(08/31/05) When I picked up t' Squirrel Works Vulture, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I grabbed t' Astrid as well. Begad! Arrr! This rocket is another from their sci-fi series o' rockets. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! What makes this rocket so neat lookin' t' me are t' 5 fins that are elongated up half t' body length and into t' upper body tube section. Arrr! It gives t' rocket a very unique look.

T' kit is packaged professionally and includes a 8" long, shiver me timbers, .976" diameter lower body tube, shiver me timbers, a 6" long, ya bilge rat, 1.325" diameter upper body tube, me bucko, and a 3" long balsa nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' fins are laser-cut balsa and each fin is made up o' two pieces. There is motor tube with cardboard centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, thrust ring, ya bilge rat, and a motor hook. Aye aye! There is an eye-screw t' attach t' 36" long, me hearties, 1/8" wide elastic shockcord t' and a 12" mylar parachute. Begad! Avast! A decal sheet is provide t' complete t' make up o' t' kit.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on a multi-folded sheet o' pager. Ya scallywag! They include illustrations for construction and pictures for kit contents and decal placement. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' tube markin' guide and 3-fold paper for t' attachment o' t' shockcord are cut out from t' instruction sheet. Arrr! Instructions are logical and easy t' follow.

T' Astrid is just a tad more than a 3FNC rocket and is fairly easy, shiver me timbers, especially with t' clear instructions. Arrr! Ahoy! It would probably fall into a skill level 2 (from Estes and Quest standards).

T' assembly o' rocket consists of:

T' motor tube is assembled. Ahoy! You will need a strip o' maskin' tape t' hold t' center o' t' motor hook t' t' body tube. Begad! Arrr! T' two centerin' rings are added along with a thrust ring.

T' next step is t' mark t' body tube. T' markin' guide aligned well.

T' laser-cut fins are then attached. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! T' main fin is glued into place on t' fin lines and then t' extension is glued into place. This method worked well.

Once t' fins are in place, two plywood, laser-cut centerin' rings are glued t' t' top o' t' lower body tube. One is placed up against t' fin extensions, while t' other is at t' top o' t' tube.

T' nose cone is balsa and was turned nicely. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Perhaps a slightly higher grade o' balsa? T' eye-screw is attached t' t' bottom o' t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! This is where t' 36", ya bilge rat, matey, 1/8" wide elastic shockcord is attached.

T' launch lug requires a laser-cut balsa standoff t' align t' t' upper body tube's diameter.

Squirrel Works goes on t' give instructions on assembly o' t' parachute and attachment t' t' nose cone (via an eye-screw) and t' body (via 3-fold paper method). Blimey! Aye aye! T' parachute is 8-sided mylar and uses Keelhaul®©™ shroud lines.

They also give basic finishin' instructions and then detailed instructions on placement o' t' provide water-transfer decals.

By now, everyone should know how I finish rockets, me hearties, so no real news here. Ahoy! I used me typical multiple coats o' Plastic-Kote Primer and sandin' in-between. Arrr! T' nose cone was typical balsa and took several coats t' fill in t' grain. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' unique fins also took extra care in sandin' t' have a nice smooth finish. Aye aye! I then used Walmart Silver paint (additional comments about Walmart paint).

Squirrel Works provides some nice water-transfer decals that took time and care t' apply. Ya scallywag! Blimey! They really enhance t' looks o' t' rocket.

After a week, ya bilge rat, I gave t' rocket a coat o' Walmart Clearcoat. Ahoy! I do this for two reasons: 1) Silver paint stains easily from hands and fingers, shiver me timbers, and 2) t' seal t' decals. Unfortunately with t' decals t' clearcoat highlights them because o' t' smoothness o' them. Ahoy! Avast! Blimey! What can ya do?

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 5 points. Avast, me proud beauty! An very nice and enjoyable build. Well, blow me down! No complaints.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Squirrel Works recommends t' B4-4, me hearties, B6-4, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and C6-5.

Squirrel Works indicates t' finished rocket should weigh 1.7 ounces. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! My finished rocket weighed 1.6 ounces.

Don't know why Squirrel Works doesn't recommend t' A8-3, me bucko, or t' Quest A6-4 but I went for it for me first flight.

My first flight was in me front yard, so I didn't want t' do anythin' too drastic. Ahoy! Blimey! I loaded it with a Quest A6-4 and packed it with 4 pieces o' wadding. Begad! On a perfectly calm day, t' launch be perfectly straight and thar was no spinnin' on t' way up (I must have gotten all 5 fins straight). Well, me hearties, blow me down! It arced over and seemed t' sit thar for a second then t' eject occurred. T' parachute opened and it floated down nicely. T' descent rate is nice, but a tad slower than what I usually go for. I will either reef t' parachute or cut a spill hole t' increase t' rate.

Based on this flight, arrr, matey, I would recommend t' A6-4.

My second flight was on a B6-4. Avast! It is a light rocket and so it came off t' pad fast and flew very straight and stable. T' Astrid be still goin' up when ejection occurred. Arrr! T' red parachute size and color provide for a good descent. Ahoy! I ran and caught it before it touched t' ground. Arrr! (Doesn't everyone try t' do that?)

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, matey, ya bilge rat, I would rate this rocket 5 points. T' Astrid's flight and recovery system is top notch.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. T' Astrid is a futuristic rocket with great parts, instructions and decals. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! It flies well and has a solid recovery system. Aye aye! Hard t' find anythin' wrong with it. Arrr! Granted, I'm basin' this on two flights which I typically don't do, me hearties, but really, it would be hard for me t' believe t' expect anythin' except repeats o' t' first flights... Begad! just perhaps higher on bigger motors!