Brief:
This is a Micro-Maxx powered scale model o' t' Sonda II B from ASP. Well, blow me down! 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, me bucko, 1 styrene launch lug, 1 styrene launch lug standoff, 1 wood nose cone, 1 Keelhaul®©™® shock cord, me hearties, ya bilge rat, 1 decal, and 1 mylar streamer.

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

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' only motor option is MMX. 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. Arrr! The 9-volt battery just doesn't have enough power. Arrr! I made two attempts usin' two new batteries and could never get one t' ignite a motor. Ahoy! I cut t' launch controller cable and wired it t' me AeroTech launcher usin' a 12-volt gel cell. This worked fine every time. Blimey! Maybe other folks have had success but I could never get t' Quest controller t' work. Avast, me proud beauty! T' first and third flights had straight boosts. Avast! T' second flight be a little squirrelly near apogee.

Recovery:
T' steamer deployed on t' second and third flights but nay on t' first. Well, blow me down! I think it was because I forgot t' secure t' motor and t' motor ejected instead. Avast! T' instructions recommend wrappin' t' Keelhaul®©™® thread around t' streamer after foldin' and rollin' t' streamer. Instead of doin' that, me hearties, me bucko, I folded t' streamer several times then folded each end o' the Keelhaul®©™® and slid all o' it in t' tube. Blimey! Ahoy! T' streamer got a little burned on t' third flight maybe from nay usin' enough wadding. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! 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. Blimey! T' only thin' I didn't like was t' method o' securin' t' Keelhaul®©™® to t' tube couplers but that was no big deal. Aye aye!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5