Construction:

T' X-24 Bug comes packaged in t' traditional clear bag with a header card. Avast! Blimey! T' packagin' looks very professional and this kit wouldn't look out of place in any hobby shop displayed along side Estes or Quest kits.

T' kit consists of:

• 4 launch lugs
• A nose cone
• An engine tube
• A plywood former
• A block o' clay
• 2 printed sheets o' card stock that form t' body and fins. Ya scallywag!

I like that t' printed sheets are flat in t' bag instead o' rolled up. Begad! It saves a step o' havin' t' flatten them out before startin' assembly.

T' instructions are clear and concise with lots o' detail and have a good assembly order. Well, blow me down! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! In fact, me bucko, thar may be a little too much detail, one step actually reminds you t' get up and wash your hands. Blimey! Well, me bucko, blow me down! If I didn't know better, I would think they got me mom t' write that step. Well, blow me down!

T' kit is a fairly straightforward build but isn't your traditional rocket kit. Arrr! Arrr! Probably t' hardest part is t' form t' cone that becomes t' body. It took me a couple o' tries t' get things lined up just right. T' instructions have you tape t' seam together before gluin' and this seems like a good idea. This is where I encountered t' only fit problem in t' kit. Avast! When I glued the seam, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, me bucko, it turns out that one side o' t' seam is about 1/32" longer than the other. It be easily trimmed even with a hobby knife. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty!

Since t' body and fins are made from printed sheets, t' only part that needed paintin' was t' balsa nose cone. Ahoy! Well, blow me down!

T' final step is flight trimming. Well, blow me down! Blimey! A block o' clay is included t' make a tail weight. It takes several tries t' get t' model balanced correctly. Begad! Blimey! When you hand launch it for t' glide tests, it only glides about 15 feet so you don't get much observation time per glide. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! It probably took me half an hour of glidin' and addin' / subtractin' clay t' get it t' glide well.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:

T' Bug glides down after t' engine is thrown out by t' ejection charge. All me flights took place on a day with a very gentle breeze. Blimey!

My first flight used a B6-2. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' rocket went pretty much straight up, just nosin' into t' wind a little. Avast! T' ejection charge fired while t' nose was still pointed up. T' Bug did a cool backflip rotatin' 270 degrees into a nice level glide. Begad! Considerin' it's shape and short wings its glide be much better than I was expecting. It landed just a few yards from t' launch pad with no damage. Ahoy!

T' next 2 flights were on C6-3's. T' longer delay lets t' Bug nose down a little before ejectin' t' engine. Avast! Blimey! Both flights were successful with t' Bug glidin' down in a large spiral. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

After 3 flights, me bucko, t' Bug shows no signs o' damage or wear. Blimey! T' only evidence that it has ever been flown is a little soot inside t' body. Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:

Overall I have t' give this kit a ratin' o' 5 . While it will never set any altitude or duration records, arrr, me hearties, arrr, it flies surprisingly well and seems t' be more durable than it looks. Avast, me proud beauty! If I could change anythin' about this kit it would be to have a black plastic nose cone. Then no paintin' would be needed t' finish the model. Well, blow me down! Begad!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5