Brief:
This is a recent addition t' t' fine line o' Zooch scale-like kits that seem t' defy t' laws o' physics and economics, me bucko, ya bilge rat, packin' terrific detail, scale accuracy, arrr, and reliability into a small box. Ya scallywag! T' kicker is that t' finished rocket can even fit back in t' box for storage.

This particular design is one o' t' Russian workhorses--a Soyuz spacecraft mounted t' a 20-engine R-7 booster. While you don't get t' realism o' strap-ons breakin' loose (parallel staging) for t' $20-25 price tag, me bucko, you do get plenty o' other detail, arrr, and it's nay nearly as much effort as t' finished product will look.

Construction:
My kit arrived in fine shape in t' standard Dr. Ya scallywag! Zooch 3.5" x 3.5" x 12" box, which includes a nice drawin' o' t' model.

Parts quality is good but nay exceptional--tube cuts are slightly sloppy but certainly nay a problem and easy to work with. Avast! Ya scallywag! Basic inventory includes:

• BT-20 lower body/motor tube
• BT-50 upper tube
• balsa nose, arrr, shiver me timbers, arrr, transitions
• balsa fin stock
• wood dowels for detailing
• 15" plastic bag parachute
• cardstock templates/patterns/shrouds (lots)

I would probably rate t' skill level on this approachin' 3 on t' standard 5 scale, mainly because it does involve a good deal o' shroud formin' and workin' with/shapin' tiny details. Blimey! Begad! There's nothin' terribly complex about this, but a good craftsmanship effort will take some time and skill.

Zooch instructions, if you haven't heard this dozens o' times before, are a unique style. Loaded with sarcastic wit, matey, you'll either love them or hate them. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Either way, you'll appreciate t' detail and very obvious depth o' knowledge of t' author. Avast! Blimey! You might have trouble locatin' a floatin' ghostly pencil for instance but won't have any trouble fittin' t' parts together if followin' t' text.

Construction begins by makin' an alignment sleeve from cardstock before you start bondin' stuff t' t' tube that is used t' properly size t' sleeve. Next, mark t' lower body tube for 8 spiders that will be bonded shortly, which help in alignment o' t' strap-on boosters. Begad! T' BT-20 is finished off with basic metal hook motor retainer and centerin' rin' block. Aye aye! A cardstock shroud transition slides over t' forward end.

T' BT-50 needs t' be cut into 3 smaller sections. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I have an old X-Acto miter box that works great for cutting smaller tube like this. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' longer o' t' 3 sections gets bonded t' t' BT-20 with t' shroud slidin' up for a flush fit. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! With t' transition in place, you can now tack on t' 8 spiders for booster alignment.

T' strap-on boosters are a fair amount o' work. Begad! Arrr! You have t' roll top cones/shrouds from cardstock, shiver me timbers, arrr, and since they are nay a standard cone shape and have such a tiny tip, they are pretty hard t' form very well. You also get to roll t' main body, matey, a slightly tapered shroud. T' round shape is held in place at t' aft end by balsa disks (that you cut). Well, matey, blow me down! Gettin' a clean fit with these is probably t' biggest pain point in t' construction--the nose cone is mounted at an angle t' t' body t' conform t' t' transition slope and hand-cuttin' perfectly circular balsa disks is not exactly easy. Well, arrr, blow me down! Sure, you can get them fairly close, which is probably t' point, matey, but if you're obsessive compulsive/anal retentive like me, you'll be seriously considerin' havin' BMS laser cut a few for you. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! T' boosters are finished off with a couple cardstock strips around t' lower portion.

Mountin' t' boosters was nay terribly tough, thanks in good part t' a handy alignment guide "tool" included--a small rin' used as a riser t' allow it t' stand up despite t' engine hook hangin' down below t' BT-20 and a template with outlines for keepin' t' boosters at 90 degree orientation. Avast! Once t' boosters are secured, t' same alignment tool is used t' assist in bondin' t' fins.

T' engine bells really help nail t' appearance o' this kit. Sure, me hearties, they're just a bunch (16) o' little shrouds. No big deal, me hearties, but when bonded t' t' boosters then painted copper/silver, me bucko, t' appearance is awesome.

T' interstage assembly is another Zooch optical illusion miracle. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! It looks almost as complex t' build as a Saturn capsule, but is really just 10 little pieces o' dowel stock tacked into place usin' t' alignment sleeve formed at t' beginning. You need t' be careful nay t' let any glue get on t' sleeve or it becomes a permanent part o' the rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! Once t' supports are in place and glue fully dried--do nay rush this--use t' alignment sleeve and sandin' block (I used a nail file) t' true up t' tops o' t' supports.

T' rest is all downhill. Four small shrouds actin' as second stage nozzles, arrr, a couple o' launch lugs/standoffs, and some details on t' nose cone/capsule and you're ready t' paint.

Finishing:
There are two different paint patterns suggested in t' instructions, along with some interestin' information behind the differences. Begad! Basically, ya bilge rat, most o' t' photographic evidence suggests an olive drab green finish, ya bilge rat, but Zooch suggests that t' actual finish is more o' a gray lower stage, arrr, white upper stage, and brownish red interstage. Begad! I went with the "actual" scheme, matey, ya bilge rat, which required very little masking, though I did pre-paint t' upper stage nozzles and booster engine bells.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Not wantin' t' be considered a wimp per t' instructions, arrr, I skipped right past t' A8-3 recommendation and went for broke with a B6-4. Begad! Winds weren't too bad for a C6-5, matey, but I be a bit leery o' t' upper stage bein' held together by those itty bitty dowels o' t' interstage supports. Begad! I figured less altitude equals less walkin' if I have t' chase individual parts that separated.

My fear be unfounded--the flight went up straight as an arrow, me hearties, matey, though spinnin' a bit. T' 4 second delay was perfect.

Recovery:
T' plastic chute would probably do a decent job, me hearties, but on me flight I had a slight mishap with one shroud line breaking. Aye aye! Arrr! As a result, it came down pretty hard on cold, me hearties, me bucko, hard ground and it broke a fin and booster loose landing. Easily repairable, but considerin' how fragile t' fins, engine bells, etc. Avast! Begad! are on this, me bucko, I think I'll try usin' a thin mylar 18" chute in t' future just for kicks.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5