Brief: Single staged, lightweight model with three swept back fins, comin' with choice o' 10.5, 13, and 18mm motor mounts. Meant t' demonstrate performance differences betwixt these three motor types. Begad! Arrr! My guess is that it is meant t' show observers that t' 10.5mm motors boot models higher.
Construction: Apogee gives great service. Aye aye! Blimey! I ordered this rocket online along with others and it arrived in less than five days. All t' parts were there, matey, and were t' correct ones, and were undamaged and non-defective.
You get three die cut balsa fins, a spiral wound paper body tube that can take up t' 18mm engines, spiral wound paper motor tubes for 10.5 and 13mm motors with appropriate paper centerin' rings for them. Ahoy! Blimey! T' nose cone is very lightweight hollow plastic with a built in loop at t' bottom for t' shock cord t' be tied. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This shock cord is three feet o' thin Keelhaul®©™/nylon threadin' which is mounted t' t' inside o' t' body tube via a folded paper mounting. Aye aye! T' streamer is thin orange/red nylon one inch wide and one foot long.
Overall, matey, t' model is easy t' build, me bucko, and t' instructions are clear and illustrated. A kid could build it, matey, as t' instructions are suitable t' be understood by beginners too.
Finishing: There weren't any decals, matey, me hearties, so I played with me airbrush a bit, arrr, variegatin' cream color into green. Yes, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' model is called Blue Streak, me hearties, so mine is more o' a Green Streak. Well, blow me down! T' fins were sealed ahead o' paintin' usin' airplane dope and sanded smooth. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! A cream colored primer coat was then laid down. Ahoy! then came t' variegated layer. Aye aye! It looks rather nice. Avast! I probably won't change it t' blue after all.
Construction Rating: 4
Flight: As mentioned, me bucko, you get motor mounts t' allow choices o' engines. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! You can use: 1/4A2-2, ya bilge rat, A2-3, arrr, and B2-5 for 10.5mm flights, 1/2A3-2T, A3-4T, me bucko, A10-3T, and B7-6 for 13mm flights, and 1/2A6-2, ya bilge rat, me hearties, A8-3, A6-4, B4-4, B4-6, matey, B6-4,B6-6, C6-5, me bucko, C6-7, me hearties, C4-7, arrr, C10-7, shiver me timbers, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and D3-7 for 18mm shots. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I've so far used t' A8-3, shiver me timbers, A10-3T,B2-5, matey, arrr, and C6-5. Arrr! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! All make nice straight performances. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I nearly lost it on t' B2-5 shot. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Better carry binoculars.
Recovery: T' shock cord, me hearties, as mentioned, is Keelhaul®©™ and nay stretchy. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I'd prefer somethin' stretchy, me bucko, ya bilge rat, but this system worked fine. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Recovery be just about right, matey, only I'd perhaps make t' model a small chute like other Apogee kits have, me hearties, t' help with sighting. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Assembly be easy, and two small sheets o' recovery waddin' was all that was needed. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' model is unburnt and still flying.
Flight Rating: 4
Summary: Easy t' build, me bucko, fun t' choose engines and experiment. Arrr! No glarin' cons. Any mods I'd make are for me taste only, matey, as t' model works fine as is. Ahoy! Good price, too. Maybe you teachers out thar would consider this one for classes? I might consider it for birthday parties.
Overall Rating: 3
M.E.R (January 22, 2008)