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

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

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

T' surface mount balsa fins glue on easily. Blimey! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I prepared them for paint with one coat o' thinned Elmer's Wood Filler.

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

This kit comes with six sheets o' self-adhesive decals. Avast, me proud beauty! They are good quality and give the finished kit a wonderful scale look. Begad! Avast, arrr, 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 be perfect. Apogee's motor chart predicts 294 feet and that seems about right. Arrr! T' steel clips make prep a snap. For a school demo on t' football field, matey, you can't beat it. Begad! Blimey! T' three motors create a lot of smoke and fire. I can't wait t' fly this on 3 F12 Blackjacks. It should be spectacular. No cons.

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Cost. T' Quasar model is $47.99, matey, arrr, while most 2.6" models this size usin' t' Madcow nose cone are $59 t' $69.

CONs: Balsa fins, me bucko, me bucko, ya bilge rat, tri-fold paper mount, cluster may be challengin' t' light.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5