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

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

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

T' surface mount balsa fins glue on easily. EMRR fin tip #29: It's like makin' a slot only you lightly cut the top body tube layer, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, 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, sanded, shiver me timbers, arrr, matey, 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! Blimey! Paintin' enamel over smooth automotive paint results in a smoother, glossier enamel.

This kit comes with six sheets o' self-adhesive decals. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! They are good quality and give the finished kit a wonderful scale look. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! 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 was perfect. Avast! Apogee's motor chart predicts 294 feet and that seems about right. Arrr! T' steel clips make prep a snap. For a school demo on t' football field, you can't beat it. Aye aye! T' three motors create a lot of smoke and fire. Well, blow me down! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I can't wait t' fly this on 3 F12 Blackjacks. Blimey! Aye aye! It should be spectacular. Ahoy! No cons.

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Cost. Avast! T' Quasar model is $47.99, arrr, me hearties, while most 2.6" models this size usin' t' Madcow nose cone are $59 t' $69.

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5