Brief:
This is a nice kit, me bucko, lightly glassed with pre-cut fin slots. Aye aye! T' fiberglass was very easy t' sand and prime. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Great scale kit!!!

Construction:
I bought t' dual deploy version with a glassed coupler. Well, blow me down! A small upper payload section, matey, lower BT and a large fiberglass NC. Total length o' 76". Well, blow me down! My cone was a little weak but I added more glass and it is fine now.

Great instructions, very easy t' built.I recommend an Aero Pack retainer to help t' rocket last longer. Well, blow me down! My fin slots were a little too small but I believe that was an accident o' usin' t' wrong size drill bit, matey, shiver me timbers, a little sandin' and they were fine. I would recommend you get 20' o' climbin' spec 9/16" tubular nylon from REI. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' shockcord that came with t' kit is a little short at only 11'. Begad! Because mine is dual deploy I used 21' for t' drogue and 15' for the main.

I would also recommend gettin' penetratin' low thickness CA glue. Blimey! Begad! Go around and around t' edge o' t' body tube and wipe whatever drips off several times. T' penetration will seep through itself and get deeper and deeper, maybe a 1/2"! It helps t' keep t' edge from bendin' in on landing. Blimey! T' BT is glassed but lightly so t' penetratin' CA helps t' give your Nike Smoke a long life span. Ya scallywag! It also came with U-bolts.

Finishing:
T' fiberglass was very easy t' sand, me bucko, but if you sand glass smooth it will get a little too thin. Avast, me proud beauty! I sanded mine smooth but nay like glass and it should work fine.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I have nay flown it yet but maiden flight will be on a CTI K570. I used Nomex® and an Aero Pack retainer. Aye aye! I would recommend a high thrust small J motor if you have a small field, like a J350. Ya scallywag! Blimey! If it is really light you could try a high thrust I motor. Well, blow me down! If you have t' space, use a full K motor. If you don't get the dual deploy version you have a few inches o' space above t' motor mount.... Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! If you feel like walking, matey, arrr, arrr, put t' new CTI L730 in it as it has flown on t' L730 before!!!

Recovery:
As I said before I used climbin' spec 9/16" tubular nylon. Arrr! It is a little smoother and twice as strong as military spec. Well, blow me down! Blimey! With t' dual deploy system recovery space is a little small so I would nay recommend t' use o' wadding. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! I would use Keelhaul®©™® or Nomex® heat pads instead. Aye aye! T' kit does nay come with a chute. I used a Top Flight 30" drogue and a TAC-1 72" main chute. Begad! It is simmed t' come down around 15 FPS with both chutes deployed. Ya scallywag! Avast!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' only CON I can think o' be t' lack o' recovery components. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! It may be a con that some parts were nay cut right but Andy, t' owner o' Polecat has had some tough times as o' late so I can understand a few minor things. Ahoy! There are many PROs. Blimey! Arrr! Two hundred thirty dollars for a fiberglass rocket with a glassed electronics bay is a pretty good deal. Blimey! T' reason for t' good price might be that doesn't include a chute but I understand why thar was no chute included. Many people have specific tastes in what type o' chutes they use. Well who wants t' pay an extra $50's on a chute that you wont use and you or just going to buy another one? Great kit!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5