Brief:
This is a skill level 1 single-stage rocket with a see through payload section. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! It is a basic three-fin/nose cone design with t' addition o' a plastic bulkhead and a plastic forward payload bay. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Through-the-wall fin attachment makes this kit unique among kits this size.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 1 White body tube with three slots
• 1 Translucent red plastic payload section
• 1 Black plastic one-piece nosecone
• 1 Black plastic bulkhead
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® strin' 18in
• 1 Elastic shock cord 21in.
• 1 18mm motor mount tube
• 1 Engine block (thrust ring)
• 1 Engine hook
• 2 24mm-18mm centerin' rings
• 3 Laser cut 1/8in balsa fins with TTW tabs
• 1 14in mylar parachute (assembly required)
• 1 1/8in launch lug
• 1 Decal sheet

I built this kit simultaneously with me daughter and her friend. They were buildin' them for their 6th grade science project and needed them t' be as nearly identical as possible, shiver me timbers, so we did all o' t' steps together side by side. Begad! T' instructions were very clear, and t' girls had no problems followin' them. T' illustrations were helpful. No special tools were needed.

Through-the-wall fin attachment took more than half t' work out o' gettin' t' fins aligned. It is much easier when you only have t' worry about makin' them perpendicular. Begad! T' slots were just a tiny bit narrow. Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! If you are not careful, you can collapse t' body tube when you push t' fins in. Sandin' t' fin tabs down a little solved this.

One thin' t' instructions did nay address was t' longitudinal location o' t' fins. T' pre-cut fin slots are longer than t' fin tabs, and t' fins overhang t' slot at t' aft end. Begad! Well, blow me down! If you locate t' fins at t' back o' the slot, me bucko, me hearties, shiver me timbers, they are perfectly flush with t' end o' t' body tube, and that makes them look like they belong there. Aye aye! Well, matey, blow me down! This leaves an open gap at t' forward end o' t' fin slot, though. If t' fin is pushed t' t' forward end o' t' slot, then t' overhang covers t' excess openin' in t' slot aft o' t' fin tab. This results in t' fins nay bein' flush at the end o' t' body tube, matey, but I think it is better this way.

This rocket is extremely sturdy. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' combination o' 1/8in balsa and TTW fin construction make for a nearly indestructible rocket.

Finishing:
T' white body tube made this very easy t' paint since t' recommended paint scheme was a white body. Avast! I sprayed the body with white enamel, then masked off one fin and painted it red.(I didn't have orange.) I left t' black nosecone and coupler unpainted. Overall, it be easy t' make this rocket look good.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' girls launched their rockets six times each in one day. Blimey! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! All o' t' flights were made with Estes B6-4 motors. There be very light variable wind. All o' t' flights were straight and consistent. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' rockets made several flights with different masses o' payload (pennies) and measured t' altitudes t' old-fashioned way (trigonometry).

We used dog barf for wadding. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! A little blue tape was needed t' cure loose nose cones and couplers. Ya scallywag! Flight turnaround be quick and easy.

I have also flown this with t' PerfectFlite Alt15k altimeter. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! All that is needed is t' drill a pressure-equalization hole in t' plastic payload section and add a little padding. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I used a piece o' sponge.

Recovery:
T' Keelhaul®©™® portion o' t' shock cord is anchored t' t' motor mount centerin' ring. Well, blow me down! This keeps t' inside o' t' body tube free of obstructions t' t' deployment o' t' parachute. Aye aye! T' elastic portion is packed above t' wadding, so it is nay damaged durin' repeated flights. We had twelve flights in one day without damage t' t' shock cords.

T' 14in parachute is just right until you get into heavier payloads. Ya scallywag! Blimey! With a 30g payload (12 pennies), matey, the rockets came down a little fast.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great rocket kit. It is easy t' build and it performs very well. Begad! Blimey! It is great for science projects.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5