Brief:
This is a single stage 18mm kit o' t' famous Starship Enterprise. Begad! There are other excellent reviews o' this rocket that accurately detail it’s construction so I won’t call out every detail on this build. Ahoy! I picked this kit up on eBay for $12.00 includin' shipping. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! As a matter o' fact, I have purchased five o' these in total for right around that same price. Avast! I notice that lately t' prices are goin' up, me hearties, arrr, but this kit can still be had for around $20.00.

Construction:
T' kit is listed as a Skill Level 4 and I would say that it could even be bumped t' a 5. Avast! T' directions are very well written and extremely helpful. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' build was a number o' interconnected subassemblies which I found challengin' but doable with patience and a lot o' sandpaper and some filler.

This kit comes with many quality parts. It boasts a number o' vacuum formed parts that must be cut out and then fit together. Ahoy! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Follow t' instructions exactly when cuttin' these parts out. Avast! Sandpaper is used t' fine tune t' shapes o' t' vacuum formed parts so you don’t have t' be perfect while cutting, as you just don’t want t' cut into t' parts themselves. Followin' t' instructions will prevent this.

I've heard it said that sturdiness can be an issue for this model, however, me bucko, I found that with t' right amount o' glue and multiple applications o' it, shiver me timbers, sturdiness be achieved.

T' flight probe for this model is built separately. Well, blow me down! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! It’s an easy assembly. Begad! It is about 30” long with a balsa nose cone with lead weight attached. This assembly houses t' parachute and is attached t' t' model only for flight.

Finishing:
Finishin' o' this kit took a good deal o' time. Avast! I kept t' saucer section separate from t' rest o' t' ship while painting. Begad! Blimey! I applied one coat o' gray primer and then sanded and filled voids with Elmer’s Fill 'n' Finish. I then applied another coat o' gray primer and hit voids again and then sanded once more, me hearties, followed by one last coat o' primer. Blimey! Begad! I then followed that with a gloss white coat.

For some reason when I applied me second coat o' gloss white paint onto t' saucer section and t' main body o' t' ship, arrr, it raised up and had t' be sanded down t' t' primer again. This caused some delays, matey, but after that, it was a straight white paint job followed by a bit o' maskin' for t' nacelle ends and t' application o' nacelle components.

After all paint had dried, I glued t' saucer section t' t' main ship with 6 minute epoxy. Begad! Ahoy! It is important t' make sure it is straight and level.

Next came t' waterslide decals, which for their age, ya bilge rat, performed very well. Ahoy! Blimey! I cut each decal out and ordered them before beginning. I held t' ship with on a dowel inserted into t' engine mount tube so that I could apply decals around t' surface o' t' ship by simply turnin' it. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' decals really make this model! Blimey! After t' decals had a chance t' dry, I coated t' entire model with two coats o' clear.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended engines for t' model are B6-2 and C6-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Unfortunately I just like this classic kit too much t' send her up. Ordinarily me policy is that everythin' flies, however, unless/until I build another one o' these, this one will be a static display model.

Summary:
I really enjoyed buildin' this model. Ahoy! It was extremely challenging, and t' finished product is just outstanding.

I highly recommend this model t' those who want t' satisfaction o' an extremely challengin' build and outstandin' replica o' t' famous Starship Enterprise.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5