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, blow me down!

Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. Aye aye! 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. Begad! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. Ahoy! T' tail cone is also balsa, me bucko, matey, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! 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. Begad! T' fins are die cut balsa.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. Begad! More seriously, ya bilge rat, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. I enjoyed that. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag!