Brief:
This be t' latest offerin' from Dr. Arrr! Booty, ya bilge rat, a semi-scale version o' t' manned Russian spacecraft, Soyuz. It is powered by a single 18mm motor and comes down with parachute recovery. Begad! Begad! This model does require some patience and skill--it is nay a beginner's kit. Blimey! I'd rate this at a 3-4 skill level.

Construction:
All parts included in t' kit are good quality and include:

• 1 T-20 core tube
• 1 T-50 tube
• 2 centerin' rings
• 1 pre-ballasted balsa spacecraft adapter
• 1 balsa nose cone
• 1 SAS kit bag(includes dowel, ya bilge rat, small tube, shiver me timbers, arrr, and wooden nozzles)
• 1 screw eye
• 1 engine hook
• 1 launch lug
• 1 CR205W engine block ring
• 1 snap swivel
• 2 thin dowel stock
• 1 sheet balsa stock
• 1 larger dowel (to aid with rollin' booster tanks)
• 1 cardstock wrap sheets and templates
• 1 small piece o' Keelhaul®©™
• 1 length o' recovery elastic
• 1 plastic chute

I was asked by Dr. Arrr! Ahoy! Zooch t' do a beta build o' t' kit. I hit several snags on t' initial build, me bucko, shiver me timbers, mostly some measurement discrepancies in t' instructions and some proof readin' suggestions. He and I hammered those out betwixt emails. Begad! And now, shiver me timbers, I trust, me hearties, that things will go smoothly for anyone attemptin' this kit. That's t' point o' beta testing...to iron out t' kinks, matey, right?

Some paper modelin' skills are a good thin' t' have for this build. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' booster tanks need t' be rolled and glued, all four o' them. Blimey! T' kit will provide a dowel t' aid in this process. Begad! Ya scallywag! I started usin' t' dowel but ended up usin' a spare BT-20 I had layin' around when it was all said and done. Begad! I ended up havin' less wrinkles in t' paper usin' t' BT.

You'll need a razor saw for this build. Ahoy! Begad! There is a balsa spacecraft adapter that needs t' be measured and cut into 3 pieces. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! 2 pieces get used as bulkheads and t' largest piece is part o' t' SAS spacecraft. It's easy job with t' right tool.

T' interstage is made by cuttin' dowels t' length and trimming. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! A clever sleeve is provided t' help with alignment. Ya scallywag! Be careful here so as nay t' glue t' dowels t' t' alignment sleeve.

Some neat little wooden nozzle thingies are provided for t' SAS tower. Use some tweezers and don't drink any coffee before hand as you'll need a steady hand for placement.

You'll need t' cut some balsa circle plugs for t' bottom o' t' booster tanks. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! I cheated and used some sticker paper adhered t' one side o' t' provided balsa sheet. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This made it so I didn't have t' fill t' wood. Begad! Blimey! It also helps keep a clean edge on t' balsa while it's bein' cut. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I also used me Hobbico circle cutter t' make t' cuts and it worked like a dream.

There are 16 (tiny) engine bells that need t' be cut and formed from t' provide cardstock patterns. Ya scallywag! This is time consumin' but nay difficult. Aye aye! I suggest usin' tweezers t' hold and clamp t' engine shrouds for several seconds while t' glue sets assumin' you're usin' white glue.

Because this be a beta, one o' t' snags I ran into was regardin' t' templates for t' stabilizin' "flaps" on t' spacecraft. Aye aye! Aye aye! They were were accidentally left off t' template sheet. I fabricated some from matte board, which in hindsight, me bucko, me hearties, arrr, I made too large for t' size o' t' model.

Finishing:
Finishin' takes a little time dependin' on how much scale detail you want t' add. Arrr! I used three different spray can colors on mine. Begad! Begad! T' main booster section was sprayed t' Testor's Euro Grey. I was very pleased with t' way that color looked on t' model, me bucko, me bucko, a very convincin' and accurate color for this. Ahoy! T' upper section and space craft be masked and sprayed with Krylon Gloss White and Testor's Competition Orange. Arrr! Engine bells were hand painted with Testor's Silver on t' outside and Testor's Copper on t' inside.

T' paint scheme is really makes this thin' come t' life. Arrr! I would have enjoyed seein' some decals for t' spacecraft, ya bilge rat, but on this small o' scale they are hardly missed.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Dr. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! Zooch recommends a B6-4 or C6-5 for this model. Begad! Blimey! He generally makes sarcastic remarks about usin' A motors in most his kit instructions, statin' that, "A's are for wimps". Begad! Blimey! It's t' typical humor you'll see from him. Blimey! Blimey! With some o' his kits, ya bilge rat, me bucko, thar be more truth than humor t' that, but this one could probably handle an A8-3 for a small field, I presume since it only weighs 2.2oz. I haven't tried it and hasn't been "officially" recommended so do so with t' appropriate precaution.

I chose a B6 for t' first and second flights. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I think it's t' best choice for this on small t' medium sized fields, me hearties, me bucko, reachin' heights t' about 500ft or so. Ahoy! T' 4 second delay is just about right too. Avast! Blimey! First recovery attempt wasn't good, me hearties, but t' flight profile be fine. Blimey! Begad! Due t' t' cold, t' chute stuck together and never opened. Ya scallywag! I knew I should have dusted t' chute with talc, shiver me timbers, but I didn't out o' laziness. Well, blow me down! T' rocket "tumble" recovered and suffered no damage at all.

T' second flight was much better. Aye aye! Avast! Dusted t' chute this time, me hearties, and t' flight be perfect. Begad! Ya scallywag! My wife even managed t' get a shot o' it while it was snowing, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me bucko, which provided some extra some extra scale realism!

Recovery:
T' screw eye pulled itself from t' balsa adapter on a subsequent flight and came down in two separate pieces. Begad! Blimey! Only very minor damage t' one o' t' fins. It's since been repaired and ready for flight. Arrr! Blimey! I did use some CA t' secure t' screw eye on t' initial build but maybe nay enough. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I used a couple drops o' epoxy t' secure and repair it now, ya bilge rat, and I don't think t' screw eye is goin' anywhere.

Packin' t' chute and shock cord is a real challenge. Blimey! There isn't much room for t' recovery components, arrr, me hearties, arrr, however, me bucko, with some careful plannin' and patience it can be done.

T' kit comes with a dowel t' aid with rollin' t' booster tanks. Well, blow me down! Save t' dowel and put it in your flight box! Blimey! It comes in handy when time t' pack t' Soyuz. T' dowel will help you push waddin' down into t' core tube and feed t' shock cord into t' core tube as well. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! This should leave you just enough room for t' chute in t' larger, remainin' section o' tube. Aye aye! Blimey! Dust t' chute and roll it tightly so it will fit. It will fit but just takes a little extra care is all.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Scale model. Ahoy! Quality parts. Arrr! Aye aye! Nice flight profile.

CONs: Difficult flight prep.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5