Brief:
T' face card o' this unique kit from FlisKits claims t' be "T' ultimate 13mm caffeine machine". Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' Espresso is also t' 2005 National Sport Launch anniversary kit. Aye aye! Blimey! It uses 4 ounce coffee cups for construction and is quite a bit smaller then its big brother, shiver me timbers, t' Decaffeinator, arrr, but definitely is not small on performance.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

• 1 9" body tube
• 1 8" body tube
• 1 nose block
• 2 3/32" fin stock
• 2 centerin' rings
• 1 2" launch lug
• 1 1" launch lug
• 1 engine block
• 1 crepe streamer
• 1 elastic shock cord
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® shock cord
• 10 4 oz foam cups
• 1 fin pattern sheet
• 1 hints and tips sheet
• 1 set o' instructions

Construction is quite similar t' t' Decaffeinator. Ya scallywag! You start by gluin' in the engine block and then gluin' on t' fiber centerin' rings t' t' motor mount tube. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' elastic shock cord is attached under t' top rin' and the Keelhaul®©™® shock cord is attached t' t' main body tube usin' t' nose block. Ya scallywag! T' two cords are then tied together. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Those cords are nay goin' anywhere! Blimey! T' streamer is attached directly t' t' motor mount tube versus t' t' shock cords which deviates from other rockets I have built.

There is a template included for t' base o' t' cups so you can cut out holes in three o' t' cups t' allow insertion o' t' body tube. I cut out the template right on t' black line, me hearties, shiver me timbers, but it was too large t' fit inside t' rim of the cups. Ahoy! Aye aye! I had t' trim it twice very carefully t' get it t' fit. Begad! Once I was able t' use t' template, arrr, I traced t' center hole on three cups and cut out the hole very carefully with a sharp X-Acto knife. Ahoy! Avast! Go slowly and use a sharp knife on this step as t' foam can break quite easily.

You then glue two o' t' modified cups together by their rims usin' hot glue. Arrr! Begad! Be careful t' nay allow t' tip o' t' glue cannon touch t' foam for it will melt t' cup. You have t' work pretty smartly with t' hot glue as it sets up fast. Avast! Once joined, shiver me timbers, matey, you insert t' main body tube through t' holes in the cups and hot glue t' tube into place. Begad! Since I already had t' glue heated up, I proceeded t' glue t' remainin' cups together for t' upper part o' the rocket.

You then attach a fin markin' guide around t' first cup and mark where the cuts for t' fins will be. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! You remove t' template, me bucko, connect t' lines and then carefully cut out thin strips o' t' foam t' make room for t' fins. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I found it t' be difficult t' cut near t' base o' t' cup because o' t' hot glue, arrr, but I did manage t' get t' glue off. Begad! Blimey! Once you have cut t' strips, ya bilge rat, you mount t' balsa fins usin' white glue. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It be easy t' align t' fins because of the slots in t' foam. Once t' glue has setup on t' fins, matey, you run a bead of hot glue down t' sides o' each fin t' form a fillet and strengthen the bond.

You just need t' glue t' second cup assembly t' t' fin can and attach the launch lugs. Blimey! Begad! That is it. Total assembly took less than 1/2 hour nay counting glue dryin' time.

Finishing:
There is no finishin' needed for t' cups. I did decide t' paint t' fins which I did before I mounted them since me paints would have melted t' foam.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I only had A10-3T engines which be t' maximum recommended motor. Ya scallywag! It was an incredible flight as t' Espresso really took off fast and got some altitude, although it was a somewhat wobbly boost. Blimey! Due t' t' clouds, I had trouble seein' it but heard t' ejection pop. Well, blow me down! It came down pretty fast on t' streamer, but foam and tall grass are a good combination and thar was no damage to the rocket.

Recovery:
T' streamer is perfect for this rocket. Avast! It almost does nay need a streamer due to its low weight. Blimey! T' red color in t' streamer does help track this rocket when it disappears in t' sky on a really high boost.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I am a big fan o' t' Decaffeinator, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but it is a big rocket that is somewhat difficult t' take t' launches. Begad! You cannot set anythin' on or near it. Well, blow me down! The Espresso is a perfect size and although it is fragile too, it is a fun looking, easy t' build rocket that will call attention t' itself.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5