Brief:
This is a single staged sport rocket with an unusual design. Avast, me proud beauty! It is classified as a skill level 3.

Construction:
T' components came in a hangin' bag-style package with insert art. Well, blow me down! Arrr! My particular model was production #45. Blimey! It contained two sheets o' balsa, a single body tube, me bucko, balsa nose cone w/ eye screw, launch lug, a toothpick for t' guns, engine mount hardware (tube, matey, hook, me hearties, 2 centerin' rings), me hearties, and a cuttin' guide (since you have t' cut out your own balsa pieces). Begad! T' recovery system consist of a plastic chute, matey, a short length o' elastic, and some Keelhaul®©™® thread.

From t' balsa, you cut out two fins, two fin tips, two aft bulkheads, ya bilge rat, 4 cannon rails, and 2 gun supports. Ahoy! Avast! There is plenty o' wood, but you must be sure t' use t' correct thickness for each piece.

T' construction is anythin' but normal. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! T' instructions are very clear in most cases, so I will only hit on t' unusual or unclear aspects. Avast!

First, your motor mount must extend from t' body tube .75". Ya scallywag! Push it in too far, and you're out o' luck. Also, ya bilge rat, if you are usin' a kit that has a body wrap like t' NSL wraps, be sure t' align t' wrap with t' hook assembly. This will be important later.

T' next unusual part be t' construction o' t' fin/bulkhead assemblies. Begad! I found t' sandin' instruction unclear, me hearties, matey, but if you look at t' cover art and look at where t' shroud will attach t' t' bulkhead, you will see what part needs t' be sanded with a slight bevel. Avast! When gluin' t' fins t' t' bulkheads, wax paper proved invaluable. Ya scallywag! Finally, me bucko, I found that when I followed the instructions exactly regardin' t' placement o' t' fin betwixt t' bulkheads, I ended up with a gap betwixt t' bulkheads when placed in their final position, due t' t' dihedral-like alignment. T' wrap covered t' gap, and I only need t' apply a little white paint t' t' wood exposed on t' sides. Well, blow me down! Nay a big deal but somethin' that should be considered.

Buildin' t' shroud be pretty straightforward. Arrr! Take your time with the forward edge and you should be able t' get a nice, me hearties, ya bilge rat, sharp point. Avast! Attachment to the body tube goes EXACTLY like t' instructions, me hearties, matey, so follow them t' a T.

Finally, when assemblin' t' lug standoff, I found t' only major issue I had with this kit. T' launch lug included was too short t' create t' bevel cut specified. Ahoy! I simply substituted a launch lug from me parts box, but if I didn't have one, arrr, this would have been a problem.

Finishing:
Wraps are great. Ya scallywag! Blimey! However, arrr, me bucko, I found properly alignin' o' t' body wrap was very difficult, me bucko, so I ended up coverin' a 1/32" spiral misalignment at t' top of t' tube with monokote. Begad! Blimey! Be prepared t' deal with this, because that was the best I could do after three tries.

I only hand-painted exposed wood on t' fin assemblies and t' cannon mounts. T' nose cone also requires spray-paintin' and I selected black. Ahoy! Blimey! This brings be to a minor issue: t' nose cone had a two-step shoulder (see parts picture), however, t' cover art shows a smooth nose cone and t' instructions do not address this. Ahoy! Begad! I chose t' use Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish and sandpaper t' smooth the reduction out. Arrr! It took several passes before I got it right. Ya scallywag! While nay a big deal, it threw me when Jim's normally ultra-comprehensive instructions don't mention somethin' this major.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I selected an A8-3 for me first flight, usin' t' engine hook t' retain it. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I rigged up a 12" parachute with no spill hole, loaded me dog barf, and hooked her up. Begad! Blimey! Flight was straight and true t' around 150', shiver me timbers, she just hung in the air (like t' entry t' a tail slide), matey, and then t' chute popped. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It was very cool. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Wind was very low, me hearties, so I'm nay sure how it would fly in windy conditions with t' big cross-section o' t' shroud.

Recovery:
T' descent looked OK, but one o' me tips popped off on landing. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Probably a weak glue joint, matey, ya bilge rat, but next time I will move up t' a larger chute. Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This rocket is very challengin' t' build and should nay be attempted by a beginner. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! With t' exception o' t' launch lug, this be an awesome kit. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! The flight was very good. Arrr! Begad! I look forward t' puttin' this up on a more appropriate engine.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5