(10/20/02) I like t' try different kinds o' kits and therefore when Quest came out with their new line of Quick-Kit™, I wanted t' give one a try. Arrr! I purchased t' Pulsar because of its futuristic looks. T' Quick-Kit™ concept is that t' rocket is "ready t' launch in 15 t' 45 minutes". T' Pulsar was about 20 minutes for me.

T' kit was packaged in a plastic box with cover art and descriptions on all but t' back. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Through t' back you can look at t' pieces of t' kit. Arrr! It is advertized as havin' self-adhesive decals, matey, shiver me timbers, a 14" parachute, and a Quick-Kit™ plastic fin-unit. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! Also, matey, me hearties, that it will have flights up t' 1200 feet. Lastly, it appears that all Quick-Kit™ rockets come with a display stand.

T' Pulsar is 18" tall and is advertised as 0.98" in diameter. Ahoy! Arrr! T' rocket actually transitions twice from 1.25" t' 0.98" t' 0.81". Avast, me proud beauty! This length is made up o' t' plastic fin-unit, me bucko, ya bilge rat, me hearties, which included a Motor Lock Ring, a 2" length o' 0.98" body tube, a transition, and an 8.5" length of 0.81" body tube. Blimey! Lastly, arrr, me bucko, thar be a 2.5" long plastic nose cone. Begad! The rocket has plastic fins and t' plastic 1/8" launch lug is built into the fin-unit motor housin' (which comes in two pieces). True t' Quest's design there is 18" length o' Keelhaul®©™® stock tether and 18" o' white elastic shock cord. Ya scallywag! Recovery is by way o' a 36" length by 1" wide plastic streamer. Avast, me proud beauty! There is a note in the instructions that says t' streamer is provided instead o' t' parachute, arrr, which is mentioned above, ya bilge rat, for better performance. Begad! T' kit comes with a bunch o' extra plastic pieces (retro rockets, me hearties, me hearties, exhaust ports, arrr, matey, boosters, matey, me hearties, etc) t' customize your kit. Ya scallywag! There is also a sheet o' self-adhesive stickers and t' two-piece display stand.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are 4 pages o' well illustrated guidance to ensure t' kit is built correctly. You will need plastic cement and a hobby knife. Aye aye! Blimey! I used Super Glue Corporation's Model/Hobby Cement t' build me Pulsar. Two o' t' pages o' instructions are basically flight preparation and launch procedures. Arrr! Blimey! There is also a small box for display stand assembly and for customizin' your rocket with t' extra plastic pieces.

T' most difficult part o' buildin' t' rocket be t' fin-unit and that is nay difficult. There is a paper 18mm motor tube that is placed in one of t' motor housin' halves and t' second motor housin' half is glued t' it. T' Keelhaul®©™® stock tether is tied t' a loop in t' motor housin' and t' 18" o' white elastic shock cord is tied t' t' other end o' t' Keelhaul®©™®. Then t' short body tube is glued in place.

Next, t' fins are attached. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey! I for some reason installed my fins upside-down. T' instructions are clear, t' picture on t' box is clear, but I just did it. Begad! Blimey! It changes t' looks o' t' rocket but nay the performance. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! (compare t' above picture, which is how it was supposed t' be, to my pictures). After t' fins are in place, shiver me timbers, a lower fin lockin' rin' is installed. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This shores up t' whole fin-unit and provides t' means for the motor lockin' rin' (motor retention) t' be used.

After t' fins are in place, t' plastic transition and upper body tube are attached. A cap is glued onto t' bottom o' t' nose cone and t' elastic shock cord is tied t' t' cap. Arrr! T' streamer is attached and the Pulsar is now ready for decals.

T' rocket used white plastic and white body tubes so paintin' is nay needed. T' decals brin' color and life t' t' kit. Blimey! For customizing, me hearties, t' various plastic parts can be added. T' cover art gives some ideas.

Done, me hearties, 20 minutes.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 5 points. Begad! T' parts all fit great and it was quick and easy to build.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Quest recommends t' A6-4 for first flight and then B6-4, C6-3, and C6-5 motors for flyin' t' Pulsar. Begad! Avast! My first flight be on an A8-3. Ahoy! Ahoy!

Rocket prep includes usin' waddin' t' protect t' shock cord and streamer. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor slides into t' motor tube and t' motor lock ring presses in and with a twist is locked in place.

T' first launch o' this rocket on t' A8-3 was straight, stable and fast with low altitude. Quest indicates t' rocket weighs 1.8 ounces and me finished weight was 1.9 ounces so t' A8-3 is a good match.

T' next flight was on a B6-4 and t' flight be much higher. Arrr! T' streamer brings t' rocket down very fast, me hearties, me bucko, but t' plastic fin-unit can take t' impact (probably even better if t' fins where put on correctly).

T' third flight was in our front yard on another A8-3 and again it flies straight and returns quickly.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 5 points. With t' streamer t' recovery is quick. T' Keelhaul®©™® and elastic system has traditionally held up nicely in me previous Quest kits. Motor retention system is excellent. Begad! Next big field will see this rocket fly on a "C" and I'm nay terribly worried about loosin' it with t' long pink streamer which is highly visible.

I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. Ya scallywag! Based on what Quest was tryin' t' do with their new line of Quick-Kit™ rockets, me bucko, matey, ya bilge rat, t' Pulsar has met that goal. Blimey! I feel t' Pulsar is best lookin' out o' their eight Quick-Kit™ models, me bucko, but t' others will most likely give a similar experience. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I bought me kit from Discount Rocketry who has all t' kits available rangin' from $7.50 t' $9.35. So, if you want t' build up a rocket fast or have an easy rocket t' have a young person build, try one o' these Quick-Kit™ rockets.