert" in November, shiver me timbers, 2003. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I be fortunate enough t' purchase one o' t' beta kits. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' kit may seem pricey at $79.95 but once you see the components, arrr, 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, shiver me timbers, with the screw eye secured in epoxy. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' nosecone is heavy, arrr, havin' about 6 oz o' weight added t' make t' rocket stable with 4-F24 motors. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! 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). Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Another nice touch was a wrap o' foam around t' nosecone's tip t' prevent damage in shipping.
• All small parts are in bags, shiver me timbers, and each bag has a parts list and a picture for parts identification. 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, arrr, shiver me timbers, 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. Well, blow me down! Arrr! This is a skill level 3 or 4 kit, primarily due t' fin construction and t' large shroud. Aye aye! Construction requires epoxy and thin CA and t' usual items (hobby knife, matey, etc). If you have one, arrr, I recommend a hobby saw for cuttin' t' heavy fin stock.

T' base o' t' kit is a 4 inch rin' tube, me bucko, and is installed with 8 heavy-duty wooden spacers. 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! 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. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! My first shroud be barely able t' fit t' large tube, arrr, me bucko, and the cutout for t' lug be way too small. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! No fear, I cut out t' second one, stayin' outside t' lines t' get a larger shroud. Aye aye! Begad! I also used a hole punch to lengthen t' launch lug cutout, and was able t' get a good fit. Begad! I also changed the order o' assembly on me kit: I did nay install t' aft centerin' rin' until the shroud was finished. Ahoy! This allowed me t' glue t' shroud t' t' body from the inside, ya bilge rat, arrr, 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. Ya scallywag! If you don't have foam, shiver me timbers, stuffin' t' area with glue-soaked tissues would reinforce the shroud. Avast! I hardened t' exterior o' t' shroud with thin CA, me bucko, me hearties, followed by light sandin' t' get a smooth finish.

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

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, me bucko, and can be easily replaced if necessary. Avast! Simple but effective.

Finishing:
I finished me kit by sealin' t' wood parts with thin CA, applyin' spot body to imperfections in t' balsa, shiver me timbers, followed by 3 coats o' sandable primer, sanding between each coat. I used Krylon white, orange, arrr, and black for final coats, 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, matey, arrr, shiver me timbers, folks. Aye aye! For first flights, 4 D12-5s are recommended. Blimey!

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5