Brief
T' Launch Pad Phoenix is a nice scale model o' t' AIM-54c long range Air-to-air missile. Avast! Blimey! T' model is meant for D and E engines, arrr, matey, and it's claimed that it's ready for F's too. Arrr! Blimey! At 2.6 in around and 28 in tall, matey, matey, it's a nice size model. Arrr!

Construction
I sent away t' order and it came back in six days via Priority Mail! It was all in one bag surrounded in shredded newspaper. Ahoy! Ahoy! All o' t' parts that were supposed t' be thar were, but it's a small kit. No decals are included and there is a lot o' sheet wood t' cut out parts. T' balsa that came with t' kit was very soft, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me hearties, so I cut t' bottom fins out o' plywood. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty!

T' rest o' t' construction is very strong and practical, shiver me timbers, me bucko, all except for one part. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' first thin' I noticed upon openin' t' kit was t' Estes Fatboy nose cone that be included. Aye aye! Ahoy! That stumped me for a while until I read the instructions. They require you t' roll a little paper cone t' fit on top o' the blunt NC! T' instructions are fairly good and guide you through t' whole thing. Arrr! T' tube couplers are a little short, so be careful when joinin' the tubes t' keep them aligned.

Finishing
Because o' t' soft balsa, ya bilge rat, I layered t' top fins in paper (described on me site). Aye aye! I sealed t' plywood bottom fins, matey, primed and painted it. I painted t' NC white(flat) and I airbrushed t' body a very light grey t' match t' real one. I used t' technique mentioned in t' instructions t' make rivet heads. Aye aye! Since the kit came with no decals, arrr, I ordered a set from Estes, because their Phoenix is t' same size. Begad!

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight
T' Phoenix flies great, but I would add a little nose weight. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! It boosts nicely on a D12-5 and very good on an E15-4. Blimey! T' 4-6 ejection time range is good for this model. Aye aye! Arrr! I'm anxious t' try it on F engines . . Begad! . Avast, me proud beauty! I think it would handle the power very nicely. Avast!

A baby could prep this rocket, It's just like any other. Begad! It flies nice and straight on most motors and is inspirin' t' watch. Arrr!

Recovery
T' Launch Pad uses t' same technique as Estes t' retain t' shock cord (very bad). I replaced t' patch o' paper with a loop o' Keelhaul®©™® anchored t' the engine block and tied t' t' shock cord. T' shock cord needs t' be made longer too.

T' kit comes with a cool red mylar chute, arrr, me bucko, 18" in diameter. Aye aye! It comes down a little quicker than like, but it hasn't taken any damage yet. Replace the supplied shroud lines with some Keelhaul®©™® or stronger string. Aye aye! Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary
Pro's: A nice scale kit with more features than what is typical of rockets these days. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast!

Con's: A somewhat incomplete kit with nay a lot o' guidance for a beginner, shiver me timbers, but enough for an experienced rocketeer.

This kit be one o' me first scale kits and I'm glad that it included lots of scale data, it's just too bad it didn't come with decals or a pre-made nose cone. Ahoy! Avast!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

* SPECIAL NOTE off o' RMR from Chuck Barndt, President o' T' Launch Pad