Brief:
Single stage futuristic, ya bilge rat, jet fighter styled model rocket.

Construction:
Single glassine wrapped paper body tube, me hearties, balsa nose cone, two main "wing" fins, two "vertical stab" fins, two canard fins, and two aft sub fins. Well, blow me down! Carved balsa canopy. Standard modroc motor mount with 2 laser cut black fiber board centerin' rings and 24mm paper tube w/ engine clip to fit standard 2.75" long "D" motors. Begad! 18" Mylar parachute. Keelhaul®©™® thread and 1/4" wide elastic shock cord attached t' MMT.

T' instructions were very complete and easy t' follow. Ya scallywag! Numerous pictures to explain t' important steps. Blimey! Blimey! T' fin templates are printed on heavier card stock and a tube markin' wrap be included.

It was a challengin' build due t' t' number and size o' t' fins/wings. You must pay careful attention t' alignment when gluin' on t' various fins/wings. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! T' parts included are o' high quality.

T' only "gotcha" would be t' canopy. Begad! Three pieces o' balsa sheet are glued together t' make a block. Avast! A template is included t' so you can mark t' canopy's basic profile. Well, blow me down! It is a bit o' work t' shape t' canopy, but if you take your time and follow t' tips given in t' instructions, me bucko, ya bilge rat, arrr, you will be rewarded with a fine lookin' piece o' hand shaped balsa. Ahoy! This is definitely a "builder's" kit.

Finishing:
No special techniques required for finishing. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Pick you favorite. Avast! Blimey! I filled the wood and tube spirals with Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish. A couple o' coats of Rustoleum gray primer, matey, sandin' in betwixt coats. Aye aye! Blimey! Final finish is two coats of Krylon gloss black, leavin' stripes o' t' flat primer, ya bilge rat, me bucko, accented with yellow stripes on t' gray borders. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' finished product is sort o' an "X-Plane" theme.

About t' only thin' missin' would be nice set o' decals. Ya scallywag! Blimey! A pre-formed canopy would make t' build go faster.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flight prep is standard stuff. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! A motor clip retains t' motor. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! A handful of "dog barf" wadding, fold t' chute, and pack it in. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Launch lugs are 1/8" diameter.

T' first flight be on an Estes C11-5. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It left t' pad with authority on the C11. Ahoy! There was a slight 5mph breeze that day. Aye aye! At approximately 300 feet it started t' weather vane into t' wind at about a 45 deg angle. T' delay was a bit long and made for an excitin' dive before t' chute opened. Ya scallywag! Avast! Definitely a rocket for calm days.

T' second flight was on a D12-5. Ya scallywag! Much better flight. Aye aye! Avast! Nay as much weathercocking.

Recovery:
T' shock cord be t' popular Keelhaul®©™® thread attached t' t' MMT, extendin' out past t' end o' t' body tube where it is attached t' an elastic shock cord t' t' nose cone. Avast! T' mylar chute is attached t' t' nose cone eyelet with a snap clip swivel. Aye aye! Aye aye!

Recovery went well. Avast, me proud beauty! It comes down slow but all t' fin surface does make for a lot of drift. Blimey! Even with a late ejection on t' C11-5, t' rocket suffered no damage durin' t' recovery. Arrr! Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main thin' with this rocket be t' look. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! It has t' "cool" factor in abundance.

No real cons. Blimey! Begad! T' complex fin alignment and canopy carvin' makes this a builder's kit. Begad! Nay for t' inexperienced.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5