Brief:
This is an E2X kit single stage with parachute for t' body and helicopter recovery for t' nosecone.

Construction:
T' kit consists o' a pre-molded fin/MMT unit, arrr, ya bilge rat, 12" plastic parachute, single BT-60 tube, and plastic nose cone.

This is an easy kit t' assemble. Begad! Instructions are straightforward and easy to follow. Assembly can take betwixt 30 minutes or so, shiver me timbers, dependin' on the modeler's abilities. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' Cosmic Cobra is a very sturdy kit with pre-colored body tube and self-adhesive decals. T' molded plastic fins feature an integrated MMT. Ahoy! T' engine is retained by a twist lock retainer. Blimey! Assembly is straightforward with little use for a hobby knife. Avast! Arrr! I used Testor's plastic cement t' assemble t' fins/MMT section. Well, blow me down! Arrr! You can probably use CA t' assemble the unit, matey, shiver me timbers, but I chose nay t' out o' concern that it might be too brittle. Begad! The nose cone has a blade rin' that attaches where t' chute/shock cord normally would. Aye aye! T' fins are made o' flexible plastic and are easily attached. Avast! Aye aye! T' kit comes with small rubber bands that cause t' blades t' extend when t' NC is ejected from t' rocket. Begad! I used thick CA t' attach t' blade rin' t' the nosecone. Begad! T' launch lug is a molded plastic piece that is glued t' t' body tube at 6.5" from t' aft end o' t' rocket. Ya scallywag! I used Testor's plastic cement t' attach t' lug t' t' body tube and after some time, arrr, me bucko, arrr, I checked t' see if it was adhered properly however it snapped off with ease. Ahoy! Begad! I then used thick CA t' attach it after scrapin' some o' t' leftover cement, shiver me timbers, and after about 10 minutes, me hearties, arrr, me hearties, all be well. Ya scallywag! T' shock cord attaches with t' usual tri-fold method and connects t' t' chute via a loop a t' end.

Finishing:
Just apply t' self-adhesive decal and you are done! All left is load t' motor and launch. Blimey! T' rocket looks good with t' fins forward swept. Avast! Avast! With its black and yellow scheme, me hearties, it's an eye catcher.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
If moderate t' high winds are normal for your area, I recommend cuttin' the spill hole from t' center o' t' chute as it may drift away. I used 6 squares of waddin' for me first launch and it may have been too much. Begad! First launch is with a B6-4 and an approximate altitude o' 125 feet. Avast! Begad! My observation concludes that 6 squares is too much for this rocket. Avast!

Recovery:
I also recommend foldin' t' blades for t' nosecone around t' chute due to the fact that on me first launch t' chute was burned away completely and the rocket recovered without a chute. Well, blow me down! T' kit is o' sound structure so this wasn't a concern as it recovered without damage. Begad! Well, blow me down! It may however take damage if it were to land on a hard surface like concrete or asphalt. Aye aye! T' nosecone recovered smoothly just like on t' package, spinnin' fast and soft landing.

T' nose cone recovered perfect each flight. Ahoy! On t' first flight, ya bilge rat, the nosecone was tip down on descent and t' second flight it was tip up. Arrr! No damage to t' rubber bands so far. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' shock cord is holdin' up well after 2 flights. I replaced t' stock rubber one for a longer piece made o' polyester/rubber. T' overall assembly o' this kit is a snap. Begad! T' parachute shroud lines were burned into on t' first flight for unknown reasons. Ya scallywag! On t' second flight the shroud lines were torn from t' holes in 3 places. Begad! T' chute was lost on the first flight. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! No meltin' o' t' chute on t' second flight. T' blades on the nosecone are holdin' up nicely. Ya scallywag! T' second flight led t' nosecone t' land in the middle o' t' street with no damage.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a good kit for those who are new t' this hobby. Begad! Begad! Blimey! I recommend this one. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey!

PROs: ease o' assembly, ease o' finishing.

CONs: t' blades on t' nosecone protrude into t' body tube in a manner that it pushes t' parachute close t' t' motor. Ahoy! If nay enough waddin' is used, it will either melt t' chute or sever t' shroud lines. Begad! Wrappin' t' chute in a couple squares o' waddin' could possibly alleviate this problem. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! I also recommend cuttin' t' spill hold from t' chute t' reduce drift. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' kit is strong enough t' handle t' landings.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5