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

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

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

Finishing:
T' balsa nose needed considerable fillin' and sandin' t' be paintable. Begad! Blimey! T' plastic piece was ready t' go right from t' box, me hearties, once t' shoulder be sanded. Arrr! Blimey! 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. Then I applied some black enamel, followed with a coat o' clear t' keep t' decals on. Blimey! Blimey! Unfortunately, shiver me timbers, arrr, this one disappeared soon. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' second kit be 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. Ya scallywag! I followed this with 2 flights on a B6-6, matey, and t' last one was never seen again. Ya scallywag! T' subsequent kit be flown on "A" motors only for a while, me hearties, but I couldn't help tryin' a C6-7. We lost it too, arrr, but fortunately someone in our club found it and brought it t' t' RSO. Ya scallywag! Arrr! It has since been modified for 13mm motors, ya bilge rat, and does well enough on an A10-3T. Ahoy! I've never had a recovery failure, but if it did, ya bilge rat, t' thin' is so light weight it would probably recover just fine.

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5