Brief:
1/10 Scale Model o' t' Canadian Soundin' Rocket, me hearties, t' Black Brant VA. Aye aye! It is a single stage rocket with parachute.

Construction:
T' kit consists o' one 1.72" main body tube, me hearties, ya bilge rat, one smaller aft tube, balsa nosecone, motor mount parts, ya bilge rat, vinyl and waterslide decals, ya bilge rat, 20 laser cut parts for t' fins, arrr, 24" o' Keelhaul®©™®, and 33 inches o' 3/8" elastic shock cord. Begad! Begad! It includes detailed instructions as well. T' model is a three fin and body tube type.

T' instructions twelve B&W 8.5" x 11" pages. The instructions include a very nice engineerin' drawin' o' t' model with marking information. T' motor mount instructions were clear and straightforward. Aye aye! The tail assembly be t' most complicated part o' t' model. Aye aye! T' instructions take two full pages. Aye aye! I did find some o' t' marking/test fit/gluin' instructions confusing. Well, blow me down! It is a lot o' text t' read through. I would recommend readin' it through several times and breakin' t' build down into smaller sections. The fins mount t' t' aft tube only. T' aft assembly is then glued t' t' primary body tube. Begad! A note o' caution: In t' same paragraph that has you test fitting the aft tube also has you gluin' in t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' full size sanding instructions were very nice.

Finishing:
I personally had difficulty in gettin' a smooth finish on t' balsa nose cone. My first coat o' primer be too thick. When I started t' sand it smooth, matey, the paint lifted off and became uneven. Begad! It took seven more coats o' a thinner primer t' get a minimum acceptable finish. Aye aye! T' rocket is red overall with one white fin. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I chose t' build and paint t' rocket red without t' one white fin. T' one white fin was painted separately then glued on after drying. Arrr! Ahoy! T' decals went on without difficulty. Begad!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight be on t' recommended D12-5. Blimey! Ahoy! T' model uses a standard metal retention clip. Ahoy! Ahoy! Recovery waddin' was used. T' rocket lifted off with ease and was a very straight flight. Ya scallywag! Begad!

Recovery:
Ejection be normal although t' delay was closer t' 4 seconds. T' chute opened and t' rocket settled down. Ya scallywag! It was noticed that thar was some separation at ejection. Blimey! After recovery, me hearties, shiver me timbers, it was discovered t' separation was half o' one o' red fins. It tore along t' balsa grain. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! There be also a crescent shape dent in t' nose cone. Aye aye! I suspect that t' nose cone impacted the body tube durin' ejection.

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
I feel t' highlight o' this rocket is that it is a scale model o' t' Black Brant. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I really like this family o' rockets and ARG has made a whole collection in t' same scale. Begad! T' con be t' fin separation durin' flight. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I would consider some type o' reinforcement for t' fins, me bucko, either tissue or fiberglass. Alternatively, shiver me timbers, me bucko, new fins could be cut with t' grain goin' t' opposite direction.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5