Brief:
T' space needle is a single stage two piece rocket that stands 10 feet(!) tall. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! At deployment it separates into a 3 foot and a 6 foot section. Each section has an 18" parachute.

Construction:
Rogue Aerospace is a quality manufacture o' rocket kits. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' Space Needle is no exception. Ya scallywag! T' kit requires a special handlin' charge due t' three 3' long body tubes. Blimey! T' instructions are easy t' follow. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' model number is #10001. Begad! This could have been their first kit.

T' motor mount, arrr, a shock cord and fins are mounted on one 3' tube, becoming the lower section. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! One tube, me hearties, shiver me timbers, matey, a coupler and a balsa bulkhead become t' middle section. Arrr! T' last 3' foot and t' balsa nose cone (10" long + shoulder) become t' upper section. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' instructions state t' make sure t' coupler is very tight betwixt t' upper and middle section. These sections are nay glued together so t' rocket can be transported easily. Ya scallywag!

I added an elastic shock chord betwixt t' upper and middle section in case the two sections should separate. Arrr! Arrr! I also drilled three 1/16" holes in the middle tube above t' bulkhead so t' 'six' foot section could vent as it ascended t' prevent accidental separation. Aye aye! Neither o' these steps are in the instructions. Blimey!

T' nose cone is glued on, thus sealin' t' two tubes when assembled. The bulkhead can be reinforced with a hardwood dowel (supplied) t' create a better anchor for t' eyelet that holds t' shock chord for t' upper section 'chute. This requires a 3/16" and 3/8" drill bits. Ahoy! Blimey! I did this. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

Finishing:
Paintin' a 10' rocket seemed a bit o' a problem as t' tallest rocket I have painted before was 2'. Begad! I painted t' two upper tubes 1/2 a tube at time. Aye aye! Arrr! I held the tube and spray painted 1/2 t' tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Let t' tube dry and painted t' other half. Well, blow me down! Begad! I painted t' lower section by placin' a broom handle down t' tube which then rested on t' motor mount. Ahoy! This allowed me t' paint t' entire tube and then set it down on t' broom handle t' dry. Ahoy! T' 'SPACE NEEDLE' decal is a large delicate decal. Ya scallywag! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Be sure t' slide it onto t' body tube in t' direction of t' tube. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I tried t' put t' decal on around t' tube and almost lost the decal as it did a nasty job o' curling. Ya scallywag!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors are a D12-5 and an E6-6. T' E6-6 is an Apogee engine. Well, blow me down! I flew me Space Needle on a D12-5, and a E15-7 and a D12-5. I would nay recommend the E15-7. Avast, me proud beauty! It is a bit strong and could result in crimping. Aye aye! It is important to pack t' 'chutes lose so they open. T' upper stage will nay come down as a javelin if t' chute doesn't open. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! It drifts down horizontally. It's t' lower section that can be a problem as t' fins can hit hard. Arrr! Ya scallywag!

T' waddin' is a Nomex® sheet (provided) as with all Rogue kits. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! It should be packed properly. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I some how tangled t' shock chord and did nay get a good chute deployment losin' a fin on t' last launch. Begad! Blimey! T' only problem I had was at the launch site. T' two 3/16"ID 3" long launch lugs are mounted 1.5" from t' ends o' t' lower tube. Arrr! Blimey! Thus one must have 34.5" of launch rod t' launch t' Space Needle. Avast! Blimey! Due t' t' breeze t' day o' launch I had t' put t' rocket on t' 36" launch rod just before launch as the rocket was swayin' in t' breeze on t' pad. I would say if you have access to 1/4" launch rods, I would use 1/4" launch lugs or only launch on a calm day. Begad! Blimey!

Recovery:
T' shock cord is tied t' t' motor mount before assembly. It shouldn't come undone. Avast, me proud beauty! With this model that is over 5' o' shock cord. Ya scallywag! T' D12-5 is just about right for time o' deployment. Ya scallywag!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
An impressive rocket at any launch. Ahoy! 10' o' rocket that weighs only 8 oz. Ahoy! Should be on a 1/4" rod for launchin' on breezy days.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5