Brief:
Based on t' 1953 French ramjet attempt t' hit Mach 2, this very challenging paper model looks impressive and flies amazingly well. Arrr! Ahoy! I would recommend it highly t' anyone with prior experience with paper rockets.

Construction:
Drake's review covered t' basics, me hearties, ya bilge rat, presumably an older version o' this kit. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! My kit was purchased in early 2005 and I'll focus on t' differences.

A major difference in me kit is that t' paper patterns are pre-finished, so I did nay need t' paint mine at all. Aye aye! As he noted, it can be built in either an 18mm or 24mm configuration. I went with t' 18mm mount. Avast, me proud beauty! I'm just nay too wild about puttin' t' massive ejection charges o' 24mm black powder motors into a paper motor tube.

My instructions were also in t' hokey 3-D, arrr, which I simply ignore now, after havin' built about 6 Model Minutes kits. Avast, me proud beauty! My pattern sheets though were mostly in English, so I had very little trouble findin' and formin' t' right parts along t' way.

T' instructions are fairly decent, although t' pictures are weak even if usin' t' 3-D glasses. Avast! Also, me hearties, some o' t' tubes are nay clearly marked which way to roll form them, me hearties, arrr, me hearties, so prior experience helps as does dry fittin' o' pieces.

T' main body tube consists o' 2 rolled tubes joined by a paper coupler. "Paper" is a bit o' a misnomer, as t' pattern sheets are all printed on a light cardstock, certainly heavier-duty than regular printer paper.

T' wings plus a nose cone shoulder and a couple o' centerin' rings are cut from foamboard. Arrr! This was a very tight fit, ya bilge rat, matey, so you need t' pay attention t' the layout template t' get it right. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Also, ya bilge rat, a fresh X-Acto knife blade will come in handy.

Drake be right that thar be a poopload o' cones and paper do-dads t' this kit. Blimey! Some people might expect a paper kit is quicker (and cheaper) than a regular kit. Ya scallywag! Nay so with this--it lists for $18.95 and I spent t' better part of 2 hours cuttin' out all t' patterns pieces while cooped up in a hotel room one evening. Ahoy! You'll spend lots o' time cuttin' and formin' t' components in this kit.

In addition t' t' two main wings, thar are 3 paper fins. Use a very thin layer o' white glue on these and resist all temptation t' rush t' job--just leave them flat under a heavy weight (like coffee table books) t' dry overnight, otherwise they might warp.

After attachin' t' fins (but nay t' wings yet), me hearties, me bucko, you slide a centering rin' onto t' body tube, ya bilge rat, form a larger outer fuselage tube, slot it, and slide it over t' body tube/fins. Add t' tail cone and this finally starts t' look like somethin' that might fly.

T' motor mount is either 18 or 24mm with a couple o' centerin' rings and a metal retainer. Begad! It then slides into t' body tube. Ya scallywag! Well, arrr, blow me down! I had no problem but think it might have worked better t' bond this first then attach t' boat tail later.

T' wings are thru t' wall, me hearties, which means slottin' t' fuselage tube. Blimey! That was a pain since t' paper tube doesn't offer a very firm cuttin' surface. There are also a couple o' small trim (reinforcement) pieces that go behind the wings. Begad! Aye aye! Mine didn't fit very well in t' wing/fuselage angle, me hearties, arrr, so I had t' sand them down a bit for proper fit. T' last piece o' win' trim consists o' a tube and a pair o' cones bonded t' t' end o' each wing. Aye aye! I think these are t' cones that drove Drake nuts--they're among t' sharpest angles I've ever had t' form and are very prone t' dings. Avast! I decided t' beef mine up by fillin' t' ends with white glue and curin' them overnight.

T' fuselage assembly is also a good bit o' work, arrr, made from 2 paper transitions, ya bilge rat, a cone, 3 wood dowels, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and an optional seat (a serious work of origami). There's also a clear plastic shroud cover, shiver me timbers, which caused me a lot of grief. Ya scallywag! I tried attachin' it usin' clear liquid plastic cement, ya bilge rat, hopin' t' make a virtually invisible bond line. Avast! This didn't stick, matey, ya bilge rat, so I tried CA. Ahoy! CA only fogged it up and still was nay bonding. Ahoy! I tried liquid weld for plastics, still with no luck. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I finally managed t' attach it usin' t' Testor's plastic cement, ya bilge rat, but there are some noticeable globs where it bonded.

One note on t' nose weight: I completely packed me nose cone with clay and had a perfectly stable rocket. Drake's was slightly overstable and he felt confident 24mm would be no problem. Ya scallywag! Begad! I'm nay as sure thar's enough room for nose weight t' cover a 24mm motor.

T' elastic shock cord is attached t' t' motor tube. Avast! Blimey! T' parachute is a very feeble plastic chute, shiver me timbers, barely 9", me bucko, and I tossed it out favorin' a 15" mylar sport chute instead. I'm just nay willin' t' risk carefully crafted paper cones t' an aggressive landin' speed.

Finishing:
As noted, t' patterns were all pre-printed, arrr, so no paintin' was needed other than touchin' up t' wood dowels with silver paint.

T' protect t' finish, I applied 3 coats o' Krylon clear coat in extremely light coats t' prevent runs. Begad! Begad! This added a little texture t' t' finish.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' maiden flight, I went with a C6-3. Avast! Begad! In very light winds, it flew absolutely straight, matey, finishin' off t' coast phase at t' top with a very cool barrel roll. Avast, me proud beauty! Ejection was right at t' top. Arrr! You simply can't ask for a better flight and I was very impressed with how stable and straight this was, especially for a paper model.

Recovery:
My 15" chute brought it back safely, me hearties, although one o' t' tail cones on the wings was dented a bit. Ahoy! I can't imagine how it would recover on t' stock chute, me hearties, so would consider upgradin' t' at least 12" mandatory.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I would consider this an excellent kit, shiver me timbers, arrr, however, t' skills required t' form the details is certainly a challenge and would rate t' kit about a skill level 4. Drake's review mentioned he can't imagine buildin' one harder--I think the XFLR-7 was a bit tougher, but this would be a close second. Avast! Begad! It's an outstanding flyer!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5