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

Construction:
T' Love Bug goes together exactly as t' Big Bertha instructions direct with the exception o' t' fins. Arrr! Arrr! 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. 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, ya bilge rat, but in keepin' with the theme o' t' plan set, pink would be t' obvious color o' choice. Ya scallywag! Other possible choices might be white or maybe a light blue. Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' decal sheet contains various markings in red, white, silver, shiver me timbers, and pink. Included are two "wraps" which fit PERFECTLY around t' BT-60. Aye aye! 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. Aye aye! Begad! T' me, that is one signal o' quality. Ahoy! Begad! T' remaining markings consist o' one larger "love bug", me bucko, arrr, four smaller ones, ya bilge rat, and many hearts o' different colors. Aye aye! T' instructions advise coatin' t' sheet with a thin layer o' Micro Scale Liquid Decal Film. Begad! Well, blow me down! I wasn't aware o' this requirement until I had t' rocket painted and ready for decals. Avast! Blimey! Luckily I had a bottle o' this from me plastic model buildin' interest. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! 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. Arrr! Begad!

Flight:
My idea be t' have me wife prep t' rocket from step 1. Arrr! Unfortunately, shiver me timbers, my 3-year old did nay agree with that idea, so I did t' preppin' but let her perform t' actual launch which she handled with much expertise. Avast! 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. Begad! Can't ask for much better.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5