Brief:
T' Edmonds Geminee Thunder is a twin glider with a single 24mm aft engine. T' gliders are supposed t' boost up on D12-3 and then separate usin' the ejection charge. Avast! Blimey! Glider should then circle slowly back t' earth!

Construction:
Included in t' kit is one balsa nose cone, shiver me timbers, me bucko, one balsa "plug" (to join the glider body tubes), two 25mm body tubes, me bucko, arrr, four sheets o' 1/4" laser cut balsa parts, a chunk o' clay, and a 3/16" launch lug. Blimey! T' balsa is very light weight (soft).

Geminee's instructions consist o' two 8-1/2" X 11 notebook sized pages black and white printed on both sides with good diagrams. Aye aye! I found t' gliders easy t' build, matey, but I have built many R/C airplanes and rockets before.

Instructions are OK but more information would really help this kit. T' engine mountin' details and t' glider testin' department are lacking. There was no instruction as t' how t' prepare t' engine mount other than "use masking tape t' tape t' engine in tightly". Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Also t' instructions did nay tell that t' engine stays in t' second glider durin' t' recovery glide, and therefore should be test flown with a spent engine casin' in place.

T' instructions that are thar are easy t' follow. Avast! T' fit o' laser cut parts is good. Ahoy! T' only special tool that you need is a true flat surface large enough t' accommodate t' 23 1/2 inch win' span o' this beast! I used a vertical millin' table and weighted t' 1/4" balsa down t' keep it perfectly flat. Aye aye!

Finishing:
There is no guidance in t' instructions as t' how t' paint or finish the model. I assume this is because if you want maximum glide performance, you need light weight. Begad! Testors spray paint or most any other typical paint will add a whole lot o' weight t' these big wings and change t' center o' gravity drastically.

Competitive rocketeers know that paintin' boost gliders hinders performance so they don't do it! I chose t' give t' Geminee two coats o' Aerogloss clear dope thinned 50% in order t' give it more strength and help protect it from wet grass, me hearties, etc. Avast! I also used bright permanent markers t' aid in trackin' and recovery. There are no decals in t' kit. Ahoy! Titebond yellow carpenters glue was used for win' and fin joining.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' only recommended motor be t' D12-3. Preparation is easy, just stick the engine in and insert your igniter. No waddin' is required.

On me first and only launch t' gliders began straight on lift off but after about 40 feet up began t' arch over toward St. Louis! Under full engine power t' Geminee nosed straight down into terra firma! T' engine then ejected with a very sharp and loud "boom!" T' engine casin' may have flown higher than t' gliders! I used a 24mm C11-3 for t' first flight. Avast! I'm nay sure if this affected t' flight. Aye aye! Perhaps t' D12 would have accelerated faster and given a straight boost? I dunno. Once again thar are no troubleshootin' flight tips in t' instructions such as what type o' launch rod t' use or what size engine nay t' use, etc.

Recovery:
There is no shock chord on this model. Aye aye! Begad! All o' t' balsa is very lightweight 1/4" stock.

Luckily t' ground was soft from recent rain and t' only damage was that the nose cone was pushed in flush with t' front body tube along with a lot of mud.

I'm thinkin' that I should have used a larger diameter and perhaps longer launch rod. I used only a 36" long 1/8" diameter rod. Begad! Begad! I think this thing needs t' get some speed up for dynamic stability before lettin' it go free.

For some reason I took t' upper glider and gave it a "test glide" after pullin' it out o' t' dirt. T' forward part o' t' fuselage snapped in two where it joins t' body tube on landin' again, right along the grain. Arrr! This be t' second or third time this had happened. Avast! Repair was easy and I plan t' fly this thin' again as soon as we get a calm day and I have the time.

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a pretty good kit but it needs some improvement in t' instructions department. Well, blow me down! T' main PRO o' t' Geminee Thunder is o' course its size and excitement o' twin gliders floatin' down.

T' CONs are that t' instructions should give more information on test glidin' in tall grass t' verify center o' gravity o' each glider. Blimey! Aye aye! They also need more information on how t' engine should be mounted and how t' glider uses t' ejection charge t' separate therefore t' engine must remain in place durin' t' entire flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' fuselage balsa should t' be stronger, shiver me timbers, I have used 1/2" Carbon Fiber Laminate "tape" from Hobby Lobby International t' reinforce me fuselage sides where they join t' glider body tubes. Begad!

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5