Brief:
A single staged Model Rocket commemoratin' t' Star Trek series 25th Anniversary. Blimey! Flies on a single 18mm motor and recovers with a standard 18" plastic parachute.

Construction:
Again, as be t' case with t' Enterprise rocket in this series. Well, blow me down! T' Klingon ship has a very extensive parts list. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Many Vacuum Formed parts that would also make this kit a difficult kit t' clone. Ahoy! However, I be surprised when I opened the box t' see that t' parts inside seemed dwarfed by t' size o' t' box. Below be t' listed parts list:

• 1 Body Tube BT-20J (2.75" 70mm)
• 1 Engine Hook EH-2
• 1 Retainer Rin' HR-20
• 1 Split Adapter Rin' AR-2050S
• 1 Adapter Rin' AR-2050
• 2 Die-Cut Balsa Sheets BF-74
• 1 Molded Plastic Parts Set PF-74
• 1 Hull Body Tube BT-50FE (6.5" 165mm)
• 1 Pattern Sheet SP-74
• 1 Die-Cut Card Sheet TA-74
• 2 Drive Unit Body Tubes BT-2CB (3.25" 83mm)
• 1 Access Boom Body Tube BT-5P (5.1" 130mm)
• Clay Weight (2/3 oz. Arrr! Blimey! 19gm.)
• 1 Wood Dowel WD-1C (6" 152mm)
• 1 Launch Lug LL-2B (2.375" 60mm)
• 1 Shock Cord (22" 55.9cm)
• 1 Parachute PK-18A
• 1 Shroud Line Cord SLT-108 (108" 274cm)
• 6 Tape Disks TD-3F
• 1 Screw Eye SE-2A
• 1 Adapter TA-550
• 1 Water Transfer Decal KD-74A
• 1 Foil Stick-On Decal KD-74B

These instructions seem t' jump around quite a bit makin' them a little harder to follow. Aye aye! Part orientation isn't always obvious and requires careful studyin' of the illustrations t' get it right. Blimey! I again chose t' build this kit in a modular format by buildin' subassemblies. This allowed me t' keep movin' at a steady pace while some assemblies were allowed t' dry.

As with both Star Trek kits, arrr, this kit has a lot o' parts hangin' off making the kit appear quite flimsy. Avast, me proud beauty! Lots o' time spent layin' down glue fillets will pay off in increased sturdiness.

When cuttin' vacuum formed parts I used t' recommended trace and cut method with considerable success. Avast! Always pre-fit these parts and I chose to assemble them with CA type glue tackin' points. Blimey! Ahoy! After t' points are tacked together, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I sealed t' edges with a bead o' CA glue. Avast! Begad! I then would use Elmers Wood Filler on all seams. Begad! Aye aye! After dryin' I sanded t' seams t' blend them in as much as possible. Ahoy! This was a much more difficult and less successful task on this kit because o' t' small detail on t' edges o' t' engine pods.

Several Templates are included t' assist with alignment. Aye aye! Again this is a difficult task in this kit. Aye aye! Arrr! I had success with a slow settin' Elmers white glue allowin' me t' opportunity t' make small corrections as t' part sets up. Arrr! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty!

Finishing:
In finishin' this kit I chose t' seal all balsa parts with a thin CA glue. Ahoy! This would greatly strengthen t' part and seal t' wood grain allowin' for a better finish. Well, blow me down! After that, several glue fillets are applied for strength. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I sealed the rocket with three coats o' Kilz spray paint sealer. Begad! This is lightly sanded and then followed up with three coats o' dark gray Krylon paint.

CAUTION: Krylon paint applied directly t' vacuum formed parts will soften and sometimes melt t' part. Well, blow me down! Therefore, it is important t' seal t' part before applyin' t' Krylon paint.

After all base paint is applied, a small detail brush and a steady hand is needed t' apply small accent items. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Colors used for these items are red, silver, me bucko, me bucko, and black. Ahoy!

Decals are o' two forms, stick-on and water slide. Ya scallywag! T' stick-on are aluminum foil type and are easy t' apply. Water slide decals are another matter. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I found mine t' be brittle and very difficult t' apply. Begad! This maybe attributed t' t' age o' me kit

Finally, ya bilge rat, matey, I noticed that t' instructions call for t' kits base color t' be the same as t' Enterprise kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Thinkin' that this kit should be different and more menacin' in appearence, I chose a non-recommended dark gray.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' model has yet t' fly, however, t' kit calls for t' use o' t' following three motors: B4-2, matey, matey, B6-4,C6-5. Ahoy! Since t' finished weight o' this rocket seems a bit light I will probably lean toward usin' t' B motors.

Motors retention be t' standard Estes Motor clip.

Recovery:
Weak points again go t' t' standard Estes elastic shock cord attached with the glue on paper tri-fold. Ahoy! Arrr! I chose t' switch t' a Quest style Keelhaul®©™® strin' attached t' t' motor mount and then tied t' t' elastic cord.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
I like this rocket but did nay feel like it turns out as nice as it's sister ship, t' Enterprise. CONs go t' detail and decals that are brittle. Aye aye! Avast! PROs are few that come t' mind.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5