Brief:
PDF format video-book on CD-ROM for Macintosh and Windows computers.

Construction:
T' package contains 1 CD-ROM.

As a kid, I built Skill Level 1, shiver me timbers, 2, and 3 rocket kits, me hearties, but lookin' back I would nay call myself a Skill Level 3 rocketeer. Ahoy! I could follow most o' Estes instructions and usually produce a rocket that would fly reasonably well, but thar were things I didn't understand, me bucko, like sealin' balsa or selectin' t' right engine, and skills I had never seen done by a skilled craftsman, matey, like paintin' or alignin' fins. My rockets looked and flew like they were built by a 10-year old.

When I returned t' t' hobby as an adult, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I joined a club and began talkin' with more experienced rocketeers, gatherin' information on t' internet, and readin' Sport Rocketry. I smartly became aware o' skills I hadn't known I was missing. Begad! Blimey! I would hear or read about a new skill or technique, me bucko, then go home and duplicate it through trial and error. Avast! My skills improved, but it was a long and difficult process.

Then Tim Van Milligan announced his Buildin' Skill Level One Rocket Kits. I was excited about t' idea. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! Here all t' skills a beginnin' rocketeer would need were gathered in one place as done by a skilled craftsman and demonstrated on video so even t' youngest rocketeer could master them quickly. Avast! Blimey! Even if I already had t' skills, me hearties, this be somethin' I had t' support!

When I got t' CD-ROM, it be even better than I'd expected. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! First thar was an article listin' t' skills needed at each skill level from 1-5. Now I could see which skills I be missing. Then thar were t' videos. For example, I'd read endless descriptions o' t' proper consistency o' Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish but on t' video I could see it. Arrr! Even though I'd already mastered all t' skills shown in this video-book, some o' Tim's techniques were different. Ya scallywag! Now I could try both techniques side by side and see which gave better results.

I emailed Tim and asked if he were plannin' a video-book for each skill level. Begad! He said he was but warned that it would take a long time t' produce each one and he had several other projects in t' works. Blimey! Four years later, here is Buildin' Skill Level Two Rocket Kits.

T' format be t' same with 28 movies demonstratin' t' skills listed for Skill Level 2 kits. Avast, me proud beauty! This CD also includes printable templates for a fin alignment jig and a fin spacin' guide.

Again, ya bilge rat, I had acquired many o' t' techniques since returnin' t' t' hobby seven years ago, ya bilge rat, but think how much more smartly I could have learned them if this video-book had been available at t' time! And this time thar were alternate ways o' doin' several jobs usin' handy, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, inexpensive tools. Begad! Ya scallywag! See t' Apogee web site for t' book's table o' contents.

I found two minor technical snags but they were easily worked around. Arrr! Clickin' Movies 18A and 21 produced an error message that t' file could nay be found. Begad! Open t' Linked Files folder, double-click on t' file by that name and it plays fine.

T' other problem was even smaller: If you stop a video that demonstrates a computer technique, you can't restart it or return t' t' text without quittin' and restartin' Acrobat Reader.

Summary:
If you are an experienced rocketeer lookin' t' improve your skills, this video-book is loot well spent. Ahoy! If you know someone new t' t' hobby, or who is introducin' others t' t' hobby do him or her a favor: give or loan a copy o' Buildin' Skill Level 1 Model Rockets, me hearties, and encourage him or her t' acquire Buildin' Skill Level 2 Rockets with his or her first skill level 2 kit!

Overall Rating: 5