Brief
This is a scale model o' t' swedish air t' air missile, t' SAAB 372. Ya scallywag! Like other air t' air missiles, it has two sets o' four fins with t' forward four bein' larger and forward swept. Aye aye! Yet, t' model is flown single staged. Begad! Blimey! 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' parts were packed with economy o' space in mind, me bucko, as parts were inside o' parts. Initially, it seemed t' be a dauntin' project, ya bilge rat, matey, matey, as thar are many parts and t' balsa wood for t' fins is uncut. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! But for those who like a challenge, matey, this is fun.

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

Well, here, t' manufacturer does nay recommend epoxy. Begad! He did nay say why, but referred t' it as a heavy glue. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I have successfully used it t' strengthen balsa fins, me bucko, 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, me hearties, but maybe weight was t' be minimized in t' model. Begad! Blimey! I kept wantin' t' strengthen this tail even more than by t' glue recommended, me bucko, 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. Avast! Also, me hearties, t' front wing-fins are mounted atop wooden standoffs, matey, an interestin' design. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' chute needs t' be assembled, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but came precut. Begad! All I needed t' do was attach t' shroud lines via paper reinforcements and attach t' swivel. T' body tube is spiral wound paper and t' nose cone is lightweight hollow plastic. T' chute is thin metallic mylar. T' centerin' rings are extra thick cardboard. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! An extra centerin' rin' is supplied t' separate out a parachute compartment, but this is nay intended t' take t' place o' wadding. Aye aye! T' finished model is light but surprisingly sturdy. Arrr! 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, shiver me timbers, 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. T' model looks sharp. It's also unlike most o' me fleet, matey, bein' a scale model.

Construction Rating: 3 ½ out o' 5

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

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