Brief:
T' Penetrator is a Quest "Quick Kit" that is designed t' be easy and fun t' build and fly. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It has both a large and small Payload bay and even sports a dual recovery system! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It also looks good on t' pad.

Construction:
T' kit contains:

• Nose Cone - 20308
• Small Payload Tube - 11416
• Plastic Transition - 21071
• Transition Base - 20216
• Large Payload Tube - 11514
• Plastic Coupler - 21084
• Body Tube - 11513
• Plastic Motor Housin' - 20706/20707
• 4 Plastic Fins - 20876
• Gray Motor Mount Tube - 10301
• Plastic Fin Lockin' Rin' - 20026
• Plastic Motor Lockin' Rin' - 20027
• 2 14" Parachutes - 28107
• White Elastic Shock Cord - 50012
• Yellow Keelhaul®©™® Shock Cord - 50053
• 2 26" Shroud Lines - 50100
• 2 sheets Gripper Tabs - 00500
• Decal Sheet - 3-01618-1030
• Plastic Display Stand - 24308/24209

This is another one o' Quests' "Quick Kits" designed for fast and easy construction. My son loves these kits because they are easy for him to build and he does nay have t' wait so long for t' glue and paint t' dry. You start off by tyin' t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord t' t' elastic shock cord. I really like t' fact t' Quest includes Keelhaul®©™® to protect t' all too easy t' burn elastic cords. Ahoy! Once this is complete, you place t' gray paper motor tube inside one half o' t' plastic motor housing with fin can and lower launch lug and use plastic cement t' glue t' two halves of t' motor housin' together then add cement t' t' inside o' t' large body tube and insert t' motor housing. T' four fins are then cemented in place, plus they actually slide lock into place and are self-aligning, arrr, fitting perfectly. Arrr! T' fin assembly is completed by gluin' in a fin lockin' ring.

Next comes t' assembly o' t' dual payload tubes. Aye aye! T' first payload tube is t' same diameter as t' body tube so a plastic coupler is used t' connect the body tube t' t' large payload tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' coupler also has t' upper launch lug molded into it. Begad! Then t' transition base is glued onto t' transition. Well, blow me down! The base serves as a connection point for t' payload bay parachute. Begad! T' smaller end o' t' transition is glued t' t' small payload tube. T' large end o' the transition friction fits into t' large payload tube and be t' separation point for t' two halves o' t' rocket. Aye aye! T' plastic nose cone it friction fitted into t' forward end o' t' small payload tube. Arrr! My nose cone be a bit loose, but a little maskin' tape solved that problem.

T' last part o' t' build be t' parachute assembly, which is one o' my complaints about t' kit. Ahoy! It took us longer t' assemble t' parachutes then it did for t' entire build o' t' rocket! First you pull off gripper tabs and place them over t' holes on t' plastic parachutes, arrr, then tie all twelve ends, since thar are two parachutes, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' t' holes. Aye aye! It is hard t' make small knots with big fingers. I think Quest should have included pre-strung parachutes. Once t' chutes are complete, you tie one t' t' base o' t' transition and connect t' other t' t' elastic shock cord. Ahoy! That's it!

Finishing:
T' tubes are pre-colored a bright orange and all plastic parts are black, shiver me timbers, so no paintin' is needed. Avast, me proud beauty! All o' t' decals are a good quality peel and stick type. Well, blow me down! Unfortunately, all o' t' decals for t' small payload tube are about 1/16" short o' fully wrappin' around. Arrr! Well, blow me down! We tried stretchin' them (they are tough and did nay break), shiver me timbers, but that did nay help. Begad! Ahoy! Also, t' picture included with t' kit shows decals on t' fins but these were nay included. Arrr! T' decals stuck so well and were o' such good quality, we decided nay clear coat. After 6 flights, me bucko, me hearties, matey, they still look as good as new.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
We had perfect weather on launch day, with a slight wind. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! We prepped t' rocket with 5 sheets o' Estes waddin' in t' large body tube, me bucko, inserted t' first motor and slipped on t' motor lock rin' t' hold t' engine in place. We then rolled up both parachutes and placed them in as well. This rocket is slightly over 3' tall and looks great on t' launch pad. Avast, me proud beauty! One thin' t' note. Begad! Arrr! T' kit picture says to use B6-4, me bucko, C6-3 and C6-5. Begad! However, shiver me timbers, t' instructions say t' use A6-4 for the first flight. Do nay do this! Accordin' t' RockSim, that will cause a crash landin' and I believe it. Avast, me proud beauty! So our first flight be on t' B6-4 and it lifted off slowly from t' pad, a real treat t' watch. Avast, me proud beauty! It flew straight t' about 260 feet. Both parachutes opened up and both sections were recovered with no damage. Second flight on t' C6-5 be a straight shot t' almost 500 feet, ejection right after apogee. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! This bird is easy t' spot on t' way down with its bright orange color. Arrr! Blimey! T' third flight on a C6-5 carried a payload o' M&M's (plain and peanut), so it only got t' about 400 feet, me hearties, but no M&M's were harmed durin' t' flight and remained tasty afterwards. Well, blow me down! We launched three more times durin' t' day and t' rocket is still ready for more.

Recovery:
T' parachutes are a bit large and even with t' light wind, me hearties, both halves traveled about 1500 feet downrange on t' second flight. Aye aye! I put a spill hole in the lower half parachute which made a big difference on t' second flight and it landed much closer t' t' pad, shiver me timbers, me hearties, about 300 feet. Blimey! For our last flight on the C6-5 (with candy), shiver me timbers, t' payload bay came down nice and quick, so I think I will leave that chute alone. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! If you are nay goin' t' fly payloads, you will either want a smaller chute or add a spill hole. Ahoy! Arrr! After six flights, me bucko, you cannot even tell this rocket has even had a launch yet. Blimey! It is quite sturdy. Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This rocket cost $8.99 from E-hobbies and I think it was worth every cent. Begad! It is a great starter rocket for kids, me bucko, as it's fun, fast, arrr, and easy t' build. It looks good, matey, ya bilge rat, flies great, matey, shiver me timbers, and it evens comes with a display stand so your can show it off t' your friends when you are nay flyin' it.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5