Brief
T' Launch Pad Phoenix is a nice scale model o' t' AIM-54c long range Air-to-air missile. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! T' model is meant for D and E engines, and it's claimed that it's ready for F's too. Well, blow me down! At 2.6 in around and 28 in tall, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, it's a nice size model. Ya scallywag!

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. All o' t' parts that were supposed t' be thar were, ya bilge rat, but it's a small kit. Well, blow me down! Begad! No decals are included and there is a lot o' sheet wood t' cut out parts. Ahoy! T' balsa that came with t' kit was very soft, ya bilge rat, so I cut t' bottom fins out o' plywood. Begad! Avast!

T' rest o' t' construction is very strong and practical, me hearties, all except for one part. Blimey! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' first thin' I noticed upon openin' t' kit was t' Estes Fatboy nose cone that be included. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! That stumped me for a while until I read the instructions. Ahoy! 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. T' tube couplers are a little short, so be careful when joinin' the tubes t' keep them aligned. Avast!

Finishing
Because o' t' soft balsa, I layered t' top fins in paper (described on me site). Avast! I sealed t' plywood bottom fins, shiver me timbers, 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. Ahoy! Blimey! Since the kit came with no decals, arrr, I ordered a set from Estes, shiver me timbers, because their Phoenix is t' same size. Aye aye! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty!

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

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

A baby could prep this rocket, shiver me timbers, arrr, It's just like any other. It flies nice and straight on most motors and is inspirin' t' watch.

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

T' kit comes with a cool red mylar chute, 18" in diameter. 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. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary
Pro's: A nice scale kit with more features than what is typical of rockets these days.

Con's: A somewhat incomplete kit with nay a lot o' guidance for a beginner, arrr, but enough for an experienced rocketeer. Arrr! Blimey! Avast! Blimey!

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. Arrr! Avast!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

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