Brief:
T' Aerotech Mustang is a Sport model usin' a 1.9" body tube and is 32" in length. It has a four fin configuration and has been designed t' handle motors from t' E thru G range.

Construction:
Aerotech kits are like t' Cadillac o' model rockets and this one is no different. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! High quality components and rugged yet simple design are what you expect t' see when purchasin' one o' these kits. Begad! Ya scallywag! Thick walled tube and through-the wall fin mountin' are good indicators o' a quality design. Aye aye! T' model came in a colorful box which doubles as a rocket stand. Blimey! Components included a 1.9" thick walled pre-slotted body tube, 29mm Motor mount with a 24mm adapter, shiver me timbers, me hearties, Pre molded and tapered heavy duty plastic fins, me hearties, fin inter-lok system, 16" nylon parachute, ogive nosecone, shock cord, shiver me timbers, motor retainer, ya bilge rat, me hearties, buffer system and instructions. Ya scallywag! Begad! Component Rating: 5 o' 5

T' entire kit is assembled usin' medium CyA glue and construction began with buildin' t' motor mount. Aye aye! Fiber centerin' rings are placed over t' motor mount ends and sandwich a fin-lok frame. Avast! T' frame is really slick because it allows you t' snap in t' fins without havin' t' worry about alignment. Begad! Also durin' this build, you install a VERY heavy duty motor retainer which resembles an Estes retainer on steroids! Once this system is assembled, you build t' 24mm motor adapter as this model can fly on small 24mm RMS motors. Ya scallywag! Before insertin' t' mount in t' tube, t' buffer system is installed. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! They give you a chunk o' wire mesh, shiver me timbers, similar t' t' copper coiled scotch-brite pads you can buy at t' store for doin' dishes. Aye aye! Aye aye! This is stretched out and inserted in t' upper section o' t' motor mount, ya bilge rat, then a plastic cap with air slots is glued t' t' top o' t' motor tube. T' purpose o' t' coiled material is that it buffers and absorbs t' heat from t' ejection charge, so no waddin' is needed. Avast, me proud beauty! Simply load t' parachute and go; very nice touch! An "eye" hook is then screwed into this cap and t' shock cord is tied t' t' hook. Ahoy! Aye aye! Once all this is prepared, t' entire assembly is glued into t' body tube. Aye aye! Make sure that your Fin-loks are aligned with t' through-the-wall fin slots on t' body tube.

Some CyA is added t' t' bottom o' each fin and in t' fin-lok slots, then each fin is "snapped" in place. Begad! T' parachute is attached t' t' 6 foot long shock cord and then tied t' t' nosecone. Ahoy! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! This kit, like all Aerotech kits, builds fast and can be assembled in no more than a few hours at t' most. Blimey! No modifications or fixes t' poor design are necessary as t' manufacturer has taken t' guess work out o' building. Ya scallywag! Instructions are top notch; just follow them and you will be fine.

T' nosecone was sanded next t' remove moldin' flash, me bucko, which be minimal. Ahoy! 220 Grit paper was used on t' nosecone durin' this process. Blimey! Construction Rating: 5 o' 5

Finishing:
Here is a hint with this model; fill t' small spirals and primer t' body tube BEFORE assembly and you will nay have t' deal with tryin' t' sand around t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Make sure you sand t' body tube down as it does have a glassine coat over it. I used 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper t' take t' "shiny" coat off so paint could adhere. Begad! Also, me spirals were so shallow that I simply used primer and sandin' t' fill them. Several coats o' primer were applied t' t' tube and fins, then sanded with 400-600 wet/dry sandpaper.

Once assembled, White Testors Glossy paint was applied t' t' lower body tube, as I planned t' follow t' stock paint scheme. Arrr! Blimey! Somethin' that worked well though was that I taped t' upper tube so it could be painted later with t' medium gray. Once t' lower tube was painted with three coats o' white, I removed t' tape from t' upper part o' t' tube and thar was a definite "ridge" where t' white paint stopped, which is what I wanted. T' Testors paint does work well, me bucko, as it is a bit thicker and flows together nicely.

T' model be left t' dry for a few days and then it be time t' paint t' upper body tube. Arrr! Begad! I used some automobile 3M trim tape, excellent stuff t' use for our hobby, me hearties, and taped over t' white paint even with t' edge that had just been painted a dew days ago. Avast! Blimey! T' rest o' t' model was masked usin' maskin' tape and a garbage bag t' cover t' lower section from over-spray o' t' gray paint that was about t' be applied. Testors medium gray glossy paint was then applied t' t' top portion o' t' body tube in three separate coats, ya bilge rat, then left t' dry. When t' maskin' be removed, me hearties, t' was NO RIDGE betwixt t' White and Gray paint where they met!!! This is what I be tryin' for and it worked out well. Avast! Once t' paint has dried, t' model looks like it's been plastic coated! I be pleased with t' Testors paint as It was me first time usin' it for an entire model.

T' nosecone was finished in Testors medium gray glossy and black satin Krylon was added t' t' tip. Blimey! Decals are applied next and a large bowl o' warm water with a few drops o' detergent was used t' dip t' decals before application. Ya scallywag! This allows you t' slide each decal around until it is positioned where you want it, then you can squeegee t' remainin' water out from underneath t' decal when positioned. T' final product turned out well and looks exactly like as advertised. Ahoy! Finish: 5 o' 5

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
My rocket weighed in at 10.5 oz, which is right on t' loot for this model accordin' t' t' manufacturer. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Now here be t' kicker. I have attended many launches and t' Mustang always comes with me. Avast! Blimey! Believe it or nay though, I get so busy at t' launches with HPR that I don't have time t' prep this little beauty. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! I even planned at me last launch t' drag race a friend o' mine, Ken Parker with his Aerotech Cheetah, matey, but we wound up never gettin' t' it.

I did finally get t' launch it; first load was a 24mm E18W-4. Ya scallywag! T' motor lit instantly for a White Lightnin' and t' Mustang soared t' an altitude o' around 1500 feet. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! It was a great launch; straight and true with t' added bonus o' t' smoke and fire trail.

Recovery:
Parachute deployed at apogee and recovery was on. It settled down about 100 yards away without a mark. Arrr! Blimey! T' heat buffer system for this rocket really worked well as t' parachute did nay have a mark on it. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Three more flights occurred that day, shiver me timbers, arrr, one on another E18W, then two on 29mm RMS, an E16W and E23T. Ahoy! Blimey! All four flights went well. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! This is one awesome kit!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Aerotech Mustang is a great kit and would make a nice entry level kit into mid-power rocketry. Avast! Ya scallywag! Yes, matey, thar are a few parts, but construction is very simple. Begad! Also, this was t' first kit I ever assembled usin' CyA glue and t' only bad part be it built too fast! If you want a top notch kit though, me hearties, with quality components, shiver me timbers, all I can say is buy Aerotech & Their reputation is true t' form!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5