(08/31/05) When I picked up t' Squirrel Works Vulture, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, arrr, I grabbed t' Astrid as well. Ahoy! Blimey! This rocket is another from their sci-fi series o' rockets. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! What makes this rocket so neat lookin' t' me are t' 5 fins that are elongated up half t' body length and into t' upper body tube section. Begad! Blimey! It gives t' rocket a very unique look.

T' kit is packaged professionally and includes a 8" long, ya bilge rat, .976" diameter lower body tube, a 6" long, 1.325" diameter upper body tube, me bucko, and a 3" long balsa nose cone. Well, blow me down! T' fins are laser-cut balsa and each fin is made up o' two pieces. Well, blow me down! There is motor tube with cardboard centerin' rings, matey, thrust ring, and a motor hook. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! There is an eye-screw t' attach t' 36" long, me bucko, shiver me timbers, 1/8" wide elastic shockcord t' and a 12" mylar parachute. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! A decal sheet is provide t' complete t' make up o' t' kit.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on a multi-folded sheet o' pager. Blimey! Avast! Blimey! They include illustrations for construction and pictures for kit contents and decal placement. T' tube markin' guide and 3-fold paper for t' attachment o' t' shockcord are cut out from t' instruction sheet. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Instructions are logical and easy t' follow.

T' Astrid is just a tad more than a 3FNC rocket and is fairly easy, especially with t' clear instructions. Arrr! Blimey! It would probably fall into a skill level 2 (from Estes and Quest standards).

T' assembly o' rocket consists of:

T' motor tube is assembled. You will need a strip o' maskin' tape t' hold t' center o' t' motor hook t' t' body tube. Begad! T' two centerin' rings are added along with a thrust ring.

T' next step is t' mark t' body tube. Avast! T' markin' guide aligned well.

T' laser-cut fins are then attached. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' main fin is glued into place on t' fin lines and then t' extension is glued into place. Ahoy! Blimey! This method worked well.

Once t' fins are in place, two plywood, me hearties, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, laser-cut centerin' rings are glued t' t' top o' t' lower body tube. Aye aye! One is placed up against t' fin extensions, while t' other is at t' top o' t' tube.

T' nose cone is balsa and was turned nicely. Perhaps a slightly higher grade o' balsa? T' eye-screw is attached t' t' bottom o' t' nose cone. Well, blow me down! Begad! This is where t' 36", me bucko, 1/8" wide elastic shockcord is attached.

T' launch lug requires a laser-cut balsa standoff t' align t' t' upper body tube's diameter.

Squirrel Works goes on t' give instructions on assembly o' t' parachute and attachment t' t' nose cone (via an eye-screw) and t' body (via 3-fold paper method). Blimey! T' parachute is 8-sided mylar and uses Keelhaul®©™ shroud lines.

They also give basic finishin' instructions and then detailed instructions on placement o' t' provide water-transfer decals.

By now, me hearties, everyone should know how I finish rockets, so no real news here. Aye aye! Begad! I used me typical multiple coats o' Plastic-Kote Primer and sandin' in-between. Begad! T' nose cone was typical balsa and took several coats t' fill in t' grain. Avast! Arrr! T' unique fins also took extra care in sandin' t' have a nice smooth finish. Avast! Ya scallywag! I then used Walmart Silver paint (additional comments about Walmart paint).

Squirrel Works provides some nice water-transfer decals that took time and care t' apply. Blimey! They really enhance t' looks o' t' rocket.

After a week, I gave t' rocket a coat o' Walmart Clearcoat. I do this for two reasons: 1) Silver paint stains easily from hands and fingers, and 2) t' seal t' decals. Unfortunately with t' decals t' clearcoat highlights them because o' t' smoothness o' them. Avast! Begad! Blimey! What can ya do?

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 5 points. Avast, me proud beauty! An very nice and enjoyable build. Avast! No complaints.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Squirrel Works recommends t' B4-4, B6-4, matey, matey, me bucko, and C6-5.

Squirrel Works indicates t' finished rocket should weigh 1.7 ounces. My finished rocket weighed 1.6 ounces.

Don't know why Squirrel Works doesn't recommend t' A8-3, arrr, or t' Quest A6-4 but I went for it for me first flight.

My first flight was in me front yard, shiver me timbers, me hearties, so I didn't want t' do anythin' too drastic. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! I loaded it with a Quest A6-4 and packed it with 4 pieces o' wadding. On a perfectly calm day, me bucko, t' launch be perfectly straight and thar be no spinnin' on t' way up (I must have gotten all 5 fins straight). Arrr! Avast! It arced over and seemed t' sit thar for a second then t' eject occurred. Begad! T' parachute opened and it floated down nicely. Avast! Well, blow me down! T' descent rate is nice, shiver me timbers, but a tad slower than what I usually go for. Blimey! Avast! I will either reef t' parachute or cut a spill hole t' increase t' rate.

Based on this flight, shiver me timbers, I would recommend t' A6-4.

My second flight was on a B6-4. Blimey! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! It is a light rocket and so it came off t' pad fast and flew very straight and stable. T' Astrid was still goin' up when ejection occurred. Blimey! Blimey! T' red parachute size and color provide for a good descent. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I ran and caught it before it touched t' ground. Ya scallywag! Blimey! (Doesn't everyone try t' do that?)

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, ya bilge rat, I would rate this rocket 5 points. T' Astrid's flight and recovery system is top notch.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. Begad! Blimey! T' Astrid is a futuristic rocket with great parts, me hearties, shiver me timbers, instructions and decals. Blimey! Avast! Blimey! It flies well and has a solid recovery system. Begad! Hard t' find anythin' wrong with it. Granted, shiver me timbers, I'm basin' this on two flights which I typically don't do, but really, it would be hard for me t' believe t' expect anythin' except repeats o' t' first flights... just perhaps higher on bigger motors!