Brief:
This is a single stage Level I rocket with a fairly basic assembly. Begad! Avast! Quality o' me first kit impressed me and looked great on t' pad, but t' second kit made me think one o' t' two was packaged incorrectly and be a completely different rocket. Quality control appears t' be an issue.

Construction:
I initially bought this kit because I wanted t' add a third rocket t' me son's fleet. Ya scallywag! Avast! As well, I wanted t' practice some techniques before me other rockets arrived in t' mail. Blimey! T' kit comes in t' basic clear hang bag with a “retro” style cardboard picture on t' front. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! It included all t' parts (fins, tubes, etc.), which were in fine condition. Ahoy! T' instructions used a small font and t' diagrams were hand-sketched, arrr, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but both were easy t' follow. Arrr! I can't give too many more details because from here on t' kit took a few unexpected turns...

As I indicated above, I have assembled two Nimbuses (Nimbusi?). Avast! “Nimbus I” made me very impressed with t' company. Arrr! Ahoy! For a basic “Level I” kit that cost under $6 (incl. tax), t' fins were sturdy, t' tube felt strong, t' spiral shallow, shiver me timbers, and t' balsa nose cone symmetrical. Arrr! Ahoy! It used a metallic mylar streamer that was attached t' a screw eye in t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' shock cord was strong and appeared t' be Keelhaul®©™ or somethin' similar.

T' components for "Nimbus II" were quite different. Begad! Blimey! All components were accounted for, me bucko, but t' quality be notably inferior t' t' first kit.

What caught me eye as I assembled "Nimbus I" be that it had four fins on such a small body tube. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I was eager t' see how this would look. I rounded t' leadin' edges and tapered t' trailin' edges, applied skins, matey, and used 5 minute epoxy for t' fillets. (Remember I said I wanted t' practice techniques?) T' nose cone was balsa and required little sanding. I experimented with usin' spacklin' joint compound t' seal it because it was handy and within reach. Avast, me proud beauty! This had surprisingly good results, but sealer would be better.

When assembled, this rocket looked like it meant business. Begad! Ya scallywag! Four swept back fins on a short, narrow tube looked pretty cool on t' pad. Well, blow me down! I painted it silver so it kind o' had a Buck Rogers type look t' it. Begad! T' rocket be lost after launch (story below) and me son was really sad t' see "Silver Star" go bye-bye. Arrr! Begad! So back t' t' store...

“Nimbus II” cost 2 bucks more, had a 12" parachute instead o' a streamer, and three fins instead o' four. Ahoy! Ahoy! Further, these fins were thinner and quite flexible. Well, blow me down! They could be bent 45 degrees or more and nay show a sign o' breaking. Lastly, shiver me timbers, t' body tube for “Nimbus II” had markings for three fins while t' body for “Nimbus I” had markings for four.

All these differences made me think I had a completely different rocket. Well, blow me down! A totally different design with lower quality and a higher price was completely unexpected. Blimey! T' package did indeed say Nimbus, and t' website's picture was t' same as that on me bag. Avast! Begad! T' picture be too vague t' see if it had three or four fins.

I initially didn't plan on applyin' skins this time, matey, but I felt I had t' in order t' ensure integrity durin' flight. Begad! T' nosecone was nay symmetrical and had a divot in t' tip so required sandin' t' make it look right and fly well.

Once all was said and done, t' rocket was sturdy, arrr, and t' marks for alignin' t' fins were straight. Arrr! Needless t' say, arrr, I liked t' look o' "Nimbus I" better.

Finishing:
Finishin' be straightforward. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! Unfortunately I forgot t' take pictures o' "Nimbus I", but believe me, Krylon metallic/chrome silver be t' perfect color for this rocket. Ya scallywag! It gave it a retro look and also appeared t' be a little more than a beginner's entry-level rocket.

“Nimbus I” looked great after 2 coats o' primer and wet sandin' followed by 2 coats o' topcoat. “Nimbus II”, however, showed t' spirals after 3 coats o' primer so I hoped t' topcoat would cover them. Avast, me proud beauty! They did as long as you were more than 5 feet away.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight o' “Nimbus I”, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I used t' recommended A8-3. Begad! Because o' me big fingers, ya bilge rat, I found t' narrow body a little tight for t' rolled up streamer but got it all in there. It was a perfect launch. Avast! It took off really fast, went quite high, and perfectly straight (even in a 5-10mph breeze).

Unfortunately, matey, I forgot maskin' tape t' pressure fit t' engine. We had launched some other rockets first (this be me first launch in about 30 years), arrr, and me son, some friends, and I were havin' so much fun that me judgment be impaired. Arrr! I tried wrappin' some grass around t' engine and wedgin' t' engine in. Ya scallywag! It seemed snug enough but wasn't. Avast, me proud beauty! “Nimbus I” was never seen again.

In regards t' “Nimbus II”, I felt that gettin' t' 12" mylar chute in t' body required more finaglin' than should be necessary. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' streamer for “Nimbus I” be much easier. Arrr! For t' engine, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I used t' A8 and I'm glad I did. Ahoy! Begad! T' flight was perfect: fast, straight as an arrow, arrr, and high. Avast! It was too high for me t' see how t' chute came out, me hearties, me bucko, but it appeared t' timin' be correct. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Even in a very light wind and t' launch rod angled slightly, arrr, me son and I walked around 750 feet (double checked on Google Pedometer) t' retrieve it. Ahoy! I didn't have scissors t' cut a spill hole so launched it only once. Aye aye! I really wanted t' try t' B or C engine. Ahoy! Begad! She would have been out o' sight for sure.

Recovery:
Recovery o' "Nimbus II" was straightforward. I used 2 sheets o' Quest wadding, matey, ya bilge rat, and t' outer sheath o' shock cord be a little singed. Begad! It will require a replacement after a few more launches and I’ll use 3 sheets o' waddin' for future flights. Ahoy! Ahoy! I would say a 12" chute is too big for this rocket. It drifted further than any o' t' other rockets launched that day (750' vs. 300-500 for t' others). Begad! I will definitely cut a spill hole in t' chute or retrofit a streamer. Ahoy! A metallic chute/streamer is perfect as t' Nimbus is easily lost in t' sky.

Pullin' t' engine out is provin' t' be very difficult, even with pliers. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! I'm concerned that t' heat o' t' engine may have melted some o' t' adhesive on t' maskin' tape and fused it t' t' body. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I will use me favorite online search engine t' see if I'm nay t' only one experiencin' this and find some "tricks o' t' trade" so t' speak.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a good beginner rocket. Well, blow me down! Blimey! If you get t' four-fin version, me bucko, be happy. Aye aye! Blimey! If you get t' three-fin version, I highly recommend applyin' skins on t' fins. A big pro is that t' body is pre-marked for fins and launch lug. This is great for simplicity and young assemblers (my son is just under 5 yrs old). Blimey! Blimey! A con is quality control. Aye aye! Blimey! I bought two Nimbuses in under a week and they were drastically different in quality, design, and price.

I would buy another Starlight rocket if one caught me eye. But I would first try t' find t' balsa in t' bag t' see how it is.

Overall Rating: 2 out o' 5