Brief:
T' Love Bug is one o' Excelsior's Original lines o' plans but unlike most of them which are based on bashin' t' Baby Bertha kit, matey, this one utilizes t' Big Bertha as an origin. Begad! Begad! T' Love Bug kit comes packaged in a heavy, plastic sleeve and contains instructions, fin templates, ya bilge rat, and a sheet o' decals t' replace those parts o' t' Bertha kit. Begad! Ahoy!

Construction:
T' Love Bug goes together exactly as t' Big Bertha instructions direct with the exception o' t' fins. Begad! Avast! T' Love Bug has only three fins, so t' builder is left with t' task o' makin' his own markin' template for t' fin locations. T' fin shape is also dramatically different from those o' t' Bertha. Excelsior supplies t' template for markin' and cuttin' these. Avast, me proud beauty! I added a length of Keelhaul®©™ t' t' kit supplied elastic just because we all know those kit cords are just too short. Begad!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Finishing:
T' final finishin' is ultimately up t' t' builder, but in keepin' with the theme o' t' plan set, shiver me timbers, pink would be t' obvious color o' choice. Other possible choices might be white or maybe a light blue. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' decal sheet contains various markings in red, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, white, silver, and pink. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Included are two "wraps" which fit PERFECTLY around t' BT-60. I think this is the first time that I ever see a wrap type decal or sticker that fits this well, there is NO overlap. Blimey! Blimey! T' me, that is one signal o' quality. Begad! Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey! T' remaining markings consist o' one larger "love bug", four smaller ones, shiver me timbers, and many hearts o' different colors. T' instructions advise coatin' t' sheet with a thin layer o' Micro Scale Liquid Decal Film. Arrr! Blimey! I wasn't aware o' this requirement until I had t' rocket painted and ready for decals. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Luckily I had a bottle o' this from me plastic model buildin' interest. Blimey! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' decals went on very smoothly and I applied a coat o' Future, as directed by t' instructions, over t' entire rocket after t' decals were completely dried. Blimey! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Flight:
My idea was t' have me wife prep t' rocket from step 1. Ya scallywag! Unfortunately, me hearties, me bucko, ya bilge rat, my 3-year old did nay agree with that idea, ya bilge rat, so I did t' preppin' but let her perform t' actual launch which she handled with much expertise. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' Love Bug lifted off on a C6-5 and flew straight up with a perfect ejection at apogee and then slowly drifted down t' within 50' o' t' pad. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Can't ask for much better. Arrr! Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Overall:
Overall, I can't think o' any reason t' give this kit a complete "thumbs up". Well, blow me down! T' "parts" are o' great quality and t' instructions are easily followed. Blimey! It is well worth t' price. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Besides, at least when I showed my wife this rocket, arrr, she got a little smile on her face.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5