Brief:
1/10 Scale Model o' t' Canadian Soundin' Rocket, t' Black Brant VA. Begad! It is a single stage rocket with parachute.

Construction:
T' kit consists o' one 1.72" main body tube, shiver me timbers, one smaller aft tube, balsa nosecone, shiver me timbers, motor mount parts, matey, arrr, vinyl and waterslide decals, 20 laser cut parts for t' fins, 24" o' Keelhaul®©™®, and 33 inches o' 3/8" elastic shock cord. Ahoy! Blimey! It includes detailed instructions as well. Well, blow me down! T' model is a three fin and body tube type. Begad! Blimey!

T' instructions twelve B&W 8.5" x 11" pages. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! The instructions include a very nice engineerin' drawin' o' t' model with marking information. Ya scallywag! T' motor mount instructions were clear and straightforward. Begad! The tail assembly be t' most complicated part o' t' model. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' instructions take two full pages. I did find some o' t' marking/test fit/gluin' instructions confusing. It is a lot o' text t' read through. Arrr! Arrr! I would recommend readin' it through several times and breakin' t' build down into smaller sections. The fins mount t' t' aft tube only. Begad! T' aft assembly is then glued t' t' primary body tube. Aye aye! A note o' caution: In t' same paragraph that has you test fitting the aft tube also has you gluin' in t' motor mount. T' full size sanding instructions were very nice.

Finishing:
I personally had difficulty in gettin' a smooth finish on t' balsa nose cone. My first coat o' primer was too thick. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! When I started t' sand it smooth, me hearties, ya bilge rat, the paint lifted off and became uneven. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It took seven more coats o' a thinner primer t' get a minimum acceptable finish. Begad! T' rocket is red overall with one white fin. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! I chose t' build and paint t' rocket red without t' one white fin. T' one white fin was painted separately then glued on after drying. Avast! Blimey! T' decals went on without difficulty. Arrr! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight be on t' recommended D12-5. T' model uses a standard metal retention clip. Recovery waddin' be used. Arrr! Blimey! T' rocket lifted off with ease and was a very straight flight. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty!

Recovery:
Ejection be normal although t' delay was closer t' 4 seconds. T' chute opened and t' rocket settled down. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! It was noticed that thar be some separation at ejection. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! After recovery, ya bilge rat, it be discovered t' separation was half o' one o' red fins. Ahoy! Blimey! It tore along t' balsa grain. There be also a crescent shape dent in t' nose cone. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I suspect that t' nose cone impacted the body tube durin' ejection.

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
I feel t' highlight o' this rocket is that it is a scale model o' t' Black Brant. Ahoy! I really like this family o' rockets and ARG has made a whole collection in t' same scale. Blimey! T' con was t' fin separation durin' flight. Well, blow me down! I would consider some type o' reinforcement for t' fins, either tissue or fiberglass. Alternatively, me bucko, new fins could be cut with t' grain goin' t' opposite direction.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5