Brief:
A high altitude, 38mm minimum diameter, fiberglass, me bucko, mach capable rocket. Ya scallywag! Very high quality parts.

Construction:
2 fiberglass 38mm diameter body tubes. One main tube and one payload section. Includes a fin can made o' high impact plastic and fiberglass. Avast, me proud beauty! Approximately 8ft o' 3/8" Keelhaul®©™® strap, and a Keelhaul®©™® reinforced Nomex® heat pad. A Rocketman drogue chute and quick links as well as other hardware. Aye aye! A fiberglass nosecone cast in polyester resin.

T' instructions were clear, shiver me timbers, me hearties, easy t' follow, and included color photos for most o' t' steps. Aye aye! T' assembly order was logically organized. Arrr! Blimey! T' kit was obviously thought out very well and fin alignment was nay an issue as the included fin can was well made and fit t' tube with no problem. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! However, matey, shiver me timbers, in the instructions it says t' you may need t' center t' fin can with tape. Begad! The reason for this be t' fin can be made universal, in order t' fit a number of tubes, me bucko, me bucko, but I found this unnecessary. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' fin can is tough as nails. Aye aye! The nosecone is retained by plastic removable rivets.

Finishing:
Finishin' was easy and t' tubes take primer very well. Aye aye! Begad! All you have t' do is sand off t' seam marks on t' fin can with some 80 grit sandpaper t' make it smooth. Begad! Arrr! It kind o' chews up t' plastic, but all o' that is removed after you sand and prime a few times. No decals were included. Begad! Well, matey, blow me down!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
It preps easily, arrr, me hearties, shiver me timbers, but you may have a hard time gettin' t' chute into that tube as well as t' shock cord. No waddin' is required since Nomex® was provided with t' kit. Ya scallywag! I used an Aero Pack 38mm retainer and a 29mm adapter. Ya scallywag! T' retainer is included, but t' adapter is not. Aye aye! I flew "Cosmic Wind" for t' first time at METRA on Saturday November 5,2005. Begad! Ahoy! She flew on a H97J motor as I didn't want t' fly it on a "punch" motor right away. Well, blow me down! When t' countdown reached zero, Cosmic Wind soared off t' pad slowly but built up speed as it flew. Begad! I was surprised that t' motor has enough punch to get her off t' pad that fast.

Recovery:
T' shock cord is Keelhaul®©™® strap that is very durable. T' recovery is fast but that be t' idea. Begad! I also bought a streamer for those really high flights, matey, all I have t' do is point the rocket slightly downrange so it doesn't hit anyone--it will fall really fast then. Begad! I found no damage on recovery so t' Rocketman Drogue did it's job.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This rocket is great if you like t' ease and toughness o' a fin can and the altitude o' a minimum diameter rocket.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5