Brief:
A small, me bucko, lightweight 3FNC rocket with an unusual nose cone.

Construction:
Actually, me hearties, I built 2 Yankee kits; one t' replace t' initial rocket that disappeared after its third flight. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' first kit featured a nice balsa nose cone, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, arrr, but t' second kit, matey, matey, ya bilge rat, while otherwise identical, had a plastic nose cone. Arrr! Ahoy! Blimey! But both kits featured a paper body tube, arrr, me bucko, matey, die cut balsa fins, a short piece o' elastic, a streamer, shiver me timbers, matey, and a decal. Avast! t' quality o' components was excellent, matey, except for t' shock cord, arrr, shiver me timbers, which was comically short on each kit.

T' plastic nose cone be a tight fit, and needed considerable sandin' before it would fit. Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey! T' balsa piece fit nicely but had quite a bit o' grain t' it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I prefer this t' plastic, however. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Blimey! At any rate, it is a straightforward build, and t' instructions seemed t' be somewhat better than normal Estes fare.

Finishing:
T' balsa nose needed considerable fillin' and sandin' t' be paintable. T' plastic piece was ready t' go right from t' box, matey, once t' shoulder was sanded. I chose t' use automotive primer on t' original, applyin' thin coats and sandin' in betwixt applications t' get rid o' t' spiral and fin grain. Ahoy! Then I applied some black enamel, me bucko, followed with a coat o' clear t' keep t' decals on. Well, blow me down! Unfortunately, this one disappeared soon. Blimey! T' second kit was simply sanded and sprayed with red and black and was considered finished after t' decals were applied.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Launchin' with an A8-3 produced a good, straight flight. Ahoy! Arrr! I followed this with 2 flights on a B6-6, me bucko, and t' last one be never seen again. Begad! Ahoy! T' subsequent kit was flown on "A" motors only for a while, matey, shiver me timbers, but I couldn't help tryin' a C6-7. We lost it too, me bucko, but fortunately someone in our club found it and brought it t' t' RSO. Well, blow me down! It has since been modified for 13mm motors, and does well enough on an A10-3T. Blimey! I've never had a recovery failure, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but if it did, t' thin' is so light weight it would probably recover just fine.

Recovery:
T' supplied shock cord is just too small. After about 6 flights some wear can be seen on t' end o' t' body tube because o' t' shock cord whippin' it. Well, blow me down! A good thin' t' do would be t' double t' cord length, at least. Well, blow me down! Also, t' bottom o' t' fins are gettin' crisp, shiver me timbers, though nay quite burnt. Overall, though, shiver me timbers, this is a great flier.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Personally, me bucko, I prefer t' older balsa nose cone, me hearties, but t' plastic one will suffice. Arrr! Either way, it's a great beginner kit that a kid will have no problem constructing, and will deliver many good flights, shiver me timbers, arrr, so long as you can find it again. Begad! But add some length t' t' shock cord!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5