Brief:
This is a Micro-Maxx powered scale model o' t' Sonda II B from ASP. Ya scallywag! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' real Sonda II B is a Brazilian soundin' rocket first used in t' 1970s.

Construction:
T' kit contains 1 long body tube, 2 tube couplers, ya bilge rat, 1 styrene fin stock, shiver me timbers, 1 styrene launch lug, shiver me timbers, 1 styrene launch lug standoff, matey, arrr, 1 wood nose cone, me bucko, 1 Keelhaul®©™® shock cord, 1 decal, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and 1 mylar streamer.

The instructions were straightforward and easy t' follow. T' only problem I had was fittin' t' couplers in t' main tubes after tyin' t' Keelhaul®©™® thread around them. Avast! Blimey! It made t' fit tight and pushed t' tubes out a little although it's nay noticeable. Begad! Blimey! On t' top coupler, me bucko, I cut a small slit down the coupler, shiver me timbers, matey, wedged t' Keelhaul®©™® thread into it, me bucko, matey, and put a little CA glue over it. This made t' fit a little better. I used Duro Quick Gel, matey, shiver me timbers, me bucko, which is a thick CA, me hearties, for t' fins and that seemed t' work well. Ya scallywag! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! It set fast and was easy t' work with. Arrr!

Finishing:
I used Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish on t' body tube. Well, blow me down! For t' nose cone, shiver me timbers, I used light coats o' yellow wood glue betwixt sanding. I used two coats o' primer, two coats o' white, and two coats o' red. Avast, me proud beauty! After applyin' t' decal I sprayed one coat o' Krylon Matte finish. Begad! Begad! I deviated from t' instructions and used Krylon Banner Red instead o' florescent red. Now I wish I'd gotten some florescent red. Avast! Begad! T' red I used doesn't look as good. Arrr! T' paint job looks a little sloppy. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I used maskin' tape t' mask off t' fins and top band. Arrr! I painted a coat o' white after applyin' t' tape t' prevent bleedin' before paintin' the red but some occurred anyway. T' decal went on OK and was easy t' work with.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' only motor option is MMX. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! This be t' first time I've used t' Quest MicroMaxx launch system and do nay recommend usin' t' Quest launch controller or at least recommend carryin' some alternative launch method t' t' field. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! The 9-volt battery just doesn't have enough power. Ahoy! I made two attempts usin' two new batteries and could never get one t' ignite a motor. Arrr! I cut t' launch controller cable and wired it t' me AeroTech launcher usin' a 12-volt gel cell. This worked fine every time. Ahoy! Maybe other folks have had success but I could never get t' Quest controller t' work. Begad! T' first and third flights had straight boosts. Aye aye! T' second flight was a little squirrelly near apogee.

Recovery:
T' steamer deployed on t' second and third flights but nay on t' first. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I think it be because I forgot t' secure t' motor and t' motor ejected instead. T' instructions recommend wrappin' t' Keelhaul®©™® thread around t' streamer after foldin' and rollin' t' streamer. Arrr! Instead of doin' that, me hearties, I folded t' streamer several times then folded each end o' the Keelhaul®©™® and slid all o' it in t' tube. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' streamer got a little burned on t' third flight maybe from nay usin' enough wadding. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I used just a little flame retardant cellulose insulation but probably nay enough.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I think this is a great kit and very good quality. Begad! T' only thin' I didn't like was t' method o' securin' t' Keelhaul®©™® to t' tube couplers but that be no big deal. Ahoy! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5