Brief:
This is a single stage rocket with 5 fins. Ya scallywag! It features parachute recovery, me hearties, balsa fins you cut from a sheet, balsa nose cone, laser cut centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, and 6 cool little "aliens" with their own parachutes! I got this kit from a friend who was movin' and therefore I can't speak about t' transaction from t' manufacturer but me bucko said it went fine. Ahoy! Arrr! T' rocket was in a clear plastic bag without any header or kit card picture.

Construction:
T' kit features a single body tube that is 2.2" in diameter. T' rocket uses five fins, nay t' normal 3 or 4. Arrr! Aye aye! It also has a motor mount that will allow you t' use any 24mm size motor, like t' C11, D12, matey, ya bilge rat, or E9, although thar be no spacer for usin' a C11 or D12 size motor that is shorter than an E. Blimey! T' balsa fin stock be 1/8" thick and t' nose cone is balsa. Begad! Begad! It also uses a Keelhaul®©™ shock cord mount that is tied t' t' motor tube and runs up t' body tube t' t' white shock cord. Begad! T' 18" parachute is made o' good quality mylar. T' template for t' fins is on thin paper and a pain t' use t' trace t' fin on t' t' balsa sheet. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I should have copied it t' a heavy piece o' cardstock first. After tryin' t' trace t' fins, it got messed up on t' third fin so I cut one fin out and used it as t' template! I be surprised t' find a 1/8" launch lug on a kit that can fly on E motors too.

T' instructions are OK, although some points are nay all that clear. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' big problem was t' wrap for markin' t' body tube for t' five fins just plain stinks! It went all t' way around but t' fin positions were nay correct no matter what I did. I should have contacted t' manufacturer about this, but I just measured t' tube and made me own. Ya scallywag! T' mylar parachute is first quality and t' balsa nose cone be fine. T' body tube was good but t' motor tube had a rough cut on one end. Well, blow me down! Begad! Other than t' problem with t' markin' guide for t' fins and some typos in t' instructions, it was an easy kit t' build. Arrr! Standard assembly for t' most part. Ya scallywag! T' PROs o' this kit are t' mylar parachute, arrr, balsa quality, and those cool little aliens! T' CONs on this kit are t' fin markin' guide and lack o' a spacer t' use when usin' a C11 or D motor. Avast! Well, blow me down! Also, t' kit should use a 3/16" launch lug. I used a 3/16" lug I already had.

Finishing:
I sealed t' balsa and used a camouflage paint job like on t' Thrustline web site. Begad! Ya scallywag! It looks pretty cool! There are no decals with this kit and none are needed! T' assembled kit looks great.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I put some recovery waddin' in first and motor retention is with a metal motor hook. Begad! Arrr! Here be t' fun part, me bucko, you load in t' 6 Alien Paratroopers with t' parachute. Blimey! I put them above t' main chute. I used a C11-5 for t' first flight. Begad! Arrr! It be a day with just about no wind. Ahoy! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! My friend has a large field behind his house and we launched it there. Begad! Avast! T' first flight was great. Begad! It went straight up and be nose down when it ejected t' parachute and aliens. Begad! I also launched it with an E. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Wow! It was a high flight but I got it back right by t' launch pad!!

Recovery:
There are no CONs on recovery. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' mylar parachute is fine for this kit. Begad! T' aliens came down all over t' place and we had some kids with us, me bucko, who had a great deal o' fun catchin' them. There was one alien who tried t' invade me friend's house by landin' on t' roof though! I did nay load up t' aliens with t' E motor though.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This was a fun kit thought it needs a better fin markin' guide, matey, fin templates, shiver me timbers, and a 3/16" launch lug. Ahoy! I like cuttin' out fins like t' older kits used t' be but paper is nay t' way t' do it.

T' aliens are t' main attraction t' this kit and are real cool! They look like little Thors from Stargate on TV.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5