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

Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. 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. Aye aye! Begad! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. Begad! T' tail cone is also balsa, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty! T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Aye aye! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' fins are die cut balsa.

Instructions are clear, me hearties, illustrated and logical. Begad! You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, arrr, matey, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.

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

Pros and cons o' finishing: A simple paint job is enough. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I chose t' glass t' fins out o' personal preference. Ya scallywag! It's also a habit from high power rocketry. A green camouflage paint job will be applied this week, me bucko, even though me cat likes it yellow. Arrr! Avast! Maybe green will make me lose it! At least yellow is easy t' find. 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 . Blimey! Avast! T' shorter delays are recommended if it's breezy. Me, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I used an A2-5, me hearties, me bucko, as it be a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' prep time was just seconds. A pinch o' worm bed waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motor and it be ready. Arrr! And t' Apogee igniters fit right into t' motor. Blimey! T' flight was fast. Avast! A FWIT sound and it be gone, high and straight. Ahoy! Good thin' it be yellow or else I'd have lost it for sure. Well, blow me down! I luckily saw t' streamer. Aye aye! Avast! Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Knowing my luck, though, I'll catch a thermal. Begad!

Pros and cons about recovery: (17" streamer) It was easy t' assemble. It worked just fine, ya bilge rat, 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. More seriously, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Aye aye! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I enjoyed that. Blimey!