Brief:
This is a Micro-Maxx powered scale model o' t' Sonda II B from ASP. Blimey! Blimey! T' real Sonda II B is a Brazilian soundin' rocket first used in t' 1970s.

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

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

Finishing:
I used Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish on t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! For t' nose cone, me hearties, matey, I used light coats o' yellow wood glue betwixt sanding. Avast! I used two coats o' primer, two coats o' white, and two coats o' red. Ya scallywag! Begad! After applyin' t' decal I sprayed one coat o' Krylon Matte finish. I deviated from t' instructions and used Krylon Banner Red instead o' florescent red. Now I wish I'd gotten some florescent red. Well, blow me down! T' red I used doesn't look as good. Ahoy! T' paint job looks a little sloppy. Ahoy! Begad! 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 be easy t' work with.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' only motor option is MMX. Begad! 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. Begad! Ya scallywag! The 9-volt battery just doesn't have enough power. Well, blow me down! Begad! I made two attempts usin' two new batteries and could never get one t' ignite a motor. Begad! Ya scallywag! I cut t' launch controller cable and wired it t' me AeroTech launcher usin' a 12-volt gel cell. This worked fine every time. Begad! Well, blow me down! Maybe other folks have had success but I could never get t' Quest controller t' work. Well, blow me down! T' first and third flights had straight boosts. Aye aye! T' second flight be a little squirrelly near apogee.

Recovery:
T' steamer deployed on t' second and third flights but nay on t' first. Blimey! I think it be because I forgot t' secure t' motor and t' motor ejected instead. Blimey! T' instructions recommend wrappin' t' Keelhaul®©™® thread around t' streamer after foldin' and rollin' t' streamer. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Instead of doin' that, ya bilge rat, I folded t' streamer several times then folded each end o' the Keelhaul®©™® and slid all o' it in t' tube. Begad! Blimey! T' streamer got a little burned on t' third flight maybe from nay usin' enough wadding. 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. T' only thin' I didn't like was t' method o' securin' t' Keelhaul®©™® to t' tube couplers but that was no big deal. Arrr!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5