Brief
This is an approximately 1/5th scale model o' t' Harpoon anti-ship missile.

Construction
My kit arrived in a "standard" long plastic bag. Ya scallywag! Blimey! All parts were accounted for, matey, and in good shape. Arrr! Begad! T' body tubes appear t' be standard BT-80, matey, shiver me timbers, arrr, and t' nose is a PNC-80B. Ya scallywag! There were a couple o' nice sheets o' balsa for t' fins, ya bilge rat, plus some strips for makin' some o' t' detailing. Ahoy! T' included recovery system consists o' a mylar chute, arrr, complete with snap swivels, etc.

T' instructions are straightforward, matey, and easy t' follow. Avast! Blimey! There are a couple o' drawings t' illustrate positionin' o' various elements, me bucko, as well as t' help with placement o' markings on t' finished product. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! Templates are included for t' two different fin sets, shiver me timbers, but TLP has neglected t' include a fin markin' guide (I snarfed one out o' me Estes Phoenix kit). Well, blow me down! Blimey! Launch lug placement is left t' t' whim o' t' builder- it isn't even discussed in t' directions.

After t' amount o' effort required on me last TLP kit (the Sidewinder), I be braced for more o' t' same here. I was quite shocked at how easy this bird went together! A bit o' care is needed assemblin' and installin' t' boat tail and t' paper "hat" on t' nose, but t' rest o' t' kit be a breeze.

Finishing
As with all TLP kits (to date, anyway), arrr, matey, no decals are included. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! They do provide some paintin' information, me bucko, includin' two different schemes.

I ran into two problems durin' this stage: First o' all, me bucko, I accidentally sanded t' tip off t' paper shroud on t' nose (and I wasn't sandin' hard, either). Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I filled t' resultin' hole with some Fill 'n Finish, me hearties, sanded that, ya bilge rat, and then soaked some CA into it, arrr, just t' be sure. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' other problem is one o' t' suggested detailin' techniques. T' instructions call for t' builder t' CA 150 pinheads in place in various locations on t' rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I have patience, but thar's a limit! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I found a good work around, matey, however: One o' t' R/C aircraft companies produces a sheet o' 1/5th scale decals (dry transfer). Avast! Blimey! I picked some up, ya bilge rat, and they work fine!

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flight
So far I've had one flight with t' Harpoon, me hearties, me hearties, and I was impressed. Begad! Ahoy! I loaded t' recommended 1st flight motor, an Estes D12-5, and hoped for t' best.

I be nay disappointed! T' missile lifted off at a nice speed- fast, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but slow enough t' watch and appreciate. Aye aye! Ascent was arrow-straight, with no arcin' durin' powered flight.

Recovery
T' chute deployed at apogee, shiver me timbers, matey, me hearties, and t' mylar chute brought t' ship down safely. Arrr! It looked a bit quick, arrr, but no damage occurred (not a scratch!).

I'm still a bit iffy on t' TLP way o' securin' t' nose t' t' shock cord (with a bit o' thread), but I've had no problems so far.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary
I'm very pleased with me Harpoon. Avast, me proud beauty! It's a smart lookin' rocket, me bucko, and t' kit is challenging, ya bilge rat, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but nay frustrating.

It's nay as complicated t' build as some TLP kits, and is perhaps a decent introduction t' their line o' products. Aye aye! Blimey! Some modelers may have trouble with t' paper cone and boat tail, me hearties, but t' key is t' go slow, and pay attention t' t' suggestions in t' instructions.

T' quality o' materials is quite good. I'm beginnin' t' appreciate t' mylar chutes that are included- they seem far more resistant t' ejection charge damage than plastic. Avast! Begad! My only quibbles about t' supplied parts are: (1) t' inclusion o' barely enough sheet balsa for t' job. I can understand t' reason for doin' so, matey, me hearties, but it means really havin' t' fiddle around t' ensure you have enough for all t' fins. Blimey! (2) T' lack o' a fin markin' template o' any sort. Avast! Avast! This is easy enough t' produce, and it can be printed right on t' instructions (as Estes Does). (3) Finally, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' lack o' any decals for finishing. Ya scallywag! T' instructions suggest cuttin' t' heads off 150 pins and CA-in' then in place on t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Neat idea, matey, but extremely time-consuming, arrr, matey, and for folks like me, arrr, matey, would require lots o' debonder! I opted for a sheet o' dry-transfer rivet decals from Carl Goldberg, shiver me timbers, an R/C airplane manufacturer. Begad! They worked great.

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5