Brief:
T' Aerotech Astrobee D Kit is one o' t' tallest Aerotech Mid power kits. Begad! It is a scale replica designed t' fly on F and G motors. Begad! T' rocket separates at t' middle and both sections recover separately on their own chute. Arrr! T' kit comes complete with detailed plans o' t' actual Astrobee 'D' and t' usual Aerotech features such as ejection coolin' mesh and a no-wadding-required baffle system.

Construction:
T' kit parts include 2 2.6 inch body tubes, arrr, arrr, me bucko, a motor mount tube, thrust rin' and motor hook, 4 plastic molded fins and Aerotech's Fin Lok system with thru t' tube fin mounting. Ya scallywag! A tube coupler and bulk head assembly, plastic nose cone, a 22 and a 30 inch yellow nylon chute with plenty o' elastic shock cord and 2 screw eyes. Begad! Detailed instructions are also included with paper layout templates for positionin' important scale parts. Arrr! 1 decal sheet is included. Various miscellaneous other items for completin' t' scale rocket such as scale launch lugs and scale antennae are included.

Pros: Impressive lookin' rocket (it is almost half scale). Aye aye! Instructions were straight forward. Avast, me proud beauty! T' layout templates were handy for positionin' some items. Blimey! T' fin mountin' system assembles with a positive 'click' into position. Begad! It is almost impossible nay t' get t' fins on straight and in t' correct position with this system if t' instructions are followed. Ahoy! T' coolin' mesh and baffle system is easy t' assemble and works well.

Cons: T' tube coupler with this kit be extremely tight and I had t' remove t' first layer o' paper from it and then sand it even more before I could get t' fit right. Begad! I was so concerned with t' tight fit o' t' tube coupler at first, that I even called Aerotech t' make sure that I had t' right piece. Arrr! They told me that sometimes different humidity conditions can make some pieces swell in size! Before paintin' t' fins, t' instructions tell you t' apply t' fin boot decals t' t' leadin' edge o' t' fins. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! These decals are clear in color and t' decals with this kit are a bit thick. Begad! Aye aye! T' instructions call for you t' cut out t' decals and then fold them in half t' make applyin' them t' t' leadin' edge o' t' fins easier. I found that puttin' these decals on was extremely difficult and ended up gettin' creases and bubbles under t' decals that I just could nay get out. Begad! I also did nay understand t' reasonin' behind puttin' on t' decals and then paintin' over them. Avast, me proud beauty! After an E-mail t' Aerotech again, ya bilge rat, they informed me that t' purpose behind t' decals was t' give a bit o' thickness t' t' leadin' edge o' t' fin t' provide t' appearance o' t' fin boots on t' real rocket. I decided that I didn't need that level o' scale appearance on me rocket since t' creases and bubbles in t' decal ruined t' effect anyway and I removed t' decals after havin' already started t' paint job on t' fins. By doin' this, it left a perfectly straight ridge right where t' fin boots would be which provided t' perfect scale look o' t' fin boots anyway Lastly, after final construction be complete I noticed that t' nose cone had a very slight warp t' it. Begad! Once I noticed it became very annoying. I decided that since t' rocket be already completed and painted that I would nay replace t' nose cone and hoped that others would nay notice. However, me hearties, other people have noticed that warp so it was worse than I thought. I may still try t' replace t' warped nose cone. If I had noticed it sooner, I would have asked Aerotech for a replacement under their warranty at that time.

Finishing:
Pros: Paint scheme is easy for beginners t' master. Ahoy! Blimey! No tricks needed here. T' builder has 2 choices o' finishing, matey, Launch configuration which has t' upper launch band in place or flight configuration which shows t' band o' bolts on t' payload section where t' upper launch band be covering.

Cons: Decals are extra thick and don't look very good unless special care is taken with them and then usin' clear coatin' t' make t' decals blend in well.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' model has only had one flight so far but that flight be a very nice one. Arrr! O' course bein' an Aerotech kit, matey, no waddin' is needed with their coolin' mesh/baffle system. Avast, me proud beauty! T' single use Aerotech engine fits perfectly in t' motor mount which has a forward thrust rin' and an engine hook for retention. Avast! I used a small piece o' wire t' tie t' engine hook around t' motor just t' be safe that t' motor did nay eject (I recommend this with all motors E size and up that use and engine hook!)

T' instructions are very explicit on how t' pack chutes since this model comes down in two sections with 2 chutes. Well, blow me down! Each chute is attached t' t' end o' a long piece o' shock cord. Begad! One shock cord attaches t' t' baffle on top o' t' engine mount while t' other mounts t' t' bulk head on t' nose cone/upper section. Aye aye! T' instructions say that t' upper section chute must be packed into t' lower body tube first and then t' lower body chute must be packed on top o' t' upper section chute. Well, blow me down! This is t' ensure that both chutes will be ejected and nay left inside t' body tube. Ya scallywag! I packed t' chutes as instructed and removed t' removable antenna before launch (so they don't get broken durin' t' flight!).

T' thrust be provide by an Aerotech SU G40-4W motor. Arrr! Ignition be almost immediate and t' Astrobee launched very slowly. It looked and sounded extremely realistic. Begad! WRASP simulations predicted about 1350 feet and I estimate that I got about that altitude. It be an almost perfectly straight boost with a nice white smoke trial. Ejection came just before apogee and both chutes appeared within seconds. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! There be a steady breeze at altitude and t' two sections started t' drift but did nay get caught up in any thermals or such. Begad! Both sections landed within 10 feet o' each other about 250 meters from t' launch pad (a short hike through t' bush!!). Aye aye! This flight be one o' t' most impressive I have ever seen with a mid-sized rocket! T' two sections descendin' side by side be almost as impressive as t' boost!

Recovery:
Pros: Both sections recovered within close proximity o' each other. Ya scallywag! Both sections descend at exactly t' same rate. Begad! Begad! Impressive t' watch.

Cons: Must pay extra special attention when packin' t' chutes because proper recovery requires proper chute packin' and this takes a bit more time t' pack correctly. Arrr! Begad! There is a good chance that t' two sections may actually entangle with each other at ejection, hence t' special care required in prepping!

I took off half a mark for t' flight/recovery ratin' because o' t' anxiety I felt thinkin' that t' two sections would entangle with each other at ejection. I feel that thar might be a way t' engineer somethin' t' prevent an entanglement (even though I did nay experience and entanglement) but I do nay know how.

Flight Rating: 4 1/2 out o' 5

Summary:
I feel this kit be very good. Arrr! Ahoy! Blimey! I had fun buildin' and flyin' it. Begad! It is an impressive lookin' kit both standin' still and in t' air. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I be a bit disappointed with t' tight fittin' coupler and with t' warped nose cone but havin' dealt with Aerotech customer service in t' past I know that these problems are easily rectified and should nay be reasons t' prevent anyone from tryin' this kit. Arrr! If you like scale rockets and nice realistic lookin' flights then I do recommend this kit.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5