Brief
This is a scale model o' t' swedish air t' air missile, t' SAAB 372. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Like other air t' air missiles, it has two sets o' four fins with t' forward four bein' larger and forward swept. Ahoy! Yet, shiver me timbers, t' model is flown single staged. Avast! It flies on Aerotech 24mm reloadable F24's and Estes D12's and recovers with a bright blue mylar chute.

Construction
T' kit was packaged in a large clear bag with all t' parts thar and none damaged despite havin' been mailed t' me. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! T' parts were packed with economy o' space in mind, as parts were inside o' parts. Ya scallywag! Initially, me hearties, it seemed t' be a dauntin' project, as thar are many parts and t' balsa wood for t' fins is uncut. Avast, me proud beauty! But for those who like a challenge, this is fun.

T' instructions are illustrated and are three double sided pages o' pretty clear stuff, matey, arrr, but I recommend that you read it before startin' so you can account for all t' parts and visualize what goes where. Blimey! Arrr! This is comin' from a high power modeler who has built many kits with precut hardwood fins, matey, preslotted tubes, me bucko, arrr, and lots o' epoxy.

Well, here, me hearties, t' manufacturer does nay recommend epoxy. Blimey! Begad! He did nay say why, shiver me timbers, but referred t' it as a heavy glue. I have successfully used it t' strengthen balsa fins, but went by his recommendation o' CA instead, matey, t' see how t' kit works as instructed.

There are templates for t' fins and for t' tail. I would have been better pleased with balsa for t' tail rather than a cone o' paper, matey, but maybe weight was t' be minimized in t' model. Ahoy! I kept wantin' t' strengthen this tail even more than by t' glue recommended, though.

T' only real gotchas I can see would be t' align t' grain o' t' balsa with t' fin leadin' edge t' maximize strength. Ya scallywag! Also, t' front wing-fins are mounted atop wooden standoffs, an interestin' design. Avast, me proud beauty! T' chute needs t' be assembled, but came precut. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! All I needed t' do was attach t' shroud lines via paper reinforcements and attach t' swivel. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' body tube is spiral wound paper and t' nose cone is lightweight hollow plastic. Well, blow me down! T' chute is thin metallic mylar. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' centerin' rings are extra thick cardboard. Arrr! Begad! An extra centerin' rin' is supplied t' separate out a parachute compartment, arrr, but this is nay intended t' take t' place o' wadding. T' finished model is light but surprisingly sturdy. Well, blow me down! I can pick it up by a fin and nay harm it.

Finishing
T' model was spray painted with white gloss acrylic paint and a clear gloss protection was applied over this t' smoothen it and make it shiny. No decals were provided, me bucko, ya bilge rat, so I got letters from t' local hobby store and red/orange self adhesive craft paper t' apply t' name and t' red stripe shown in t' picture provided. Arrr! T' model looks sharp. Aye aye! It's also unlike most o' me fleet, ya bilge rat, me hearties, bein' a scale model.

Construction Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

Flight
A single D12 or an F24 is recommended, shiver me timbers, with a delay o' 7. Aye aye! So far I test flew it with D12's. Begad! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! It was a windy day, me bucko, so I elected t' wait later on t' F24. Blimey! T' model is easy t' prep, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, as t' parachute compartment rin' holds t' waddin' up and helps protect t' chute. Begad! Well, blow me down! Use extra wadding, arrr, because mylar melts easily. Arrr! T' motor is retained both aft and forward by a hook. Begad! Begad! It flew straight, me hearties, me bucko, but lateraled slightly due t' t' wind, matey, but it be pretty nonetheless.

Recovery
Recovery was about right and nothin' broke or burned. Aye aye! I'm glad I strengthened t' fins because their large size lends them t' easy breakage. Ahoy! T' chute was easy t' assemble. I installed t' shock cord mount as instructed, arrr, with a folded paper mount inside t' body tube, arrr, me bucko, but me inclination would be t' install it on t' centerin' rin' in t' parachute compartment. Blimey! Begad! Another habit from high power.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary
A challenge, but worth it because it looks nice. Be patient and don't rush. Begad! It flew well despite windy conditions and t' chute opened nicely. Do reinforce t' fins as recommended. Arrr! Ya scallywag! And do use wadding. This inspired me t' make larger scale models. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Give this a try.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

* Please see this SPECIAL NOTE posted by Chuck Barndt, me hearties, me hearties, President o' T' Launch Pad, on RMR