Brief:
T' Patriot is Quasar kit that's transitional. Ya scallywag! It has a high power body tube and nose cone but clusters three 24mm motors and has surface mount balsa fins. Well, blow me down! 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, me bucko, ya bilge rat, plastic nose cone, arrr, steel eye bolt, ya bilge rat, pre-cut balsa fins, arrr, me bucko, thick illustration board style centerin' rings, me hearties, 24mm clustered motor mount with steel clips, and engine blocks. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Self-adhesive decals: six sheets o' full-color decals. Quasar uses thick plastic for their parachutes and include a swivel, t' shock cord is elastic, and they include reinforcement rings.

It arrived in a huge hang tag bag. Ya scallywag! T' first thin' t' build be t' motor mount. Begad! I scraped off some o' t' foil inside t' end o' t' tube t' glue t' thrust rings. Aye aye! T' cluster centerin' rings on Quasars build without a hitch, and other manufacturers could take lessons. Well, me bucko, blow me down! No sanding, no loose parts, just a perfect fit.

T' surface mount balsa fins glue on easily. Avast! EMRR fin tip #29: It's like makin' a slot only you lightly cut the top body tube layer, me hearties, then peel off that first layer. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I prepared them for paint with one coat o' thinned Elmer's Wood Filler.

Finishing:
Two coats o' high-build automotive primer, me hearties, shiver me timbers, sanded, shiver me timbers, me bucko, 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! Arrr! Paintin' enamel over smooth automotive paint results in a smoother, me bucko, glossier enamel. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down!

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

Recovery:
T' parachute is plastic but thicker than typical low-power parachutes. Arrr! It should last longer, ya bilge rat, but it's also heavier. T' shock cord mount is paper tri-fold. Begad! 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, matey, shiver me timbers, quick build, best-in-show fit for cluster parts, ya bilge rat, arrr, high-quality foil lined motor tubes, lots o' different motor options, clusters can be loud and smoky.

Cost. Arrr! 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, tri-fold paper mount, cluster may be challengin' t' light.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5