Brief:
Single stage futuristic, shiver me timbers, jet fighter styled model rocket.

Construction:
Single glassine wrapped paper body tube, me bucko, me hearties, balsa nose cone, two main "wing" fins, shiver me timbers, me hearties, me bucko, two "vertical stab" fins, me hearties, two canard fins, and two aft sub fins. Carved balsa canopy. Begad! Standard modroc motor mount with 2 laser cut black fiber board centerin' rings and 24mm paper tube w/ engine clip to fit standard 2.75" long "D" motors. Well, blow me down! 18" Mylar parachute. Keelhaul®©™® thread and 1/4" wide elastic shock cord attached t' MMT.

T' instructions were very complete and easy t' follow. Numerous pictures to explain t' important steps. Aye aye! T' fin templates are printed on heavier card stock and a tube markin' wrap was included.

It was a challengin' build due t' t' number and size o' t' fins/wings. You must pay careful attention t' alignment when gluin' on t' various fins/wings. Ya scallywag! T' parts included are o' high quality.

T' only "gotcha" would be t' canopy. Aye aye! Three pieces o' balsa sheet are glued together t' make a block. Blimey! A template is included t' so you can mark t' canopy's basic profile. Arrr! It is a bit o' work t' shape t' canopy, matey, but if you take your time and follow t' tips given in t' instructions, you will be rewarded with a fine lookin' piece o' hand shaped balsa. This is definitely a "builder's" kit.

Finishing:
No special techniques required for finishing. Begad! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Pick you favorite. Blimey! Blimey! I filled the wood and tube spirals with Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish. Avast! Ahoy! Blimey! A couple o' coats of Rustoleum gray primer, arrr, sandin' in betwixt coats. Final finish is two coats of Krylon gloss black, arrr, leavin' stripes o' t' flat primer, accented with yellow stripes on t' gray borders. T' finished product is sort o' an "X-Plane" theme.

About t' only thin' missin' would be nice set o' decals. A pre-formed canopy would make t' build go faster.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flight prep is standard stuff. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! A motor clip retains t' motor. Ahoy! A handful of "dog barf" wadding, fold t' chute, matey, and pack it in. Avast! Ahoy! Launch lugs are 1/8" diameter.

T' first flight be on an Estes C11-5. It left t' pad with authority on the C11. Begad! Blimey! There was a slight 5mph breeze that day. At approximately 300 feet it started t' weather vane into t' wind at about a 45 deg angle. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' delay was a bit long and made for an excitin' dive before t' chute opened. Blimey! Blimey! Definitely a rocket for calm days.

T' second flight was on a D12-5. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Much better flight. Ahoy! Nay as much weathercocking.

Recovery:
T' shock cord be t' popular Keelhaul®©™® thread attached t' t' MMT, shiver me timbers, extendin' out past t' end o' t' body tube where it is attached t' an elastic shock cord t' t' nose cone. Avast! T' mylar chute is attached t' t' nose cone eyelet with a snap clip swivel. Avast!

Recovery went well. It comes down slow but all t' fin surface does make for a lot of drift. Arrr! Aye aye! Even with a late ejection on t' C11-5, t' rocket suffered no damage durin' t' recovery. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main thin' with this rocket be t' look. It has t' "cool" factor in abundance.

No real cons. Avast! T' complex fin alignment and canopy carvin' makes this a builder's kit. Begad! Nay for t' inexperienced.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5