Brief:
This be t' Launch Pad's scale Sidewinder AIM-9L missile model. Ahoy! This is a mid-power rocket with a parachute recovery.

Construction:
This kit comes with balsa planks, two body tubes, me hearties, a plastic nose-cone, ya bilge rat, centerin' rings, and all other standard kit pieces. Avast! It also comes with putty for nose-cone weight. T' shock cord was simple elastic, matey, which be a bit inadequate for this great model. Aye aye! Blimey! There are also lots o' other small balsa shapes, ya bilge rat, arrr, and dowels for t' construction.

I found t' kit straight forward, and this be me first non-Estes rocket. Avast! Arrr! And, I wont work on anythin' less challengin' again! T' instructions are lengthy, but when followed carefully will make for an enjoyable project. I followed other reviewer's tips. Avast! When I built t' stringers for each side o' t' fin, I put them on at an angle and drilled holes for more realism.

I read that t' balsa supplied from TLP is soft, me bucko, and followed their advice o' coatin' with CA. Arrr! Still, after launching, me bucko, this is still too soft and I have had some fin damage. Ahoy! Well, matey, blow me down! I will repair usin' paper over t' balsa, shiver me timbers, then coatin' for CA, arrr, ya bilge rat, and see if that holds. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I do think t' forward fins need some reinforcement.

All in all, construction be straight forward. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Lots o' small details make this fun. Arrr! Blimey! Note: I have nay modeled since I was a kid, and did nay find this too challenging.

Finishing:

As with all TLP models, no decals, but that is ok. Arrr! Arrr! I painted usin' simple primer coats, matey, ya bilge rat, and testors spray paint. Aye aye! Ahoy! See pictures for t' finish. Ya scallywag! I also looked at as many pics as I could find and found a few small details like paintin' t' forward guidance pivots red. Blimey! I love t' way t' model looks and I have received lots o' compliments.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flew this model only once so far. Launched in a slight wind in San Francisco at t' base o' t' Golden Gate Bridge. Avast! Blimey! Used t' recommended D12-3 motor. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Used small amount o' wadding.

Fox 2! Weathercocked only slightly. Aye aye! Flew beautifully and straight. Aye aye! Chute deployed at apogee. Chute got tangled on forward fin, but had some resistance on decent.

Recovery:
I increased t' length o' t' shock cord, with a round, arrr, black piece o' elastic. Love t' look and functionality. However, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, me hearties, as mentioned, arrr, t' chute got tangled somehow. T' first ever recovery malfunction I have had with any rocket I own. Begad! Consequently, shiver me timbers, I had some slight fin damage on t' forward fins.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I love this rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! It be fun t' build, arrr, and t' fly. It be t' best looker in me arsenal o' democracy. Begad! I love this company and their kits and have built more and will continue t' do so.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other:
I would reinforce t' forward fins. Blimey! Might even try and find some light plywood. At t' very least, matey, I might try t' technique o' overlayin' tissue or 20 lb paper and CA that over t' balsa. Begad! Other than that, matey, matey, would nay change a thing.