Brief:
This is a relatively easy model 4FNC kit for enterin' mid-power rockets. T' quality o' t' components was high and instructions were top notch. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! This kit be me first foray into anythin' larger than 18mm engines, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and it was a perfect start. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I was initially a little skeptical o' me abilities but found t' kit so intuitive I barely needed the instructions. Well, blow me down! Avast! It's listed as a Skill Level 3, but I initially felt it's more o' a 2. Ya scallywag! Arrr! After launchin' it, I'm nay so sure...

Construction:
T' components in t' kit included:

• Body tube
• Balsa nose cone (6" long)
• Basswood fins in their own baggie
• A baggie with a thrust ring, launch lug, arrr, screw eye, elastic cord, Keelhaul®©™® thread
• Nylon parachute, arrr, shiver me timbers, arrr, pre assembled in its own baggie
• Engine mount kit, matey, me hearties, in its own baggie:

• 2 center rings
• Thrust ring
• E-engine hook
• Engine tube
• Spacer tube

T' first thin' I noticed when I opened t' kit bag be how thick t' body tube was, arrr, yet still very light. Avast! As mentioned in t' previous review, me bucko, all t' components came in separate bags.

T' 4 fins were made o' basswood and were incredibly easy t' work with. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' (huge) nosecone was balsa, me bucko, me hearties, well balanced, me hearties, me bucko, symmetrical, and required very little attention aside from sealing. T' shock cord assembly seemed plenty long enough, me hearties, and this be me first kit that included a rip-stop nylon chute that was already assembled. T' kit also included a heavy-duty screw-eye for t' chute, a 29mm-24mm adapter, me bucko, me bucko, and t' various rings and tubes necessary.

T' instructions will refer t' builder t' t' bags as they become necessary. Each bag includes a separate itemized list o' components, me hearties, ya bilge rat, an attention t' detail that I had nay noted in other kits I've built. Avast! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Further, me bucko, the instructions were detailed but nay over t' top and t' illustrations were quite large.

After notin' t' quality components, I then noticed t' quality o' t' instructions, arrr, which were in multi-page pamphlet form and stapled down t' middle o' t' fold. T' font was large and very easy t' follow, and the illustrations were huge compared t' other kits I've built. Ya scallywag! Last, shiver me timbers, thar was a parts list with an "exploded view" that wasn't necessary but still a nice touch.

Assembly is logical and straightforward. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' 29mm-24mm adapter is assembled first. Avast, me proud beauty! T' baggie with t' components for t' adapter comes with its own set o' instructions. Begad! There is an assumption that if you're buyin' this mid-power rocket that it's nay t' first kit you've built. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' "subcomponents" weren't itemized on t' "exploded view". By use o' a spacer, me hearties, t' adapter assembly allows t' flyer t' use both 24mm x 70mm engines (Estes D and E) as well as longer 24mm x 95mm engines.

After t' adapter, arrr, me hearties, you prepare t' shock cord and thrust ring, which is inserted usin' t' adapter as a guide. From thar you work on t' fins, me bucko, me bucko, fillets, nosecone, and chute. Ya scallywag! Blimey! There are no couplers t' contend with, matey, ya bilge rat, which is a good thin' because I very nearly ruined me Apogee Aspire when t' coupler bound as I inserted it into t' tube. Blimey! I don't like couplers very much right now.

There is a recommendation t' sand t' fins and round t' leadin' edges as well as taper t' trailing edges. Ahoy! Arrr! Blimey! This led t' t' one "gotcha" which is more t' result o' me bein' relatively new than t' poor instructions: thar be no warnin' about over sandin' t' fins and loosenin' t' fit into t' groves in t' body tube. When I did t' roundin' and tapering, me hearties, I over-sanded one fin and it required extra glue and epoxy t' make it fit well.

Another mistake involved sealin' t' fins prior t' attachin' them (a diversion from t' instructions), figuring it would be easier t' seal and sand with them off. Begad! I used paper skins on all me previous kits, makin' sealing unnecessary. Arrr! Avast! As mentioned above, ya bilge rat, I over-sanded one fin and it be too narrow, makin' a loose fit.

T' fins had a very snug fit and t' through t' wall construction didn't require significant adjustments t' make them perfectly perpendicular t' t' tube. Avast!

Aside from usin' 5-minute epoxy for t' fillets and smearin' a very thin layer on t' inside o' t' body tube on the roots o' t' fins, which helped make t' adapter very snug, I didn't do any mods. Arrr! Well, blow me down! I considered cuttin' a section as a payload bay, me hearties, but didn't want t' make extra work. Well, matey, blow me down! I'll do this later when I get me altimeter.

T' Keelhaul®©™® cord is long enough t' extend beyond t' end o' t' body tube. Ya scallywag! I built this rocket accordin' t' t' instructions, however, I am concerned about zippering. I may shorten it prior t' flight.

T' nosecone be very snug and required a little sanding. Arrr! Blimey! Caution: a little sandin' goes a long way. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! In very little time I made it a bit too loose and will likely use maskin' tape t' make it more snug.

It's nay mentioned in t' instructions, me hearties, but I used a quick link t' attach t' parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! I bought these at my local sportin' goods store.

Finishing:
Preparin' for finishin' was easy. Ahoy! Blimey! As I mentioned above, matey, I sealed t' fins prior t' attachin' them. I would do this again in t' future but will be aware about over-sanding.

T' fins and nosecone required only one coat o' sealer, me bucko, although it be a thick consistency.

I did nay try t' fill t' spirals. Avast, me proud beauty! They seemed pretty shallow and t' primer I use is thicker than most and will fill in groves pretty well. Begad! Blimey! Though I suspected that after a few coats o' paint, t' groves would all but disappear, they are still visible after 3 coats o' primer.

I haven't figured out a color scheme yet, shiver me timbers, but will likely follow t' scheme on t' picture. Begad! Ya scallywag! I'll wait until I have other rockets t' paint before doin' t' final coats.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flight preparation: T' diameter o' t' rocket is large enough that several pieces o' waddin' will be necessary, likely 4 or 5 pieces (I tend t' do overkill since I've singed too many recovery devices in t' past few weeks).

Flight with t' adapter: Motor retention includes an engine hook. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' adapter unit itself will need t' be taped in t' prevent it from shootin' out durin' ejection. Ahoy! T' thin layer o' epoxy I put on t' inside o' t' body tube made the adapter a very tight fit. Blimey! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! It will require retention (friction and tape around t' bottom), me hearties, but I don't think there will be a need for any "adjunctive" retention (I lost 2 rockets recently, so don't rely on friction fitting by itself any more. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Keep an eye out for some tips regardin' "adjunctive" retention).

Flight with 29mm engines: This is a minimum diameter rocket for 29mm engines, me bucko, so friction fittin' is required. If you read me launch logs, you'll see that I recently haven't had luck with friction fitting, so I'm leery o' usin' 29mm engines for now.

This rocket requires a 3/16inch launch rod. I didn't have one yet so t' cost was 3.50 or so at me local big box home improvement store. Avast, me proud beauty! No big deal.

I have a bunch o' Estes D12s, me bucko, me bucko, which was one o' t' reasons I bought this rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! I completed t' rocket on a Friday evening. Arrr! Arrr! Saturday was too breezy, launch scrubbed. Sunday, launch scrubbed. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Monday, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, holiday--all-day grill-fest, launch scrubbed (too windy anyway). Well, me hearties, blow me down! Tuesday, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, thunderstorms, launch scrubbed (there was a 1hr period o' sun and absolutely no wind, shiver me timbers, arrr, but I didn't move fast enough). Avast! Wednesday, me bucko, breezy, took me launch gear t' work in case thar was an opportunity for a "lunch launch". Ahoy! Arrr! No such luck.

At last! Blimey! Wednesday at early dusk, t' wind died t' a near standstill. Ahoy! Blimey! Finally! Blimey! All I needed was 30 minutes of calm weather.

I clipped on t' quick link/chute (I don't store t' chute in t' rocket), and used 4 pieces o' wadding. Begad! In narrower rockets I've feared that I made them too tight, arrr, matey, but they went in this rocket loosely enough. Begad! Folded up the chute, arrr, put in a D12-7 (sims t' 1200 feet) and went t' town.

Uh-oh. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Here's where me inexperience kicks in: I'm a "born again rocketeer", ya bilge rat, me hearties, built many kits, ya bilge rat, but am only 2 months in t' this new found hobby. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' root edge o' t' fins are flush with t' base o' t' rocket. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! There's no place t' wrap tape. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Instead, matey, I put pieces betwixt t' fins and extended them down onto t' adapter. I then used a piece of tape around t' part o' t' adapter that sticks out t' hold t' other pieces on. Arrr! Blimey! I couldn't friction fit t' adapter on, it be too tight even for a single layer o' maskin' tape.

I didn't feel good about this, me hearties, ya bilge rat, as I mentioned above I don't have a good success rate with taped on engines/adapters. Ya scallywag! But I be so psyched t' launch this rocket. Ahoy! So t' t' field I went.

Even though it was only primed, ya bilge rat, arrr, it looked really cool on t' pad. In fact, arrr, me hearties, I considered leavin' it primed, but sandin' it smooth and coatin' it with clearcoat.

My St. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Bernard/Golden Retriever mix, ya bilge rat, Mattie, arrr, me hearties, shiver me timbers, was by me side as me buddy and I did t' count down. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! We scrubbed the first attempt because Mattie thought she should start chasin' down t' rocket early and dislodged t' igniter.

Mattie was put in t' car so t' second attempt went without a hitch. Arrr! My system uses a 12-volt lawn tractor battery so thar be little, if any, me bucko, shiver me timbers, delay. Well, blow me down! T' engine hissed for a millisecond, arrr, matey, thar was a burst o' smoke, shiver me timbers, a medium-fast lift-off, me hearties, and then a straight, ya bilge rat, matey, me bucko, beautiful launch. Aye aye! I'm 40 and can't help but get a rush out o' this. Avast, me proud beauty! I'd guess it reached 1000 feet or more (primer wasn't even sanded smooth yet so it probably didn't go t' full 1200.

Recovery:
T' 7 second delay seemed t' last forever. Avast, me proud beauty! Finally t' smoke trail started, shiver me timbers, and I heard a faint pop and saw t' trail stop. I saw a separation and then went t' get me dog, shiver me timbers, who was barkin' like she was hallucinatin' about a huge rawhide (or maybe a rabbit or maybe even t' St. Aye aye! Bernard Pass itself) sittin' in middle o' t' field. Well, blow me down!

I turned back t' me rocket and it was gone. Begad! Blimey! I couldn't find it. Blimey! Blimey! My buddy said he lost it also. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey!

I have no idea what happened. Dusk was comin' in quickly, me hearties, shiver me timbers, but we combed a large area. Avast! I'll go back tomorrow to look around and also drive around t' neighborin' neighborhood. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! I'm incredibly disappointed. Begad! Blimey! I recently bought a Transolve Micro Trans Beep but didn't use it. I could kick myself, as maybe this would have helped. I felt really confident about this launch. T' body tube was plenty roomy so nothin' could jam, I still feel t' adapter wasn't going anywhere... Arrr! Blimey! I have no idea what happened.

I'm nay sure how t' score t' Flight/Recovery as t' loss is likely me fault. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! However, it would be nice if manufacturers could figure out a way t' avoid friction fits. Ya scallywag! I have a few ideas I've been playin' with, keep an eye out in t' tips section. I'll give this a 4. Begad! Well, blow me down! There could be some improvement (more room for tape?), matey, me bucko, but it's likely the loss was me fault.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main pro for this rocket is that it has an easy, logical, intuitive (hmmm, if it's logical, isn't it automatically intuitive?) assembly process. Assembly didn't take any longer than any other rocket.

T' rocket is very versatile as it uses 70mm and 95mm 24mm engines as well as 29mm engines.

T' only con is that it is easy t' over-sand t' root side o' t' fins.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5