Brief:
A scale high power model (@ 67% scale) o' t' ASP (Atmospheric Soundin' Projectile) rocket. Avast! This rocket be used in operation Redwin' in t' pacific briny deep durin' atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. First flights were at White sands test range in 1955. Was launched through t' atomic mushroom cloud t' send back radiation data.

Construction:
Two sections o' Loc type 3.9" diameter airframe, me bucko, 4 plywood fins, plywood centerin' rings, matey, bulkhead, 4' chute, ya bilge rat, me hearties, 1" wide bungy cord and plastic nose cone. Also includes aluminum spin tabs as t' original used and a 3/8" dowel for antenna.

Instructions are easy t' follow usin' standard high power construction techniques. Begad! Blimey! Fin fit in t' pre-cut fin slots required some additional trimmin' o' t' slots as t' fin tab be longer than t' slot. Arrr! Blimey! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! Through-the-wall fin construction epoxied t' t' motor tubes and centerin' rin' make a very sturdy lower airframe.

I built it for standard motor ejection so no removable avionics bay was installed. Aye aye! Blimey! T' long fins require long fillets which means you will use a lot o' epoxy on this kit. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Blimey! I sanded t' plywood fins and gave them two coats o' finish epoxy t' make them smooth. I also wanted t' use t' aluminum spin tabs t' keep with t' scale appearance. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! These require some filin' as they are kind o' crudely made and careful alignment on t' bottom o' t' fins. I also opted for t' nose cone antenna. Ahoy! I drilled a hole in t' end o' t' cone and set t' dowel in strait extendin' t' appropriate length. Aye aye! Then I poured epoxy into t' nosecone t' cover t' 2" I left on t' inside o' t' cone. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! I also added 10oz o' nose weight at this time so t' thin' would be stable with t' heaviest motor I could use. Aye aye! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! I was a little worried t' antenna would break off easy but it turned out t' be very solid usin' this technique.

Finishing:
Standard fill t' grooves o' t' tubes and sand, sand sand. I left t' aluminum tabs off, shiver me timbers, primed and painted t' original black and white alternate quarters paint scheme. Well, blow me down! Decals were included and are "mac-tac" type decals produced off a computer. Aye aye! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! They were kind o' poor quality so I opted t' make me own t' same way. Avast! T' finished rocket t' me is an awesome bird with t' four long fins and overall sleek appearance. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' fin tabs in natural aluminum look cool also.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
With a 54mm motor mount you have lots o' options, I started out with a 38mm adapter and put a Aerotech I161-6 White lightnin' motor in for t' first flight. Rocksim put this at 1,300' at apogee. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' rocket really spins and looks awesome in flight with a good paint scheme. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' launch went nice but t' ejection could have been longer as it ejected when it was still on t' way up. Ahoy! T' lower airframe drove into t' upper airframe creasin' t' upper airframe. Ya scallywag! Otherwise t' recovery was fine. Avast, me proud beauty! I fixed t' upper airframe with a coupler tube and some fill and finish and re-painted it.

My second flight was with t' same motor (I161) with t' medium delay this time. Begad! Ya scallywag! Disaster struck right off t' rod when a faulty delay insulator resulted in a CATO burnin' t' upper section o' t' lower airframe. Begad! I have cut out t' 10" o' t' airframe that be burned and re-built t' Asp usin' a coupler and another section o' tube. Avast! I expect t' put a J350 in it for its third flight. Aye aye! A J350 should send it 3,500'.

Recovery:
T' shock cord attaches t' a wire harness connected t' t' upper motor mount centerin' ring. Ahoy! A quick link connects it t' an ~8' bungy cord. After me first launch I replaced this with a 25' piece o' 1/2" nylon webbin' as I think t' bungy is partially t' blame for t' damage on t' first flight.

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
I really like t' Asp and although I have had tow problem flights I still like this rocket and just keep fixin' and flyin' it. I think its a great kit and is reasonably priced for a 7' tall 4" diam. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! rocket (@ $75 when I bought it).

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5