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, me bucko, this one utilizes t' Big Bertha as an origin. Arrr! T' Love Bug kit comes packaged in a heavy, plastic sleeve and contains instructions, ya bilge rat, me bucko, fin templates, and a sheet o' decals t' replace those parts o' t' Bertha kit. Ahoy!

Construction:
T' Love Bug goes together exactly as t' Big Bertha instructions direct with the exception o' t' fins. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Arrr! Aye aye! I added a length of Keelhaul®©™ t' t' kit supplied elastic just because we all know those kit cords are just too short. Blimey!

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, pink would be t' obvious color o' choice. Aye aye! Arrr! Other possible choices might be white or maybe a light blue. T' decal sheet contains various markings in red, white, silver, matey, and pink. Begad! Well, matey, blow me down! Included are two "wraps" which fit PERFECTLY around t' BT-60. Blimey! 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. T' me, that is one signal o' quality. Ahoy! T' remaining markings consist o' one larger "love bug", matey, arrr, four smaller ones, me hearties, and many hearts o' different colors. Ya scallywag! T' instructions advise coatin' t' sheet with a thin layer o' Micro Scale Liquid Decal Film. Aye aye! Ahoy! I wasn't aware o' this requirement until I had t' rocket painted and ready for decals. Luckily I had a bottle o' this from me plastic model buildin' interest. Well, blow me down! T' decals went on very smoothly and I applied a coat o' Future, me hearties, ya bilge rat, as directed by t' instructions, over t' entire rocket after t' decals were completely dried. Begad!

Flight:
My idea be t' have me wife prep t' rocket from step 1. Aye aye! Begad! Unfortunately, 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. Blimey! 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. Ya scallywag! Can't ask for much better. Well, blow me down!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5