Brief:
This is a Micro-Maxx powered scale model o' t' Sonda II B from ASP. T' real Sonda II B is a Brazilian soundin' rocket first used in t' 1970s.

Construction:
T' kit contains 1 long body tube, 2 tube couplers, 1 styrene fin stock, 1 styrene launch lug, 1 styrene launch lug standoff, 1 wood nose cone, shiver me timbers, 1 Keelhaul®©™® shock cord, 1 decal, ya bilge rat, and 1 mylar streamer.

The instructions were straightforward and easy t' follow. Arrr! T' only problem I had was fittin' t' couplers in t' main tubes after tyin' t' Keelhaul®©™® thread around them. Aye aye! It made t' fit tight and pushed t' tubes out a little although it's nay noticeable. Ahoy! On t' top coupler, arrr, I cut a small slit down the coupler, me hearties, arrr, wedged t' Keelhaul®©™® thread into it, and put a little CA glue over it. Blimey! Avast! This made t' fit a little better. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I used Duro Quick Gel, which is a thick CA, me bucko, for t' fins and that seemed t' work well. Well, me bucko, blow me down! It set fast and was easy t' work with. Ahoy!

Finishing:
I used Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish on t' body tube. For t' nose cone, me bucko, I used light coats o' yellow wood glue betwixt sanding. Arrr! Avast! I used two coats o' primer, two coats o' white, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and two coats o' red. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! After applyin' t' decal I sprayed one coat o' Krylon Matte finish. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I deviated from t' instructions and used Krylon Banner Red instead o' florescent red. Arrr! Ahoy! Now I wish I'd gotten some florescent red. Begad! T' red I used doesn't look as good. T' paint job looks a little sloppy. Arrr! I used maskin' tape t' mask off t' fins and top band. Begad! I painted a coat o' white after applyin' t' tape t' prevent bleedin' before paintin' the red but some occurred anyway. Arrr! T' decal went on OK and be easy t' work with.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' only motor option is MMX. Well, blow me down! This be t' first time I've used t' Quest MicroMaxx launch system and do nay recommend usin' t' Quest launch controller or at least recommend carryin' some alternative launch method t' t' field. Begad! Begad! The 9-volt battery just doesn't have enough power. Arrr! Arrr! I made two attempts usin' two new batteries and could never get one t' ignite a motor. I cut t' launch controller cable and wired it t' me AeroTech launcher usin' a 12-volt gel cell. This worked fine every time. Begad! Maybe other folks have had success but I could never get t' Quest controller t' work. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' first and third flights had straight boosts. Avast, me proud beauty! T' second flight be a little squirrelly near apogee.

Recovery:
T' steamer deployed on t' second and third flights but nay on t' first. Avast! I think it be because I forgot t' secure t' motor and t' motor ejected instead. Begad! Begad! T' instructions recommend wrappin' t' Keelhaul®©™® thread around t' streamer after foldin' and rollin' t' streamer. Aye aye! Blimey! Instead of doin' that, I folded t' streamer several times then folded each end o' the Keelhaul®©™® and slid all o' it in t' tube. Ahoy! T' streamer got a little burned on t' third flight maybe from nay usin' enough wadding. Aye aye! I used just a little flame retardant cellulose insulation but probably nay enough.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I think this is a great kit and very good quality. Avast, me proud beauty! T' only thin' I didn't like was t' method o' securin' t' Keelhaul®©™® to t' tube couplers but that be no big deal. Ya scallywag!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5