Brief:

T' Corporal is one o' Aerospace Speciality Products (ASP) scale rocket kits. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I have built all o' ASP’s V-2’s and found this kit t' be just as enjoyable t' build. Ya scallywag! This particular kit be t' 24mm motor tube version and is a 1:22.5 scale version o' t' U.S. Army’s Ballistic Missile that flew from t' 1940’s t' t' 1960’s. ASP also offers t' kit in an 18mm motor tube version.

Construction:

Kit Features:

• Balsa Nose Cone and Conduits
• Basswood Fins
• Parachute Recovery
• Quick-Change Engine Hook
• Custom Decals

ASP designs their kits with as much detail as possible from t' detail in t' fins t' t' stickers and decals that accompany many o' their kits. Ahoy! This kit was no exception. Aye aye! ASP has very detailed instructions and actually gives you little check boxes in t' instruction so that you know what as been done and what still needs t' be done. Well, blow me down!

T' first thin' t' do with this kit is t' assemble t' motor tube assembly. T' instructions were for t' 18mm version but since I ordered t' 24mm motor tube version, ASP included an additional piece o' paperwork t' assemble the larger motor tube. Avast! T' assembly instructions were easy t' follow and if you have built at least one rocket in t' past everythin' pretty much makes since.

Next, matey, I had t' cut out t' fins. Blimey! Blimey! ASP gives you a template so that you can outline t' fin pattern on the supplied basswood and then usin' a straight edge and an X-ACTO blade you can easily cut t' four fins required for the Corporal. Begad! Begad! Once all t' fins were cut out I then stacked them all together and sanded them so that each one was exactly the same. Aye aye!

T' next thin' t' do was t' mark t' body tube for t' placement o' t' fins, conduits and launch lugs. ASP gives a pretty detailed explanation o' how t' do this as well as a template on t' instructions t' make sure everythin' is lined up correctly.

After t' lines were placed on t' body tube I proceeded t' attach t' fins. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! This was relatively easy and ASP gives pretty detailed instructions on how t' attach as well as line them up properly. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I also made a fin alignment jig a while back that I like t' use on projects like this. Estes also makes a similar type o' tool that is made out of plastic and also aids in drawin' t' lines for t' fin placement.

Once all t' fins were attached I proceeded t' form t' conduits. Begad! Blimey! ASP provides ¼" and 3/16" square balsa stock t' cut down and form into t' correct shape. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This takes a little bit o' sandin' but actually goes quite quickly. Aye aye! Once again, me bucko, ASP gives pretty detail instructions on what t' shape should be and t' lengths o' t' pieces. Blimey!

Once all o' t' conduit pieces were formed I then proceeded t' attach them t' t' body tube. This was pretty easy and with all o' t' lines that I placed on t' body tube initially they all lined up pretty good.

Next, shiver me timbers, arrr, I attached t' launch lugs. Begad! This was also simple since t' lines were already marked.

I then moved on t' t' nose cone section. Begad! Begad! This section comprised a specially shaped balsa nose cone, matey, a small section o' body tube, shiver me timbers, arrr, a balsa coupler, two eye-bolts, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and four washers for nose weight. Due t' t' design o' this kit a substantial amount o' nose weight needs t' be added t' insure a safe flight. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' first part that needed t' be done was t' attach t' nose weight t' t' nosecone. Aye aye! Blimey! This was done by screwin' the eyebolt through t' four washers and into t' nose cone and securin' it with some glue.

Finally, ya bilge rat, I glued t' nosecone and coupler into t' small piece o' body tube and attached t' second eye-bolt into the coupler.

Finishing:

T' paint job only needs t' be white since t' decals add t' needed black checkered design. Begad! Blimey! I ended up usin' some automotive paint for t' finish since it is more durable and comes out very shiny. Avast! Blimey! I then added t' black vinyl stickers that came with t' kit. Begad! Blimey! It is definitely a nice vehicle once it’s all finished.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:

T' first flight was on an Estes D12-7 and it be a really nice flight. T' Corporal gets up t' speed very quickly and flies very straight. Ya scallywag! Avast! This may be due t' all t' extra balsa conduit covers. Well, blow me down! Arrr!

Recovery:

T' recovery system works very well and with t' Keelhaul®©™ and elastic make for a gentle but strong recovery system. T' mylar parachute really shines in t' sky and for rockets that go really high it makes for a nice marker when the sun reflects off o' it. Ya scallywag! T' only thin' I don’t really like be t' way t' parachute is constructed. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! You need to use a bunch o' stickers t' attach t' lines t' t' mylar and t' lines extend over t' top o' t' parachute. Well, blow me down! I used CA per t' instructions t' give t' stickers a little better bond but after one flight a couple o' them popped off and ended up gettin' tangled. Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:

I enjoyed buildin' this kit. Ya scallywag! Begad! It takes a good weekend t' put together but it results in a very good lookin' rocket. I also have some o' t' old NCR Corporal kits and I really like t' design and am happy t' see that ASP has two versions o' this kit available.

Overall PROs:

• Realistic design!
• Extra detail.
• Included motor retention.
• Nice vinyl decal sheets.

Overall CONs:

• A little bit o' extra work is required t' add t' scale detail.
• Upon deployment, t' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord likes t' cut into t' body tube especially since thar be weight added to the nose.
• Design requires fins t' stick below t' body tube which may cause t' fins t' break or crack upon landing.
• T' parachute design could be better. Well, blow me down! Avast! Use one like Estes and Quest use.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5