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

Construction:
T' Love Bug goes together exactly as t' Big Bertha instructions direct with the exception o' t' fins. 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. Begad! I added a length of Keelhaul®©™ t' t' kit supplied elastic just because we all know those kit cords are just too short. Ahoy!

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5