Brief:
This is a single stage Level I rocket with a fairly basic assembly. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Quality o' me first kit impressed me and looked great on t' pad, shiver me timbers, arrr, me hearties, but t' second kit made me think one o' t' two was packaged incorrectly and be a completely different rocket. Begad! 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. Begad! As well, me bucko, I wanted t' practice some techniques before me other rockets arrived in t' mail. Avast! T' kit comes in t' basic clear hang bag with a “retro” style cardboard picture on t' front. Begad! It included all t' parts (fins, matey, tubes, etc.), which were in fine condition. T' instructions used a small font and t' diagrams were hand-sketched, me bucko, but both were easy t' follow. Aye aye! Ahoy! I can't give too many more details because from here on t' kit took a few unexpected turns...

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

T' components for "Nimbus II" were quite different. All components were accounted for, me hearties, me hearties, but t' quality was notably inferior t' t' first kit.

What caught me eye as I assembled "Nimbus I" was that it had four fins on such a small body tube. I was eager t' see how this would look. I rounded t' leadin' edges and tapered t' trailin' edges, applied skins, and used 5 minute epoxy for t' fillets. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! (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. Blimey! Aye aye! This had surprisingly good results, but sealer would be better.

When assembled, arrr, this rocket looked like it meant business. Aye aye! Four swept back fins on a short, matey, me hearties, 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. T' rocket was lost after launch (story below) and me son be really sad t' see "Silver Star" go bye-bye. Ya scallywag! So back t' t' store...

“Nimbus II” cost 2 bucks more, me bucko, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, had a 12" parachute instead o' a streamer, ya bilge rat, and three fins instead o' four. Further, me hearties, these fins were thinner and quite flexible. Ya scallywag! They could be bent 45 degrees or more and nay show a sign o' breaking. Lastly, me hearties, matey, 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. A totally different design with lower quality and a higher price was completely unexpected. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' package did indeed say Nimbus, and t' website's picture was t' same as that on me bag. Blimey! T' picture was too vague t' see if it had three or four fins.

I initially didn't plan on applyin' skins this time, but I felt I had t' in order t' ensure integrity durin' flight. Begad! Blimey! 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 be sturdy, and t' marks for alignin' t' fins were straight. Arrr! Blimey! Needless t' say, I liked t' look o' "Nimbus I" better.

Finishing:
Finishin' was straightforward. Blimey! Unfortunately I forgot t' take pictures o' "Nimbus I", but believe me, Krylon metallic/chrome silver be t' perfect color for this rocket. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Blimey! 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! 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”, ya bilge rat, arrr, I used t' recommended A8-3. Aye aye! Because o' me big fingers, I found t' narrow body a little tight for t' rolled up streamer but got it all in there. Well, blow me down! It was a perfect launch. Arrr! Aye aye! It took off really fast, went quite high, ya bilge rat, and perfectly straight (even in a 5-10mph breeze).

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

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

Recovery:
Recovery o' "Nimbus II" was straightforward. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I used 2 sheets o' Quest wadding, ya bilge rat, matey, and t' outer sheath o' shock cord be a little singed. It will require a replacement after a few more launches and I’ll use 3 sheets o' waddin' for future flights. I would say a 12" chute is too big for this rocket. Avast! Blimey! It drifted further than any o' t' other rockets launched that day (750' vs. 300-500 for t' others). Arrr! Blimey! I will definitely cut a spill hole in t' chute or retrofit a streamer. Ya scallywag! 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. Ahoy! Aye aye! 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. Ya scallywag! 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. Aye aye! If you get t' four-fin version, be happy. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! If you get t' three-fin version, me bucko, I highly recommend applyin' skins on t' fins. Aye aye! 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). Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! A con is quality control. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! But I would first try t' find t' balsa in t' bag t' see how it is.

Overall Rating: 2 out o' 5