T' Sweetheart Express from Weir Rockets is aptly named. 

With its heart-shaped fins, shiver me timbers, it adds a little romance t' t' launch field. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Blimey! But as a flyer, me bucko, me hearties, it also could be called a sweetheart for its sweet flyin' characteristics. 

Weir Rockets is a new company started by Paul Weir o' Newark, Dela. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Weir, a long-time rocket flyer and "born again rocketeer," started manufacturin' kits after friends requested kits o' his original designs. 

They say you can't be sweet and tough, shiver me timbers, but t' Sweetheart Express is both. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' motor mount rings are t' thickest I've seen on a rocket o' this size. Begad! T' motor hook is considerably thicker than those on comparable kits, shiver me timbers, and thar be a motor block included. Blimey! Ahoy! Nay all kits that include motor retainin' hooks also include a motor block. 

T' shock cord is one-half inch thick and would be adequate for some high-power designs. There is a "leader" included t' attach t' parachute t' t' nose cone; you don't have t' attach t' 'chute directly t' t' nose cone. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! This approach reduces t' possibility o' parachute tangles. Snap swivels make removal easy. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' 'chute itself is a mylar chute, me hearties, a type that offers better visibility and better openin' characteristics than t' plastic parachutes found in so many kits. 

T' fin patterns were drawn on t' balsa wood stock. Also included were four plastic "vanes," which help stabilize t' rocket. 

T' rocket be fairly easy t' build. Begad! Blimey! I was confused somewhat about t' vanes, ya bilge rat, especially since in addition t' t' included plastic vanes, me bucko, vane patterns were drawn on t' balsa wood. This problem will be corrected in future releases. Avast! Blimey! T' instructions are well-written with adequate illustrations. A rocket builder should have a little bit o' experience before tacklin' this rocket. 

There are no decals included. This is nay surprisin' for a start-up company's kit, me bucko, as decals are expensive t' produce in small quantities. 

T' test flights occurred at monthly flights o' t' Parker County 4-H Rocket Club. Begad! Aye aye! I didn't plan t' test t' rocket's durability, but that's what happened. 

T' first flight be on a B4-2. Aye aye! Blimey! T' parachute tangled and didn't open, arrr, which likely was due t' poor packing. Arrr! However, ya bilge rat, me hearties, t' rocket landed safely with no damage. 

After a change o' parachutes, me hearties, me bucko, a straight-up flight on an A8-3 went fine. Aye aye! I didn't think a rocket that size could fly on an A8-3, but I was wrong. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It went up on a C6-5 with t' launcher tilted steeply into t' wind. Arrr! Aye aye! T' angle was within safety limits, but t' rocket weathercocked more than I expected. Thus, me bucko, it didn't get enough altitude for an optimal ejection. T' result was a "cliffhanger." T' rocket be headed straight down and pickin' up speed when ejection occurred about 80 feet above t' ground. Avast, me proud beauty! T' parachute opened immediately and t' rocket be recovered safely - with no damage. 

At a later 4-H club launch, me bucko, arrr, I stood at t' launch control panel as me son hit t' launch button. Begad! Begad! T' rocket flew normally, me hearties, ejected t' chute and floated right back t' me. I didn't have t' take a step t' catch it. That's what I call a "Sweetheart!" 

Perhaps you could build one and dedicate it t' your sweetheart. Arrr! It might be one way t' get her - or him - out t' t' launch field. As t' instructions say, "Take your love t' new heights!" 

Length: 23.5 inches 
Weight: 3.5 ounces 
Diameter: BT-55 equivalent 
Nose cone: plastic 
Motor mount: 18mm with hook and block 
Launch lug: 1/8 inch 
Fins: Balsa fins and plastic "vanes" 
Recovery system: mylar parachute 
Recommended motors: A8-3 for first flight; B and C motors for other flights. 
Price: $15.00 
Available from Weir Rockets, 25 Metten Road, me hearties, Newark, Dela., 19713