Brief:
T' Patriot is Quasar kit that's transitional. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! It has a high power body tube and nose cone but clusters three 24mm motors and has surface mount balsa fins. Ahoy! I got t' kit from Apogee and they say it's one o' their best-sellin' Quasar products. Begad! It's a great lookin' kit.

Construction:
Parts: a 34" full length high-power body tube, arrr, plastic nose cone, me hearties, steel eye bolt, shiver me timbers, pre-cut balsa fins, thick illustration board style centerin' rings, 24mm clustered motor mount with steel clips, and engine blocks. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Self-adhesive decals: six sheets o' full-color decals. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Quasar uses thick plastic for their parachutes and include a swivel, arrr, shiver me timbers, t' shock cord is elastic, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and they include reinforcement rings.

It arrived in a huge hang tag bag. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' first thin' t' build be t' motor mount. I scraped off some o' t' foil inside t' end o' t' tube t' glue t' thrust rings. Ahoy! T' cluster centerin' rings on Quasars build without a hitch, and other manufacturers could take lessons. Well, blow me down! No sanding, arrr, shiver me timbers, no loose parts, ya bilge rat, just a perfect fit.

T' surface mount balsa fins glue on easily. Begad! EMRR fin tip #29: It's like makin' a slot only you lightly cut the top body tube layer, then peel off that first layer. Aye aye! I prepared them for paint with one coat o' thinned Elmer's Wood Filler.

Finishing:
Two coats o' high-build automotive primer, sanded, me hearties, then used catalyzed automotive urethane for t' overall white. Then lightly sanded and added t' red rattle-can enamel Krylon t' t' fin can. Begad! Paintin' enamel over smooth automotive paint results in a smoother, ya bilge rat, glossier enamel. Begad!

This kit comes with six sheets o' self-adhesive decals. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! They are good quality and give the finished kit a wonderful scale look. Avast, me proud beauty! Cons: instructions are nay quite at t' level o' t' best kit makers.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight on three C-11s was perfect. Begad! Apogee's motor chart predicts 294 feet and that seems about right. T' steel clips make prep a snap. For a school demo on t' football field, shiver me timbers, arrr, you can't beat it. T' three motors create a lot of smoke and fire. Avast! Ya scallywag! I can't wait t' fly this on 3 F12 Blackjacks. Ahoy! It should be spectacular. Well, blow me down! No cons.

Recovery:
T' parachute is plastic but thicker than typical low-power parachutes. Aye aye! It should last longer, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but it's also heavier. T' shock cord mount is paper tri-fold. Ahoy! Ahoy! It's functional, but most builders will want t' add Keelhaul®©™®. T' eye bolt on t' nose cone is huge and heavy-duty.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Extremely impressive lookin' rocket, ya bilge rat, quick build, ya bilge rat, best-in-show fit for cluster parts, high-quality foil lined motor tubes, matey, lots o' different motor options, matey, clusters can be loud and smoky.

Cost. Well, blow me down! T' Quasar model is $47.99, while most 2.6" models this size usin' t' Madcow nose cone are $59 t' $69.

CONs: Balsa fins, shiver me timbers, tri-fold paper mount, cluster may be challengin' t' light.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5