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

Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I got t' kit less than a week after I ordered it, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. Avast, me proud beauty! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' tail cone is also balsa, ya bilge rat, arrr, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. Ahoy! Begad! T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! 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. Begad! Avast! T' fins are die cut balsa.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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