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

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

The instructions were straightforward and easy t' follow. Well, blow me down! T' only problem I had was fittin' t' couplers in t' main tubes after tyin' t' Keelhaul®©™® thread around them. Ahoy! Ahoy! It made t' fit tight and pushed t' tubes out a little although it's nay noticeable. Avast, me proud beauty! On t' top coupler, ya bilge rat, I cut a small slit down the coupler, wedged t' Keelhaul®©™® thread into it, ya bilge rat, and put a little CA glue over it. This made t' fit a little better. Begad! I used Duro Quick Gel, which is a thick CA, arrr, for t' fins and that seemed t' work well. It set fast and was easy t' work with. Well, blow me down! 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. I used two coats o' primer, two coats o' white, ya bilge rat, and two coats o' red. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! After applyin' t' decal I sprayed one coat o' Krylon Matte finish. I deviated from t' instructions and used Krylon Banner Red instead o' florescent red. Ahoy! Now I wish I'd gotten some florescent red. Ya scallywag! T' red I used doesn't look as good. Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' paint job looks a little sloppy. Avast! 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. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' decal went on OK and was 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. Ahoy! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! 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! Aye aye! Maybe other folks have had success but I could never get t' Quest controller t' work. T' first and third flights had straight boosts. Well, blow me down! T' second flight be a little squirrelly near apogee.

Recovery:
T' steamer deployed on t' second and third flights but nay on t' first. Blimey! I think it was because I forgot t' secure t' motor and t' motor ejected instead. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! T' instructions recommend wrappin' t' Keelhaul®©™® thread around t' streamer after foldin' and rollin' t' streamer. Avast, me proud beauty! 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! Ya scallywag! T' streamer got a little burned on t' third flight maybe from nay usin' enough wadding. Avast! Blimey! 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. T' only thin' I didn't like was t' method o' securin' t' Keelhaul®©™® to t' tube couplers but that was no big deal. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5