Brief:
I had been flyin' me 1967 vintage Astron Spaceplane when a unusually powerful ejection charge broke both elevon stops and blew away 1/3 o' t' right elevon. I decided t' retire it and build a replacement. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' cc:Spaceplane is one o' the "carbon copy" kits put out by Semroc. Semroc supplies all t' parts includin' laser cut fins and decals, ya bilge rat, me bucko, which were nay included in t' original kit. It is close enough t' t' original Astron Spaceplane that t' original Estes instructions can be used. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' instructions are available for download off the internet, shiver me timbers, but I still had me set from 1967 so that's what I used. Arrr! Blimey! Avast! Blimey!

Construction:
Parts in t' kit:

• Body tube
• Solid balsa engine block/bulkhead
• Balsa nose cone
• 2 sheets o' laser cut parts
• Launch lug
• Hinge material
• Elastic thread
• 2 Nylon adjustin' screws
• Nose cone weight
• Decal sheet

T' instructions are vintage and appear t' be hand printed. Arrr! Begad! T' construction sequence is logically arranged and t' laser cuttin' made construction a breeze compared t' t' original where all t' parts had t' be copied from a pattern and cut out. All t' parts fit beautifully and t' hinge material felt like plastic rather than t' paper hinges o' t' original and stuck very well. Begad! Even the hole in t' elevons for t' elastic thread be laser drilled. T' only markin' and cuttin' was for t' elevon cutout at t' aft o' t' body tube. Arrr! I used Elmer's white glue throughout for t' construction

Finishing:
Since t' cc:Spaceplane is a boost glider, ya bilge rat, arrr, I tried t' keep finishin' t' a minimum t' save weight. All t' balsa surfaces were given a single coat of Minwax Polycrylic and sanded smooth then a single light coat o' Krylon white primer followed by a single light coat o' Krylon gloss white except for the nose cone which was painted gloss black. Aye aye! Begad! T' decals were applied next, were easy t' apply, and they stuck fairly well. Aye aye! Avast! I balanced it accordin' t' t' plan which is betwixt 3 7/8" t' 3 15/16" from t' front edge o' t' body tube with a motor installed. Aye aye! Instead o' cuttin' parts o' t' nose cone weight and gluin' t' t' nose cone, I just used a medium sized screw eye which was just about right.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
Before flyin' it for t' first time, I took it out in t' back yard for test glides. Arrr! Aye aye! T' nylon screws make it easy t' adjust t' elevons for glide and after about a dozen tosses, matey, I had a fairly flat glide with just a bit o' right turn into it. Avast, me proud beauty! For some reason, ya bilge rat, it didn't want t' turn left easily, me hearties, so I adjusted the glide for a right turn.

T' recommended motor for first flight is 1/2A6-2. Arrr! I chose t' try it with an A8-3. Aye aye! At launch, it went up about 50ft, made 2 complete loops, ya bilge rat, and then the motor ejected. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It had a beautiful, arrr, if somewhat short glide. Blimey! T' spin tabs didn't seem t' have any effect at all. Avast! Ahoy! I took it home and added about 1/3 of the weight that was included and cranked in a little more up elevon for the glide adjustment. Well, blow me down!

Because o' t' weather, me bucko, I didn't get a chance t' attempt a second flight for 2 1/2 months, arrr, me hearties, but t' day o' t' second launch was clear with very little wind. Ahoy! I loaded an A8-3 and this time t' boost was much better. Ahoy! It didn't exactly spin but had large barrel rolls (much like me original Astron Spaceplane) until ejection and had a decent but nay great glide. Avast! A little more up elevon and a little less right turn and this will be a good sport flyer.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This rocket kit be o' t' highest quality with excellent laser cut parts. While nay a beginner's kit, shiver me timbers, it was easy t' assemble if you take your time and follow t' instruction steps. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! As be t' case with many boost gliders, me bucko, thar is trade off betwixt boost performance and glide performance. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey!

I don't expect t' get a better boost without addin' more nose weight but that would affect glide performance. Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I will live with t' large rolls as this was intended for sport flying. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5