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

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

T' plastic nose cone was a tight fit, shiver me timbers, and needed considerable sandin' before it would fit. T' balsa piece fit nicely but had quite a bit o' grain t' it. Well, blow me down! I prefer this t' plastic, however. Well, blow me down! At any rate, shiver me timbers, 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. Begad! T' plastic piece be ready t' go right from t' box, ya bilge rat, once t' shoulder be sanded. I chose t' use automotive primer on t' original, me hearties, applyin' thin coats and sandin' in betwixt applications t' get rid o' t' spiral and fin grain. Aye aye! Then I applied some black enamel, me hearties, me hearties, arrr, followed with a coat o' clear t' keep t' decals on. Unfortunately, arrr, this one disappeared soon. 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. Blimey! Ahoy! I followed this with 2 flights on a B6-6, me bucko, and t' last one was never seen again. Aye aye! T' subsequent kit was flown on "A" motors only for a while, but I couldn't help tryin' a C6-7. Ya scallywag! We lost it too, but fortunately someone in our club found it and brought it t' t' RSO. Ahoy! Begad! It has since been modified for 13mm motors, matey, and does well enough on an A10-3T. Begad! Blimey! I've never had a recovery failure, me bucko, arrr, ya bilge rat, but if it did, me hearties, ya bilge rat, t' thin' is so light weight it would probably recover just fine.

Recovery:
T' supplied shock cord is just too small. Avast, me proud beauty! 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! Ya scallywag! A good thin' t' do would be t' double t' cord length, me hearties, ya bilge rat, at least. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Also, t' bottom o' t' fins are gettin' crisp, arrr, though nay quite burnt. Ahoy! Overall, ya bilge rat, though, this is a great flier.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5