Leadin' Edge came out o' t' shoots producin' a night-flyin' rocket called t' Night Skeeter which is new, arrr, me bucko, unique and interesting. Ya scallywag! Their theme is "Fly t' Edge". Arrr! So, me hearties, matey, although I was nay interested in a night rocket, I did want t' sample at least one o' their kits. I purchased t' X-10 Express. T' X-10 is part o' their Sportser series o' rockets, for which thar are now five (5) and I'm told more t' come!

T' X-10 claims t' have "Retro Style, arrr, Precision Detail, and Laser cut parts". I agree. Avast! T' fin shape (and apparently t' holes within t' fins) give t' rocket a "retro" look. Well, blow me down! T' "detail" comes in t' instructions and t' laser cut parts... Well, me bucko, blow me down! well, are laser cut. Begad!

T' rocket included a 0.736" diameter body tube with a 13mm motor mount (includin' t' motor clip), matey, a balsa nose cone and 3 (made from 6 parts) balsa fins. Aye aye! T' shock cord is Keelhaul®©™®-to-elastic which is attached t' t' motor mount and nose cone eye-screw. Ya scallywag! A streamer is attached t' t' shock cord for recovery. Begad! Ya scallywag!

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed in a small booklet that is very profession and worthy o' notice (by comparison and stand-alone). Aye aye! Blimey! There are 17 pages o' instructions in this form coverin' parts, matey, tools needed, ya bilge rat, matey, step-by-step directions and flyin' information includin' t' NARRRRR code. There are graphics illustrations that make t' buildin' directions easy to follow. Aye aye! Here's a small sample:

Leadin' Edge calls this kit a Skill Level 1, but because o' t' 2-piece fin and t' Keelhaul®©™® shockcord mount t' t' motor tube (have t' cut t' centerin' rings), arrr, I think it may fall into t' Skill Level 2 when compared t' Estes or Quest. Regardless, ya bilge rat, matey, it is nay too difficult t' build and with t' instructions it is a straightforward kit.

T' instructions say t' use wood glue. Begad! Blimey! I followed that direction. Blimey! T' kit even came with 3 toothpicks and calls out usin' them for glue placement (that's a first!)

T' motor mount is built first. It is a typical except that you must cut t' notches into t' paper centerin' rings usin' your hobby knife. T' first notch is cut on t' inside o' one rin' for t' motor hook. Blimey! T' second notch is on t' outside o' t' other rin' t' allow t' Keelhaul®©™® shock tether t' pass by into t' body tube.

T' body tube fin alignment markin' guide is cut out from a piece o' card stock and is wrapped around t' body tube. Begad! Arrr! After this is done, t' fins are added. Arrr! They are cut so precisely that as long as you align t' t' marks on the body tube, me bucko, matey, me hearties, they will look like one continuous fin.

My fins extended about 3/32" beyond t' top o' t' body tube when aligned t' t' aft o' t' body tube. Avast! Ahoy! Blimey! I didn't like this, but left it.

T' launch lug is glued in place after t' fins are complete. Then all t' joints get a fillet o' glue.

T' eye-screw is attached t' t' nose cone, t' elastic is tied t' t' Keelhaul®©™® shock tether and it is then tied t' t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' plastic streamer is then taped t' t' elastic shock cord.

I finished t' rocket usin' me basic techniques with Plasti-Kote primer. Arrr! I followed that with Krylon Gloss Red paint. My only complaint was, me bucko, again, shiver me timbers, that t' fins extended beyond t' top o' t' body tube and therefore created 3 spots that were "masked" while primin' and paintin' t' rocket. Aye aye! For t' last coat o' Red, shiver me timbers, I had t' nose cone stickin' out slightly t' cover those spots. Avast, me proud beauty! (I regret nay takin' a picture durin' this portion o' t' build for show-n-tell.)

There are no decals provided with this rocket kit.

NOTE: One more thin' on t' fin length... Blimey! if it was intentional, me bucko, it did nay detract from t' looks o' the rocket and may have actually created a better lookin' transition into t' nose cone.

Overall, me hearties, ya bilge rat, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 ½ points. Aye aye! Blimey! Some o' t' best instructions I've seen in a while make this a great build. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' provided parts are high quality and t' precision cut o' t' fins was impressive. I be a bit disappointed with t' length o' the fins, but maybe I'm just bein' too picky and thar were no decals.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Leadin' Edge recommended t' 1/2A3-4T, me bucko, shiver me timbers, me bucko, A3-4T, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and A10-3T motors for t' X-10 Express.

I happened t' have a pack o' A10-3's and was ready t' put this rocket in t' air. Arrr! I added about 3 squares of waddin' for t' rocket's first two flights.

T' first flight (pictured) be perfectly straight and stable. Avast! Begad! Due t' t' rocket's weight, it did nay go that high. Begad! I found this t' be an excellent feature o' this rocket! A small rocket usin' 13mm motors that doesn't go out of site. Ahoy! I would recommend this rocket for anyone that does demonstrations.

T' second flight was exactly as t' first. Ahoy! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' streamer is orange and can be seen easily.

T' third flight be also on an A10-3, arrr, shiver me timbers, however, shiver me timbers, it was in our front yard and unfortunately is was blown into the nearby trees and is now lost. Arrr! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Too bad!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I would rate this rocket 5 points. T' Keelhaul®©™® to elastic shock cord system is excellent along with t' streamer recovery. Avast! Aye aye! T' weight o' t' rocket allows it to perform well on 13mm motors. If built correctly t' rocket is stable. Arrr!

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 ½ points. Begad! I would recommend this kit as a school yard flier or t' have as a demo rocket. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It has unique looks and doesn't fly out o' sight on 13mm motors. Avast! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! It is also priced in a range that makes sense (to me) comin' in at $12. Aye aye! Begad! I will look forward t' future Leadin' Edge rockets.