Brief:
T' Quest Commander is a fairly simple 3FNC, ya bilge rat, near minimum diameter model rocket for 18mm motors. Its fin arrangement is what sets it apart from its relatives in t' same size category. Ya scallywag! Instead o' three identical fins, this model includes one smaller and two larger fins. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' add t' t' uniqueness o' t' arrangement, the design calls for t' smaller fin t' be attached in t' more standard "rear swept" fashion and t' two larger fins in t' opposite manner. T' result is a rather futuristic lookin' space vehicle.

Construction:
T' Commander is very straight forward build with t' caveat bein' t' fin arrangement. Well, blow me down! Blimey! If you are one who likes t' airfoil your fins, arrr, me hearties, you need t' make sure you airfoil t' correct edges. Avast! T' Quest body tube allows for t' use of an engine tube and hook, arrr, which is a feature I happen t' like better than the friction retention system. Ahoy! Begad! T' nose cone had a very loose fit--to t' point that it would nay stay on at all if tilted downward. Avast, me proud beauty! As I do with all o' my model rockets, ya bilge rat, I soaked t' ends o' t' body tube with CA and t' slight swellin' o' t' paper remedied t' problem. Aye aye! T' recovery system be t' standard plastic streamer attached t' t' normal Quest Keelhaul®©™®/elastic shock cord.

Finishing:
T' kit calls for t' entire rocket t' be painted white with t' standard peel and stick decals applied. Aye aye! I have learned t' hard way that small rockets painted mostly white can be difficult t' follow at high altitudes therefore I decided t' deviate from this and add some color.

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flight:
At its initial launch, ya bilge rat, I flew t' Commander 3 times. I be attemptin' t' get qualifyin' flights for me NARTREK Bronze Level and soon learned just how long those flights really are. Blimey! First flight was on a B4-4 with t' kit streamer attached. Arrr! T' flight be straight and o' expected altitude and stretched out a 34 second flight. T' second flight be again on a B4-4 but I substituted a standard 12" plastic parachute. Begad! Flight be normal with ejection at apogee, however durin' decent, arrr, it appeared that a couple o' t' shroud cords had torn as t' parachute trailed behind t' rocket like a streamer. Begad! Upon retrieval, matey, ya bilge rat, no damage was found t' t' rocket or parachute, ya bilge rat, so I loaded up another B4-4 and launched it again. Arrr! This time, shiver me timbers, matey, after a nice high flight, t' parachute opened normally and drifted down for a nice long flight. I was disappointed t' hear upon return that t' flight time was only 54 seconds; just short o' the qualifyin' duration. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I be tempted t' load it up with a B6, but by this time the winds were pickin' up and I saw no use in riskin' losin' t' rocket to drift over a buildin' or fence line. Arrr! I am lookin' forward t' a calm day t' see what it can do on a C6.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I picked this kit up at Hobby Lobby durin' one o' t' 50% off sales. Blimey! It was marked normally at $5.99 and me opinion is it is easily worth that. Ya scallywag! It's a fairly simple kit with few parts and t' only thin' I would change is the graphics. Avast, me proud beauty! I'm nay a big fan o' t' peel and stick decals.

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5