Brief:
A small, lightweight 3FNC rocket with an unusual nose cone.

Construction:
Actually, I built 2 Yankee kits; one t' replace t' initial rocket that disappeared after its third flight. Ya scallywag! T' first kit featured a nice balsa nose cone, but t' second kit, me bucko, shiver me timbers, me bucko, while otherwise identical, had a plastic nose cone. Well, blow me down! But both kits featured a paper body tube, die cut balsa fins, matey, ya bilge rat, a short piece o' elastic, matey, shiver me timbers, a streamer, ya bilge rat, matey, and a decal. Aye aye! t' quality o' components was excellent, except for t' shock cord, which was comically short on each kit.

T' plastic nose cone be a tight fit, and needed considerable sandin' before it would fit. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' balsa piece fit nicely but had quite a bit o' grain t' it. Avast, me proud beauty! I prefer this t' plastic, me hearties, however. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! At any rate, it is a straightforward build, and t' instructions seemed t' be somewhat better than normal Estes fare.

Finishing:
T' balsa nose needed considerable fillin' and sandin' t' be paintable. Begad! Begad! T' plastic piece was ready t' go right from t' box, once t' shoulder was sanded. I chose t' use automotive primer on t' original, applyin' thin coats and sandin' in betwixt applications t' get rid o' t' spiral and fin grain. Aye aye! Then I applied some black enamel, me bucko, me bucko, matey, followed with a coat o' clear t' keep t' decals on. Unfortunately, me hearties, this one disappeared soon. Ahoy! Begad! T' second kit was simply sanded and sprayed with red and black and was considered finished after t' decals were applied.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Launchin' with an A8-3 produced a good, straight flight. Blimey! Arrr! I followed this with 2 flights on a B6-6, and t' last one was never seen again. Avast, me proud beauty! T' subsequent kit was flown on "A" motors only for a while, me hearties, but I couldn't help tryin' a C6-7. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! We lost it too, me hearties, but fortunately someone in our club found it and brought it t' t' RSO. Begad! Begad! It has since been modified for 13mm motors, arrr, and does well enough on an A10-3T. Ya scallywag! I've never had a recovery failure, but if it did, me hearties, t' thin' is so light weight it would probably recover just fine.

Recovery:
T' supplied shock cord is just too small. Aye aye! After about 6 flights some wear can be seen on t' end o' t' body tube because o' t' shock cord whippin' it. Blimey! A good thin' t' do would be t' double t' cord length, me hearties, me bucko, at least. Also, t' bottom o' t' fins are gettin' crisp, though nay quite burnt. Aye aye! Overall, though, this is a great flier.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Personally, I prefer t' older balsa nose cone, arrr, matey, but t' plastic one will suffice. Blimey! Either way, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, it's a great beginner kit that a kid will have no problem constructing, ya bilge rat, matey, ya bilge rat, and will deliver many good flights, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, so long as you can find it again. Avast! Avast! But add some length t' t' shock cord!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5