Brief:
1/10 Scale Model o' t' Canadian Soundin' Rocket, t' Black Brant VA. Arrr! Ya scallywag! It is a single stage rocket with parachute.

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

T' instructions twelve B&W 8.5" x 11" pages. Aye aye! Ahoy! The instructions include a very nice engineerin' drawin' o' t' model with marking information. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! T' motor mount instructions were clear and straightforward. Blimey! Begad! The tail assembly be t' most complicated part o' t' model. Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions take two full pages. Aye aye! I did find some o' t' marking/test fit/gluin' instructions confusing. Ahoy! 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. Ahoy! The fins mount t' t' aft tube only. Aye aye! T' aft assembly is then glued t' t' primary body tube. A note o' caution: In t' same paragraph that has you test fitting the aft tube also has you gluin' in t' motor mount. 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 was too thick. Blimey! When I started t' sand it smooth, 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 proud beauty! I chose t' build and paint t' rocket red without t' one white fin. T' one white fin be painted separately then glued on after drying. Begad! Blimey! T' decals went on without difficulty. Avast! Ya scallywag!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Recovery:
Ejection was normal although t' delay was closer t' 4 seconds. Begad! T' chute opened and t' rocket settled down. Avast, me proud beauty! It be noticed that thar was some separation at ejection. Ya scallywag! After recovery, it was discovered t' separation was half o' one o' red fins. Avast! Ahoy! It tore along t' balsa grain. Aye aye! There be also a crescent shape dent in t' nose cone. Arrr! 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. I really like this family o' rockets and ARG has made a whole collection in t' same scale. Avast! T' con be t' fin separation durin' flight. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! I would consider some type o' reinforcement for t' fins, me hearties, ya bilge rat, either tissue or fiberglass. Alternatively, matey, new fins could be cut with t' grain goin' t' opposite direction.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5