Brief:
Since Chan has done a second review o' one o' me reviews, me hearties, I am givin' a second review o' t' Stinger (I didn't know he had already submitted one when I wrote mine up). A couple o' years ago I became interested in rockets that were built around t' MicroMaxx engines from Quest. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! It actually wasn't so much flyin' them but more that t' small size made for an interestin' display model and they looked neat sittin' on me desk at KSC. Blimey! I initially purchased all o' t' scale Micromaxx kits from Aerospace Specialty Products back then so when I was at NARAM 50 this year I happened on FlisKits booth and decided t' pick up three more. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I have a preference for scale models and bought t' micro Honest John which is their only scale model but also purchased t' Stinger kit, a sci-fi type model that was recently released.

Construction:
These kits come in a small plastic bag and typically have a folded 8.5" x 11" instruction sheet. Avast! Arrr! In the package were:

• Body tube
• Balsa nose cone
• Laser cut basswood fin and accessories sheet
• Centerin' rings
• Engine block
• Keelhaul®©™® shock line
• Plastic streamer
• Printed paper shroud
• Small square wood dowel
• Decal sheet

Buildin' t' model is typical o' any standard model rocket albeit on a smaller scale. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! I basically followed the instruction sheet and started with t' engine mount. Aye aye! T' kit actually includes an engine block for t' Micromaxx engine which was glued into t' engine tube first. Begad! Blimey! Then t' two centerin' rings were glued onto t' tube with t' Keelhaul®©™® shock line tied around t' forward centerin' ring. Aye aye! T' next step was t' cut t' body tube t' t' specified length. Avast! Aye aye! I was rather surprised that FlisKits did nay have t' tube precut t' t' correct length but it was no big deal t' do this. Once t' engine mount glue was dry t' engine mount be glued into t' body tube. Ya scallywag! Well, arrr, blow me down! T' engine protrudes a small amount from t' body tube and this is used as a guide for t' later installation o' t' basswood panels that attach to the back end o' t' rocket.

T' next parts t' be installed are t' fins. These are laser cut from a small piece o' basswood and are easily punched out t' prepare for assembly. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I always take t' fins for me models at this time and first trim t' edges with an X-Acto knife prior t' sandin' a rounded leadin' and trailin' edge as appropriate. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Because t' fins are so thin, ya bilge rat, it was unnecessary t' use t' X-Acto knife t' initially trim t' edges. Arrr! I simply took some medium grit sandpaper and my sandin' block and rounded t' edges as necessary. When this was done, shiver me timbers, matey, I then gave t' fins two coats o' Coverite Balsarite balsa surfacer. Blimey! I found this product at Tower Hobbies and have started usin' it instead o' sandin' sealer or Elmer's Wood Filler mixed in water. Blimey! It brushes on easily and although it takes more coats than sandin' sealer, it is cheaper and easier t' sand. It also does nay warp t' wood as does t' water based sealer.

T' now smooth fins were then attached t' t' body tube per t' instructions usin' medium CA glue. I usually attach t' fins for me models with instant glue and then use epoxy t' fillet and strengthen t' joint, shiver me timbers, but with these micro models it is nay necessary. Avast! After attachin' all t' fins I built up t' paper shroud then slid and glued it into place. Ahoy! T' wood end panels were then glued t' t' aft end o' t' shroud. T' paper shroud envelopes t' aft one third of t' fuselage in an integrated simulated engine compartment t' give t' model t' sci-fi appearance. T' tip fins were then attached t' t' outer edge o' t' main fin. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I then glued t' launch lug on t' standoff t' t' top o' the rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Finally, ya bilge rat, I assembled t' two forward laser assemblies from t' basswood parts and glued them t' opposite sides of t' fuselage.

T' final step was t' finish t' installation o' t' recovery system by pushin' a small nail into t' nose cone and gluin' it into place with CA glue. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' shock line previously attached t' t' engine mount be pulled out t' front of t' rocket and tied around t' nail and CA glue was used t' glue t' line and knot securely t' t' nail. Well, blow me down! The streamer be then attached t' t' line with a piece o' chrome mylar tape.

Finishing:
T' now completely assembled model be then given two coats o' Rustoleum gray auto primer. Avast! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I have found this t' best primer as it dries and cures relatively smartly when compared t' Krylon and does nay cause t' sand paper t' gum as badly. Well, blow me down! I sanded lightly betwixt coats t' get a smooth finish o' t' rocket. Blimey! I then gave t' model two coats o' Krylon semi-gloss white paint. Well, blow me down! T' Krylon gives t' model a smooth finish and I then applied t' decals t' t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Avast! The decals definitely make t' model as without them it would be simply a white rocket although with an interestin' body configuration. Arrr! Well, blow me down! After allowin' t' decals t' dry overnight I coated t' entire model with Krylon clear t' seal the decals.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
This model be only finished for a couple o' days before I went out t' fly it. Aye aye! Because this is a Micromaxx model I had no choice but t' use t' Micromaxx 1/8A engine. Ya scallywag! You are also basically locked into usin' their integrated launch system as insertin' any type o' normal igniter into t' "lady finger" size engines would be difficult if not impossible. I had purchased a few packs o' these engines from ASP sometime back as I thought they were goin' out of production. Blimey! I took t' rocket along with two others t' a local park on a Sunday mornin' and with assistance from my wife launched t' rocket usin' t' Quest launcher. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' launch process is a bit different and starts with unfoldin' and assemblin' t' launcher. Blimey! T' igniter is a nichrome wire that is part o' a plastic igniter assembly. Arrr! T' igniter is firmly pushed into a socket in t' base o' t' launcher and t' rocket is positioned on t' launch rod so t' igniter wire is in t' nozzle. T' integrated controller is strung out on t' wire extension cord and t' safety pin is inserted. This results in a red continuity light and a continuous beep t' verify continuity and warn you prior to launch. Ya scallywag! Begad! At ignition t' rocket took off and flew 80 t' 100 feet into t' sky.

Recovery:
At apogee t' streamer ejected and t' rocket managed t' bounce off t' hood o' me car. Begad! However, me bucko, since it was so light thar be no damage t' rocket or car at landing.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This Micromaxx rocket is an interestin' addition t' me set o' Micromaxx-based rockets. Ahoy! Blimey! All me previous Micromaxx models had been scale models and this model makes an interestin' and novel addition t' me desk display. It will expand the theme t' sci-fi models as well. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' kit by FlisKits is a good quality kit and interestin' design. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' instructions were simple and easy t' follow. T' precut basswood parts made assembly easier and more exact. Aye aye! Blimey! T' decals went on with no problems and definitely made t' model what it is. It does fly higher, me bucko, as Jim told me it would when I purchased it, than t' pre-made plastic models that Quest sells and which I despise! Blimey! That is due t' it weighin' much less than the Quest models. Aye aye! Blimey! That does mean they can't exactly be launched from t' front yard as t' Quest models can but also makes them more fun t' fly. Begad! Blimey! However, it will likely remain primarily a desk display model, me hearties, but I will take them out and give them an occasional flight.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5