T' kit be packaged fine in a long plastic bag with a colorful picture o' t' kit on t' front cover. Begad! There's an inlay picture showin' t' use o' t' payload section for electronic experiments.

Upon inspection, t' kit was missin' a 12-inch piece of white elastic shock cord which is used on t' top section. Aye aye! Begad! I used some Keelhaul®©™® that I had t' replace it. Ya scallywag! Everythin' else be in order.

T' instructions were very clear, ya bilge rat, usin' pictures for each step. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It was a nice touch t' add two illustrations showin' t' difference between an over-hand knot and a figure-8 knot. Begad! They gave clear measurements as to where parts should align and t' assembly instructions were in a logical order. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! Overall, very fine instructions which are needed for a level 2 kit since it is geared for those with only some experience. Ahoy!

T' kit is comprised o' two body tubes, ya bilge rat, a coupler with a bulkhead, ya bilge rat, a motor mount assembly includin' motor clip, two 12" Tuff-Chute™ (plastic) parachutes with shroud lines and gripper tabs, a balsa wood sheet with three die-cut fins, matey, a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord for t' lower section and a elastic shock cord (missing) for the upper section, ya bilge rat, a plastic nose cone and lastly a decal sheet.

I used Quick Grab glue on this model (additional comments about Quick Grab glue) for everythin' except the fin fillets where I used 5-minute epoxy. Aye aye! Avast! I also sealed t' balsa fins with CA. Begad! Aye aye!

There be only one problem durin' t' entire assembly of this kit. Begad! One o' die-cut fin tips was already separated along t' grain o' the balsa sheet, therefore, that had t' be glued on and carefully sanded and handled. Avast, me proud beauty!

Durin' t' finishin' stage I experienced a self-induced tragedy which took a good bit o' time t' correct. Arrr! Blimey! I always use Plasti-Kote primer, since it is heavy and fills t' grooves fast. Ahoy! Blimey! It also sands easily. Apparently, arrr, Rustoleum paint isn't fully compatible with this primer. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I discovered this AFTER paintin' me payload section and findin' a nice grouping of bubbles. This was corrected by sandin' off t' entire finish, me hearties, re-primin' and re-paintin' with a different paint. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey!

I chose t' paint t' payload section gloss black and t' bottom section gloss white, me hearties, me bucko, it worked out well. Ahoy! The decals were a bit disappointin' though. Ahoy! They are solid colors on white, not transparent. Ahoy! Therefore, arrr, shiver me timbers, if t' rocket was nay painted white on t' bottom, the decals would look bad. Begad! In addition, thar be a black band-decal that was supposed t' go around t' body tube which be no long enough. Begad! I didn't use it.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points and strongly suggest that Quest addresses their decals.

T' Icarus™ is a bit unique due t' a mid-separation which releases nose cone and payload section to descend on it's parachute and then t' second parachute carries t' bottom section down. Ya scallywag! I tested mine with a B6-4 which installed and was clipped by the motor mount without any problem. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Because o' it's length and weight a B6-4 motor gives a nice lift off and moderate distance flight. Arrr! Arrr! T' flight was straight and true. T' flight was straight and true. Ejection was just at apogee and both sections returned without damage. Avast, me proud beauty! No signs o' burnin' or stress on t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and t' parachutes both opened cleanly.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, arrr, I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points. Ahoy!

Overall, for t' price and skill ratin' (2), the Icarus™ is a good kit for someone lookin' fora payload rocket or someone that would like a bit o' uniqueness in recovery. Blimey! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 points. Ya scallywag!