Brief:
T' Patriot is Quasar kit that's transitional. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! It has a high power body tube and nose cone but clusters three 24mm motors and has surface mount balsa fins. Aye aye! I got t' kit from Apogee and they say it's one o' their best-sellin' Quasar products. Blimey! It's a great lookin' kit.

Construction:
Parts: a 34" full length high-power body tube, me bucko, plastic nose cone, steel eye bolt, pre-cut balsa fins, me bucko, shiver me timbers, thick illustration board style centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, 24mm clustered motor mount with steel clips, and engine blocks. Self-adhesive decals: six sheets o' full-color decals. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! Quasar uses thick plastic for their parachutes and include a swivel, arrr, me hearties, t' shock cord is elastic, shiver me timbers, and they include reinforcement rings.

It arrived in a huge hang tag bag. Arrr! Aye aye! T' first thin' t' build be t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! I scraped off some o' t' foil inside t' end o' t' tube t' glue t' thrust rings. Ahoy! Begad! T' cluster centerin' rings on Quasars build without a hitch, and other manufacturers could take lessons. Avast, me proud beauty! No sanding, no loose parts, just a perfect fit.

T' surface mount balsa fins glue on easily. Begad! EMRR fin tip #29: It's like makin' a slot only you lightly cut the top body tube layer, then peel off that first layer. Begad! I prepared them for paint with one coat o' thinned Elmer's Wood Filler.

Finishing:
Two coats o' high-build automotive primer, matey, sanded, then used catalyzed automotive urethane for t' overall white. Then lightly sanded and added t' red rattle-can enamel Krylon t' t' fin can. Ahoy! Paintin' enamel over smooth automotive paint results in a smoother, glossier enamel. Ya scallywag!

This kit comes with six sheets o' self-adhesive decals. They are good quality and give the finished kit a wonderful scale look. Aye aye! Cons: instructions are nay quite at t' level o' t' best kit makers.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight on three C-11s be perfect. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Apogee's motor chart predicts 294 feet and that seems about right. Begad! T' steel clips make prep a snap. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! For a school demo on t' football field, you can't beat it. Arrr! T' three motors create a lot of smoke and fire. Ahoy! I can't wait t' fly this on 3 F12 Blackjacks. It should be spectacular. No cons.

Recovery:
T' parachute is plastic but thicker than typical low-power parachutes. Begad! It should last longer, but it's also heavier. T' shock cord mount is paper tri-fold. Avast! It's functional, shiver me timbers, but most builders will want t' add Keelhaul®©™®. T' eye bolt on t' nose cone is huge and heavy-duty.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Extremely impressive lookin' rocket, quick build, me bucko, best-in-show fit for cluster parts, arrr, high-quality foil lined motor tubes, me bucko, lots o' different motor options, clusters can be loud and smoky.

Cost. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' Quasar model is $47.99, while most 2.6" models this size usin' t' Madcow nose cone are $59 t' $69.

CONs: Balsa fins, matey, tri-fold paper mount, cluster may be challengin' t' light.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5