Brief:
Dependin' on how you look at it, shiver me timbers, this is either a downscale t' t' upscale SLS Huster or an upscale t' t' downscaled Centuri KF-8 Lil' Hustler. Either way you're gonna want t' look at it, matey, matey, me hearties, as it's a beautiful mid-sized rocket and at $35, arrr, it won't hit you quite as aggressively in t' wallet as some o' t' other SLS series kits.

Construction:
T' components for this are top notch quality and include some very nice features for t' price. Arrr! Avast! Comparin' it t' t' larger SLS Hustler, you basically get t' same stuff although t' Lil' Hustler lacks a baffle system, single piece fin construction, arrr, and instead o' a twist-lock motor mount, t' kit offers a 29/24mm adapter instead.

Parts include:

• Balsa nose cone
• Balsa transition
• Payload bay (1.84")
• Body tube, me hearties, slotted (1.34")
• Laser-cut basswood fins (4)
• 29mm motor tube with block
• 24/29 adapter kit
• Keelhaul®©™/Elastic shock cords
• 18" nylon chute
• Waterslide decals

Instructions are excellent--clearly written, arrr, easy t' follow, and contain plenty o' illustrations. Aye aye! This would rate about a skill level 2 kit on t' 5 scale and can be built fairly quickly--maybe a long afternoon plus a couple days for painting. Ya scallywag! Blimey! There are 20 construction steps listed, me bucko, me hearties, spannin' about two 8.5" x 11" pages.

T' motor adapter is a pretty simple job, consistin' o' two short outer tubes that slide over a 24mm motor tube. Begad! These in turn fit snugly in t' 29mm tube. Well, blow me down! Worth notin' though, is that t' 24/29 adapter includes a metal retainin' clip, me hearties, me bucko, while t' 29mm tube does not--you'll need t' friction/tape either this adapter or a 29mm motor in place t' fly.

For t' 29mm motor tube, you basically just anchor t' Keelhaul®©™ line t' a thrust ring, glue it inside t' end o' t' 29mm tube, me bucko, and you're done.

Fins are already laser cut and mount through t' wall in t' pre-slotted tube. Arrr! All that's needed is a little light sandin' for finish, matey, shiver me timbers, then some decent wood glue fillets. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' tabs are about t' same length as t' body tube thickness, as t' motor tube mounts directly inside t' body tube without needin' centerin' rings.

Launch lugs are mounted on t' lower body tube usin' laser cut standoffs t' clear t' payload.

T' payload is standard--glue t' payload bay tube t' t' transition then either friction fit or glue t' balsa nose cone t' t' top. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I went with friction fit so that I could actually use t' payload bay.

Mount t' screw eye anchor t' t' transition then rig t' nylon chute, and you're ready for painting.

Finishing:
This was a breeze t' finish even though it's a three color scheme. Ya scallywag! I went with three light coats o' primer, me bucko, sandin' in betwixt t' get a nice spiral/grain free appearance. Betwixt t' basswood and t' fantastic tubes, thar's very little prep work needed (although t' balsa nose and transition sucked down some Fill 'n' Finish).

T' main base coat was Rustoleum gloss white. Arrr! After allowin' plenty o' time t' cure, I masked off t' body tube for paintin' t' fins yellow, painted t' payload bay yellow on its own, me bucko, and painted t' balsa nose and transition black on their own (gluin' t' transition t' t' payload bay after painting).

There's a little roll pattern waterslide decal along with a name label. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Semroc decals are great t' work with--tough enough t' slide around a bit for alignment and their clear seems t' be invisible on just about every paint I've used.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight, matey, arrr, our club was graced with one o' those absolutely perfect sprin' days that almost compensate for t' months o' canceled launches due t' rain, matey, snow, shiver me timbers, wind, matey, and plagues o' soccer moms. Ya scallywag! Winds were dead calm by Midwest standards (3-5 mph), me hearties, and I went with t' relatively modest E9-4 (the -6 was recommended).

Accordin' t' t' altimeter I slipped into t' payload bay, matey, matey, me flight be 839 feet versus t' predicted altitude o' 1150, shiver me timbers, which indicates t' me that Semroc uses RockSim predictions without drag compensation/adjustments. Blimey! Blimey! My rocket weighed in at 6.1 ounces versus t' spec'd 6.0, and flew dead straight with no spin. Begad! Blimey! Knowin' it won't quite hit t' altitudes listed on t' header card will give me t' confidence t' start movin' up t' full Es and what I think will be a magnificent motor for this: t' AT-F12 reload.

Recovery:
T' 18" nylon chute brought her down gently without a scratch. Aye aye! It was a nice day-glo yellow and looks so sharp in t' sky.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is just a great all around rocket. If it weren't against t' rules, ya bilge rat, I'd even say it's a fine design for t' TARC egg loftin' challenges, capable o' carryin' a couple cackle fruit safely, and designed for either 24 or 29mm motors for maximum flexibility. Begad! You TARC kids out thar would do well t' look over this and model yours after it.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5