Brief:
This is a clone o' Model Rocket Newsletter plan o' t' month called t' "Top Secret". Avast, me proud beauty! Single-stage combination wing/fin and tube stabilization.

Construction:
Contents: 1 BT-20 body tube, me bucko, shiver me timbers, 2 BT-5 "engine tubes", balsa nose cone, fishin' swivel, arrr, ya bilge rat, screw eye, 6" parachute and thread shrouds, 17" long (before installation) 1/8" elastic shock cord, engine block, no engine mount or motor hook (minimum diameter tube for 18mm), shiver me timbers, me bucko, me bucko, cardstock set for fin alignment, shock cord mounting, shiver me timbers, and canopy, 1/8" launch lug, matey, laser cut 1/16" balsa fin set, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, lead weight, arrr, ya bilge rat, and 3/16" furniture dowel.

T' included instructions are three 8.5" x 11" pages with few simple yet clear illustrations. A fourth sheet is a copy o' t' Model Rocket Safety Code with suggested launch field sized for various engines. Avast! Aye aye! Assembly sequence be followed (with t' exception o' item 2 below), me hearties, me hearties, and it be easy t' create a model that is structurally sound and flyable. Begad! Arrr! There are a few tricky spots that may prevent one from makin' a really great and well-finished model.

1. Leave off t' aft win' until after painting. Begad! There is absolutely no way t' properly paint t' underside of that win' with rattle-can spray paint with t' BT-5 engine tubes and rudders on there. Aye aye! T' make a really slick model, it is necessary t' do some priming, me hearties, sandin' and paintin' before step 5. Ya scallywag! Remember t' then scrape t' paint off o' the areas t' be glued later.
2. Step 7 in me instructions does nay accurately represent items in t' kit. Blimey! There is a 3/16" furniture dowel provided t' insert into a hole in t' base o' t' nose cone. Blimey! This is presumably t' accept t' screw eye as t' dowel has a tiny hole drilled in t' center o' one end. Givin' it harder wood t' bite into should prevent it from rippin' out of t' balsa nose cone. Ahoy! Aye aye! Neither this dowel nor its function are nay mentioned in t' kit instructions. Ya scallywag! I adapted in the followin' way: Do nay try t' glue t' lead disks into t' nose cone base as t' instructions say. Avast! Take t' lead disks and cut them up into little pieces. Better yet, measure out an equivalent weight o' lead shot. Arrr! Avast! Instead o' usin' the entire length o' dowel in t' underside o' t' nose cone (it is quite long), cut it in half. Pack t' space at the bottom o' t' hole in t' nose cone with t' lead. Well, blow me down! Then glue t' dowel in on top t' hold everythin' in. Ahoy! Begad! It need nay be flush, matey, me dowel sticks out about 1/4"
3. T' parachute material on mine be a bit heavy and colored black (hard t' see). Avast, me proud beauty! I'd try cuttin' a new one from an easier-to-see material, ya bilge rat, anythin' but black.

Finishing:
PROs: I really like t' way this rocket looks. Begad! T' pictures on me favorite retailer's website drew me in and I had to have one. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! One caution, it looks bigger than it really is. It is correctly advertised, ya bilge rat, arrr, but its proportions just make it look big and sleek. Avast! I be a little surprised t' see t' finished size.

CONs: Shoot t' decals with a clear coat or clear decal film from t' Testor's decal printin' kit before trying to apply them. Avast! Aye aye! Mine were fragile. Ya scallywag! Dress up t' canopy outlines with paint. Begad! T' one I got be a crappy photo enlargement or low resolution printer copy and t' edges o' t' black windscreen were fuzzy and pixelated. Aye aye! Grab a fine brush and some black paint t' even things out. Arrr! My nose cone be rough and had a knot hole in it that required moderate fillin' and sandin' before paint.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' launch be on an A8-3 and t' parachute shrouds got fouled in t' wing. Half t' win' was ripped away and lost. Begad! Arrr! I hesitate t' blame this on t' model design, because t' boost off t' pad was a little slow and t' flight was wobbly. It needs more engine than I used. Ya scallywag! When I fix it I plan t' try a B4-4.

Recovery:
Shock cord technique was t' classic folded paper patch method. No Keelhaul®©™® was supplied.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
Main PROs: Interesting/obscure/uncommon subject. Looks really cool on a display stand.

Main CONs: Kit contents do nay match instructions. Well, blow me down! Paintin' around t' wing.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5