Brief:
This be t' re-design o' the Holverson Wicked Winnie payload kit, shiver me timbers, usin' styrofoam nose cone, boat tail, and fins.

Construction:
T' body tubes included are thick paper tubes, matey, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, one for t' main airframe, me hearties, me hearties, and one for t' payload section. T' boat tail, me hearties, nose cone, fins, and coupler are all made o' expanded styrofoam. Ya scallywag! This kit is mostly assembled out o' t' box. T' payload section and coupler are pre-assembled, with shock cord and parachute already attached. Begad! T' shock cord is tied t' a launch lug which is glued inside t' airframe. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! A plastic parachute is tied t' t' middle o' the shock cord. At t' business end, t' motor mount is already assembled in the boat tail. T' kit utilizes two launch lugs which are also already glued on.

T' instructions are easy to follow, and well illustrated. Aye aye! Ahoy! Actual assembly was where I ran into problems. T' fins attach t' t' boat tail usin' a V shaped groove. They are supposed to slide in and be glued into place. T' tabs on t' fins were too wide and had to be sanded in order t' fit in t' groves. Begad! After attachin' t' fins, arrr, a paper ring is glued t' t' top o' t' boat tail t' protect it from ejection burns. The boat tail is then supposed t' be glued into t' airframe, where again, I had to sand it t' get it t' fit. After t' fin can is assembled and attached, ya bilge rat, t' only thin' left t' do is apply t' decals, which are self stick. Ahoy! Begad! When I went t' put the payload section into t' main airframe, I noticed t' coupler was crooked, and had t' do quite a bit o' sandin' t' straighten it out. T' nose cone had the same problem fittin' into t' payload section, and was also a little "egg shaped" sittin' on top o' t' rocket. Blimey! I removed t' shroud lines from t' pre-assembled parachute, ya bilge rat, and put paper re-enforcement rings at the attachment points and then re-assembled it for a little added insurance. Blimey!

Finishing:
There is no finishin' required, as everythin' is pre-painted. Ya scallywag! T' styrofoam parts show a lot o' texture under t' paint, and could use some added filling and painting. Well, blow me down! I didn't do any extra t' mine, me bucko, as it's me daughter's kit, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and she was happy with t' way it was. Begad! T' fins are thick, ya bilge rat, and would look better with an airfoil, me hearties, or rounded edge, matey, but it would weaken them too much.

Construction Rating: 1 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended engines are: B4-4, B6-4, me hearties, and C6-5. Arrr! Blimey! I only made two flights, both on B6-4's. Blimey! Aye aye! T' rocket is easy t' prep for flight: install wadding, pack the chute and shock cord, and install an engine. Aye aye! T' engine is retained via a motor clip. Aye aye! First flight: Lift off was fast and straight, shiver me timbers, t' rocket flew straight as an arrow. Begad! After recovery, I noticed t' lower launch lug was missing. Aye aye! Aye aye! When we got back t' t' pad, matey, it was still on t' launch rod. Begad! Second flight, t' next day, shiver me timbers, me hearties, upon lift off, both launch lugs and one fin were left at the launch pad. Ahoy! T' rocket looped t' about 40ft, and had ejection on the ground. Evidently, t' previous landin' had cracked a fin, and I hadn't noticed, me bucko, arrr, but it is easily repaired.

Recovery:
T' shock cord and chute held up good. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' shock cord mount appears that it will need replacement after a couple more flights. Well, blow me down! T' included parachute is just t' right size for minimal drift, and safe descent, although it could be made o' a little heavier material. It will also need replacement after a few flights. Arrr! Avast!

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
I feel with this particular kit, t' assembly and finishin' should be left up to t' modeler. Blimey! Arrr! I had a lot o' trouble fittin' t' parts, and they would bond better without bein' pre painted. Begad! T' biggest problem I have had has been with the launch lugs. Avast! Arrr! It's hard t' get a good bond t' a painted surface, shiver me timbers, arrr, and they keep gettin' stripped off. Avast! There are a lot o' improvements that can be made to turn this into a quality kit, mainly better cuttin' o' t' parts, shiver me timbers, so they fit properly. Avast! Aye aye! Personally, I think styrofoam is useful in rocketry applications, but not for fins, as they receive a lot o' stress on landing. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 2 out o' 5