Description: Single staged 10.5mm motor (1/4 A through A in Apogee motors) rocket that is a minute scale model o' t' V2. Avast, me proud beauty!

Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. Ya scallywag! I got t' kit less than a week after I ordered it, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' tail cone is also balsa, shiver me timbers, me bucko, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Aye aye! Arrr! T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Begad! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. Avast! T' fins are die cut balsa.

Instructions are clear, shiver me timbers, illustrated and logical. Avast, me proud beauty! You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.

Assembly was easy and quick. Ahoy! You do have t' align t' 4 fins, but that's not hard. T' shock cord is thin Keelhaul®©™®-like strin' o' 20 inches in length. It fits into a plastic bead that glues into t' hole predrilled into t' base o' the nose cone. Me, arrr, me hearties, I prefer screw-eyes, matey, matey, me hearties, but this seemed t' work fine. Avast, me proud beauty! Also, me bucko, if you've seen me other reviews, then you know that I have a thin' for stretchy shock cords, too. Arrr! But this one worked without a hitch. I attached it into the forward centerin' rin' in t' motor mount. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! White glue be used for assembly, but epoxy was used t' glass up t' fins and make them durable. Aye aye! It was also used to glass and smoothen t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Yellow spray paint was used as a primer. I was about t' apply green, when me cat, matey, Freeway, ya bilge rat, grabbed t' rocket and ran with it. I decided, after findin' it again, arrr, shiver me timbers, t' fly it as is. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty!

Pros and cons o' finishing: A simple paint job is enough. Avast, me proud beauty! I chose t' glass t' fins out o' personal preference. It's also a habit from high power rocketry. Blimey! Begad! A green camouflage paint job will be applied this week, even though me cat likes it yellow. Ahoy! Maybe green will make me lose it! At least yellow is easy t' find. Well, blow me down! Aye aye!

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 4 out o' 5

Pros and cons about flight: Apogee recommends their 1/4 A through A line, matey, namely t' 1/4A2-2 or 4, 1/2A2-2 or 4 and t' A2-3 or 5 . T' shorter delays are recommended if it's breezy. Me, I used an A2-5, as it was a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. Blimey! Begad! T' prep time be just seconds. A pinch o' worm bed waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motor and it was ready. Well, blow me down! And t' Apogee igniters fit right into t' motor. Begad! T' flight was fast. Well, blow me down! A FWIT sound and it be gone, high and straight. Avast! Good thin' it be yellow or else I'd have lost it for sure. I luckily saw t' streamer. Blimey! Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Knowing my luck, ya bilge rat, though, I'll catch a thermal. Begad!

Pros and cons about recovery: (17" streamer) It was easy t' assemble. It worked just fine, me bucko, without any damage or burnin' t' the rocket.

Ratin' o' flight and recovery: 4 out o' 5

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. Arrr! More seriously, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Begad! I enjoyed that.