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

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

Instructions are clear, illustrated and logical. Begad! Well, blow me down! You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, ya bilge rat, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.

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

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

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

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

Pros and cons about recovery: (17" streamer) It was easy t' assemble. Ya scallywag! It worked just fine, matey, without any damage or burnin' t' the rocket. Well, blow me down! Begad!

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

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