Description: Single staged 10.5mm motor (1/4 A through A in Apogee motors) rocket that is a minute scale model o' t' V2. Begad!

Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. Aye aye! I got t' kit less than a week after I ordered it, me bucko, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. Ahoy! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. T' tail cone is also balsa, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Avast, me proud beauty! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. T' fins are die cut balsa.

Instructions are clear, illustrated and logical. You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.

Assembly was easy and quick. Well, blow me down! You do have t' align t' 4 fins, shiver me timbers, but that's not hard. Begad! Avast! T' shock cord is thin Keelhaul®©™®-like strin' o' 20 inches in length. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! It fits into a plastic bead that glues into t' hole predrilled into t' base o' the nose cone. Me, me hearties, I prefer screw-eyes, but this seemed t' work fine. Also, if you've seen me other reviews, then you know that I have a thin' for stretchy shock cords, too. But this one worked without a hitch. Ya scallywag! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I attached it into the forward centerin' rin' in t' motor mount. Arrr! White glue was used for assembly, but epoxy be used t' glass up t' fins and make them durable. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It was also used to glass and smoothen t' nose cone. Ahoy! Avast! Yellow spray paint was used as a primer. Avast! I was about t' apply green, when me cat, Freeway, ya bilge rat, grabbed t' rocket and ran with it. Avast! Blimey! I decided, shiver me timbers, after findin' it again, me bucko, t' fly it as is.

Pros and cons o' finishing: A simple paint job is enough. Well, blow me down! I chose t' glass t' fins out o' personal preference. Avast! It's also a habit from high power rocketry. Aye aye! A green camouflage paint job will be applied this week, even though me cat likes it yellow. Arrr! Maybe green will make me lose it! At least yellow is easy t' find. Well, blow me down!

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 4 out o' 5

Pros and cons about flight: Apogee recommends their 1/4 A through A line, namely t' 1/4A2-2 or 4, shiver me timbers, 1/2A2-2 or 4 and t' A2-3 or 5 . T' shorter delays are recommended if it's breezy. Begad! Begad! Me, matey, ya bilge rat, I used an A2-5, arrr, as it be a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. Ya scallywag! T' prep time was just seconds. A pinch o' worm bed waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motor and it was ready. Well, blow me down! Blimey! And t' Apogee igniters fit right into t' motor. T' flight was fast. Begad! A FWIT sound and it was gone, high and straight. Begad! Good thin' it was yellow or else I'd have lost it for sure. I luckily saw t' streamer. Well, blow me down! Avast! Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Knowing my luck, though, arrr, I'll catch a thermal. Arrr!

Pros and cons about recovery: (17" streamer) It was easy t' assemble. It worked just fine, without any damage or burnin' t' the rocket. Avast, me proud beauty!

Ratin' o' flight and recovery: 4 out o' 5

Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. Ahoy! More seriously, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Avast, me proud beauty! I enjoyed that. Begad!