Brief:  This is a minimum diameter, single staged rocket with forward swept fins, designed t' break mach usin' Aerotech 18mm D and E engines. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey!

Construction:Everythin' was there, ya bilge rat, nothin' damaged. Arrr! Ahoy!   T' fins are 1/8 inch thick precut plywood. Blimey! Begad! T' body tube is spiral wound paper. Ya scallywag! I had the option o' gettin' fiberglass parts all around, but chose paper for lower cost. Begad! Arrr! T' launch lug is also spiral wound paper, matey, and is 1/8 inch diameter. Avast! The nose cone is ogive, shiver me timbers, arrr, shiver me timbers, solid machined balsa. Aye aye! Avast! T' streamer is metallic mylar, blue on one side, and silver on t' other, and it is 48 inches long by 1 inch wide. Ahoy!

T' instructions were illustrated and very clear and simple. Ya scallywag! T' model was simple t' construct. T' only gotcha is t' put t' fins in a forward swept position. Begad! Ya scallywag! Mathematically, you might think that this would increase drag, but maybe nay so at t' speeds this little rocket can attain.

Finishing:There are numerous red decals that I applied over an orange spray painted surface. Begad! Begad! They are t' type that easily peels off when soaked in water, matey, shiver me timbers, and they went on smoothly. Blimey! Begad! I used epoxy for the fin attachment since it was an on-the-tube attachment and I wanted strength. Begad! I also made fillets all around. Avast, me proud beauty! I also made fillets all around. Aye aye! I also applied epoxy over t' entire fins t' glass them, and t' result be a hard, me hearties, smooth finish. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! T' model looked sharp.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:T' recommended motors are t' Aerotech 18mm D and E group. I used t' E25-10. Aye aye! Blimey! I used t' E25-10. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! It was easy t' prep, arrr, matey, except that the streamer needs t' be meticulously wound or else it does nay fit into t' body easily. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Worm beddin' waddin' was used, and t' motor was retained usin' tape. T' model nay only flew straight, it made a loud pop as it practically teleported off t' pad. Begad! Blimey! It left so fast that attempts t' photograph it created only a shot o' an empty pad! Blimey!

Recovery:T' recovery system worked fine, me bucko, although I did nay know this until two months later, which I'll explain soon. T' shock cord is 3 feet of black 1/8 inch wide flat elastic attached t' t' inside wall o' t' body tube via a small loop o' Keelhaul®©™® cord which I provided and a folded paper mounting. Well, blow me down! Begad!

I provided t' Keelhaul®©™® cord as a carryover habit from higher power, me hearties, as Keelhaul®©™® can take heat better than elastic can, and since that end o' t' shock cord system is closer t' engine fumes, ya bilge rat, arrr, I wanted it flameproof. Avast!   Also, epoxied elastic becomes brittle, so I don't directly adhere it t' t' shock mount any more. Aye aye! Blimey!

Nobody saw where t' model went, except t' say, shiver me timbers, arrr, "Damn high. Begad! "So I gave it up for lost after a two-hour search in t' searin' desert heat and bought another. Begad! Two months later, matey, it was found in flyable condition!!!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:Sturdy, can survive extreme sun and some rain.   very fast mover. Blimey! About t' only thin' I'd change is t' make it a parachute t' give me a chance t' spot it better. Arrr! Maybe it'd drift a mile, but part o' t' fun is gettin' models back. Arrr!

I recommend this one for you altitude and speed buffs. Avast, me proud beauty!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5