Brief:
I won me Sunward Star Watcher kit at t' 2005 NSL. Blimey! Blimey! It's an interestin' small low power rocket with futuristic styling. Ya scallywag! Blimey! If you've got basic rocket building skills, arrr, this kit should be no problem.

Construction:
T' quality o' t' components are great. Begad! Avast! T' tubes seemed slightly more solid than t' typical Estes or Quest tubes. Blimey! T' nose cone is Sunward's signature canopy design. T' balsa was firm and good quality and t' fins came laser cut which made t' build go quickly. Begad! Sunward uses a different style engine hook from t' standard sprin' clip. They use a L-shaped screw-in style hook that is inserted through t' aft centerin' ring. Begad! Blimey! I like this hook because it seemed much more solid without addin' a ton o' weight.

T' instructions, matey, arrr, me hearties, as noted in t' previous review come in English and French since Sunward is a Canadian company, eh. Avast! It didn't bother me havin' t' extra language, arrr, but it be somewhat distractin' that t' steps alternated in each language. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Possibly they might be easier t' read if each language be presented in its own column. Ahoy! T' illustrations were helpful and presented in a well laid out pattern.

T' kit can be built in either a standard, equally spaced fin configuration, ya bilge rat, or a more racy "X-wing" configuration. Well, blow me down! I decided t' go with t' "X-wing" pattern as t' previous reviewer used t' standard. T' instructions clearly state that a model built this way must be swingtested before flying. I had t' add several ounces o' clay t' t' nose to get t' model t' swin' in a stable fashion.

T' only confusion that I had with t' kit be t' direction in which the fins were supposed t' be attached. Begad! T' previous reviewer had attached t' fins in t' reversed direction. Avast, me proud beauty! I missed t' comment at t' bottom o' t' review from Angelo at Sunward statin' this. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! After a quick email that was promptly answered, shiver me timbers, I was set t' go!

Finishing:
Instead o' recommendin' glue fillets, arrr, Sunward has a clever system for reinforcin' their fins with paper tabs. Blimey! I was concerned about bein' able t' get a nice, matey, smooth finish over t' paper tabs. Ya scallywag! Well, arrr, blow me down! With a little bit o' care and a couple o' coats o' Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish and Kilz primer, t' tabs blended well into t' body tube and fins. Arrr! Aye aye! I be so pleased with t' look that I risked silver paint, which shows just about any defect in surface preparation.

T' kit doesn't come with decals so t' sky's t' limit on finishing. I went with simple pinstripin' tape over t' silver paint. Sunward gives helpful hints on how t' paint t' nose cone canopy.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight o' this rocket, me bucko, I wanted t' use a very low power motor for purposes o' this review. Begad! Arrr! T' smallest motor in me range box was an Estes A8-5. Even without t' extra nose weight, me bucko, I wouldn't recommend this motor. The ejection was very late, comin' just after t' rocket bounced off the ground... Avast! Blimey! It was completely me fault that t' rocket crashed, arrr, since I used a much longer than recommended delay. T' paper reinforcements held t' fins on tight with only a small crack in t' paint on one fin which was easily super glued back t' flight condition in seconds.

T' next flight on a B4-4 be much more successful although I missed it entirely. Begad! I be busy chattin' with another rocketeer, me hearties, waitin' for me turn at the launch controller when an accidental drag race occurred when someone flipped several toggle switches on t' controller instead o' just their rocket!

On a C6-5, ya bilge rat, t' Star Watcher really gets up and moves. It's a reasonably small rocket t' fly on this class o' motor but with t' extra nose weight needed for t' X-win' configuration, it won't fly out o' sight.

Recovery:
I was concerned about recoverin' t' model with t' extra nose weight on a streamer so I substituted an eight inch parachute I had in me parts box. Aye aye! My decision seems t' have been a good one, as I got safe recoveries on each flight that deployed. T' shock cord is nice and long and anchored with a standard folded paper attachment. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Nothin' fancy, but more than adequate for a small rocket. Avast! It might be nice if a parachute was standard in t' kit.

T' engine hook proved easy t' use and secured t' motors tightly. Begad! I used a small amount o' dog barf waddin' for each flight which protected t' recovery system well.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I was pleasantly surprised by t' quality o' this kit. Aye aye! I liked its futuristic star fighter look with t' formed canopy. Aye aye! Well, arrr, blow me down! I like t' paper fin reinforcements, which I thought I would hate. Begad! This is a stylish and fun little kit that I would recommend for those from who only have built 1 or 2 kits under your belt up to those who have been flyin' for years.

There were no real CONs t' t' kit as long as you follow t' motor recommendations.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5