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

Construction:
Single glassine wrapped paper body tube, balsa nose cone, two main "wing" fins, matey, shiver me timbers, two "vertical stab" fins, arrr, two canard fins, and two aft sub fins. Carved balsa canopy. Ya scallywag! 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. Arrr! Aye aye! 18" Mylar parachute. Keelhaul®©™® thread and 1/4" wide elastic shock cord attached t' MMT.

T' instructions were very complete and easy t' follow. Numerous pictures to explain t' important steps. Well, blow me down! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' fin templates are printed on heavier card stock and a tube markin' wrap was 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. Aye aye! T' parts included are o' high quality.

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

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

About t' only thin' missin' would be nice set o' decals. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! A pre-formed canopy would make t' build go faster.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

T' second flight was on a D12-5. Begad! Much better flight. Well, blow me down! Begad! Nay as much weathercocking.

Recovery:
T' shock cord be t' popular Keelhaul®©™® thread attached t' t' MMT, ya bilge rat, extendin' out past t' end o' t' body tube where it is attached t' an elastic shock cord t' t' nose cone. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' mylar chute is attached t' t' nose cone eyelet with a snap clip swivel. Blimey! Blimey!

Recovery went well. Ya scallywag! It comes down slow but all t' fin surface does make for a lot of drift. Well, blow me down! Even with a late ejection on t' C11-5, matey, arrr, t' rocket suffered no damage durin' t' recovery. Arrr!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5