Brief:
This be t' latest offerin' from Dr. Aye aye! Zooch, a semi-scale version o' t' manned Russian spacecraft, Soyuz. Aye aye! It is powered by a single 18mm motor and comes down with parachute recovery. Arrr! This model does require some patience and skill--it is nay a beginner's kit. Aye aye! Avast! I'd rate this at a 3-4 skill level.

Construction:
All parts included in t' kit are good quality and include:

• 1 T-20 core tube
• 1 T-50 tube
• 2 centerin' rings
• 1 pre-ballasted balsa spacecraft adapter
• 1 balsa nose cone
• 1 SAS kit bag(includes dowel, shiver me timbers, arrr, small tube, matey, and wooden nozzles)
• 1 screw eye
• 1 engine hook
• 1 launch lug
• 1 CR205W engine block ring
• 1 snap swivel
• 2 thin dowel stock
• 1 sheet balsa stock
• 1 larger dowel (to aid with rollin' booster tanks)
• 1 cardstock wrap sheets and templates
• 1 small piece o' Keelhaul®©™
• 1 length o' recovery elastic
• 1 plastic chute

I was asked by Dr. Well, blow me down! Booty t' do a beta build o' t' kit. Ahoy! I hit several snags on t' initial build, me hearties, mostly some measurement discrepancies in t' instructions and some proof readin' suggestions. Well, blow me down! He and I hammered those out betwixt emails. Begad! And now, matey, I trust, arrr, me hearties, that things will go smoothly for anyone attemptin' this kit. Begad! That's t' point o' beta testing...to iron out t' kinks, shiver me timbers, right?

Some paper modelin' skills are a good thin' t' have for this build. Blimey! T' booster tanks need t' be rolled and glued, all four o' them. T' kit will provide a dowel t' aid in this process. I started usin' t' dowel but ended up usin' a spare BT-20 I had layin' around when it be all said and done. Arrr! I ended up havin' less wrinkles in t' paper usin' t' BT.

You'll need a razor saw for this build. Arrr! Blimey! There is a balsa spacecraft adapter that needs t' be measured and cut into 3 pieces. Avast! Blimey! 2 pieces get used as bulkheads and t' largest piece is part o' t' SAS spacecraft. Arrr! Blimey! It's easy job with t' right tool.

T' interstage is made by cuttin' dowels t' length and trimming. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! A clever sleeve is provided t' help with alignment. Well, blow me down! Be careful here so as nay t' glue t' dowels t' t' alignment sleeve.

Some neat little wooden nozzle thingies are provided for t' SAS tower. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Use some tweezers and don't drink any coffee before hand as you'll need a steady hand for placement.

You'll need t' cut some balsa circle plugs for t' bottom o' t' booster tanks. I cheated and used some sticker paper adhered t' one side o' t' provided balsa sheet. This made it so I didn't have t' fill t' wood. Begad! Blimey! It also helps keep a clean edge on t' balsa while it's bein' cut. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I also used me Hobbico circle cutter t' make t' cuts and it worked like a dream.

There are 16 (tiny) engine bells that need t' be cut and formed from t' provide cardstock patterns. Ahoy! This is time consumin' but nay difficult. Well, blow me down! I suggest usin' tweezers t' hold and clamp t' engine shrouds for several seconds while t' glue sets assumin' you're usin' white glue.

Because this was a beta, one o' t' snags I ran into was regardin' t' templates for t' stabilizin' "flaps" on t' spacecraft. They were were accidentally left off t' template sheet. Begad! I fabricated some from matte board, shiver me timbers, which in hindsight, me bucko, me bucko, me hearties, I made too large for t' size o' t' model.

Finishing:
Finishin' takes a little time dependin' on how much scale detail you want t' add. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I used three different spray can colors on mine. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! T' main booster section be sprayed t' Testor's Euro Grey. Ahoy! I was very pleased with t' way that color looked on t' model, a very convincin' and accurate color for this. T' upper section and space craft was masked and sprayed with Krylon Gloss White and Testor's Competition Orange. Arrr! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! Engine bells were hand painted with Testor's Silver on t' outside and Testor's Copper on t' inside.

T' paint scheme is really makes this thin' come t' life. Aye aye! I would have enjoyed seein' some decals for t' spacecraft, but on this small o' scale they are hardly missed.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Dr. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Zooch recommends a B6-4 or C6-5 for this model. Ya scallywag! He generally makes sarcastic remarks about usin' A motors in most his kit instructions, arrr, statin' that, arrr, "A's are for wimps". Blimey! Arrr! It's t' typical humor you'll see from him. With some o' his kits, thar be more truth than humor t' that, matey, but this one could probably handle an A8-3 for a small field, I presume since it only weighs 2.2oz. I haven't tried it and hasn't been "officially" recommended so do so with t' appropriate precaution.

I chose a B6 for t' first and second flights. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I think it's t' best choice for this on small t' medium sized fields, me hearties, reachin' heights t' about 500ft or so. T' 4 second delay is just about right too. First recovery attempt wasn't good, arrr, me hearties, me bucko, but t' flight profile was fine. Avast, me proud beauty! Due t' t' cold, t' chute stuck together and never opened. I knew I should have dusted t' chute with talc, but I didn't out o' laziness. T' rocket "tumble" recovered and suffered no damage at all.

T' second flight was much better. Avast, me proud beauty! Dusted t' chute this time, arrr, shiver me timbers, and t' flight was perfect. Ahoy! My wife even managed t' get a shot o' it while it was snowing, shiver me timbers, which provided some extra some extra scale realism!

Recovery:
T' screw eye pulled itself from t' balsa adapter on a subsequent flight and came down in two separate pieces. Blimey! Only very minor damage t' one o' t' fins. Begad! It's since been repaired and ready for flight. Avast! I did use some CA t' secure t' screw eye on t' initial build but maybe nay enough. Well, blow me down! I used a couple drops o' epoxy t' secure and repair it now, matey, and I don't think t' screw eye is goin' anywhere.

Packin' t' chute and shock cord is a real challenge. There isn't much room for t' recovery components, however, with some careful plannin' and patience it can be done.

T' kit comes with a dowel t' aid with rollin' t' booster tanks. Arrr! Save t' dowel and put it in your flight box! It comes in handy when time t' pack t' Soyuz. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' dowel will help you push waddin' down into t' core tube and feed t' shock cord into t' core tube as well. This should leave you just enough room for t' chute in t' larger, remainin' section o' tube. Dust t' chute and roll it tightly so it will fit. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! It will fit but just takes a little extra care is all.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Scale model. Quality parts. Ahoy! Nice flight profile.

CONs: Difficult flight prep.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5