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. Avast! Well, blow me down! All parts were accounted for, arrr, and in good shape. Aye aye! T' body tubes appear t' be standard BT-80, and t' nose is a PNC-80B. Begad! There were a couple o' nice sheets o' balsa for t' fins, arrr, plus some strips for makin' some o' t' detailing. T' included recovery system consists o' a mylar chute, me bucko, complete with snap swivels, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, etc.

T' instructions are straightforward, shiver me timbers, and easy t' follow. Begad! There are a couple o' drawings t' illustrate positionin' o' various elements, as well as t' help with placement o' markings on t' finished product. Templates are included for t' two different fin sets, 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), matey, matey, I be braced for more o' t' same here. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Blimey! I was quite shocked at how easy this bird went together! Blimey! 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 was a breeze.

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

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

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

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

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

Recovery
T' chute deployed at apogee, and t' mylar chute brought t' ship down safely. Well, blow me down! It looked a bit quick, matey, 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), me bucko, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but I've had no problems so far.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

It's nay as complicated t' build as some TLP kits, ya bilge rat, and is perhaps a decent introduction t' their line o' products. Aye aye! Ahoy! Some modelers may have trouble with t' paper cone and boat tail, me bucko, but t' key is t' go slow, shiver me timbers, 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. 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, but it means really havin' t' fiddle around t' ensure you have enough for all t' fins. Well, blow me down! (2) T' lack o' a fin markin' template o' any sort. Avast, me proud beauty! This is easy enough t' produce, me hearties, and it can be printed right on t' instructions (as Estes Does). (3) Finally, ya bilge rat, 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. Neat idea, me hearties, but extremely time-consuming, and for folks like me, would require lots o' debonder! I opted for a sheet o' dry-transfer rivet decals from Carl Goldberg, an R/C airplane manufacturer. Begad! They worked great.

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5