Brief:
This is a clone o' Model Rocket Newsletter plan o' t' month called t' "Top Secret". Ya scallywag! Blimey! Single-stage combination wing/fin and tube stabilization.

Construction:
Contents: 1 BT-20 body tube, 2 BT-5 "engine tubes", balsa nose cone, fishin' swivel, screw eye, 6" parachute and thread shrouds, matey, 17" long (before installation) 1/8" elastic shock cord, engine block, no engine mount or motor hook (minimum diameter tube for 18mm), cardstock set for fin alignment, shock cord mounting, matey, and canopy, 1/8" launch lug, laser cut 1/16" balsa fin set, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, lead weight, and 3/16" furniture dowel.

T' included instructions are three 8.5" x 11" pages with few simple yet clear illustrations. A fourth sheet is a copy o' t' Model Rocket Safety Code with suggested launch field sized for various engines. Arrr! Assembly sequence was followed (with t' exception o' item 2 below), shiver me timbers, and it was easy t' create a model that is structurally sound and flyable. Ya scallywag! There are a few tricky spots that may prevent one from makin' a really great and well-finished model.

1. Leave off t' aft win' until after painting. Ya scallywag! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! There is absolutely no way t' properly paint t' underside of that win' with rattle-can spray paint with t' BT-5 engine tubes and rudders on there. Ya scallywag! T' make a really slick model, it is necessary t' do some priming, me bucko, shiver me timbers, sandin' and paintin' before step 5. Blimey! Remember t' then scrape t' paint off o' the areas t' be glued later.
2. Step 7 in me instructions does nay accurately represent items in t' kit. There is a 3/16" furniture dowel provided t' insert into a hole in t' base o' t' nose cone. Begad! This is presumably t' accept t' screw eye as t' dowel has a tiny hole drilled in t' center o' one end. Avast, me proud beauty! Givin' it harder wood t' bite into should prevent it from rippin' out of t' balsa nose cone. Begad! Aye aye! Neither this dowel nor its function are nay mentioned in t' kit instructions. Blimey! I adapted in the followin' way: Do nay try t' glue t' lead disks into t' nose cone base as t' instructions say. Avast! Take t' lead disks and cut them up into little pieces. Avast, me proud beauty! Better yet, measure out an equivalent weight o' lead shot. Begad! Instead o' usin' the entire length o' dowel in t' underside o' t' nose cone (it is quite long), shiver me timbers, cut it in half. Begad! Arrr! Pack t' space at the bottom o' t' hole in t' nose cone with t' lead. Then glue t' dowel in on top t' hold everythin' in. It need nay be flush, shiver me timbers, me dowel sticks out about 1/4"
3. T' parachute material on mine was a bit heavy and colored black (hard t' see). I'd try cuttin' a new one from an easier-to-see material, anythin' but black.

Finishing:
PROs: I really like t' way this rocket looks. Arrr! Blimey! T' pictures on me favorite retailer's website drew me in and I had to have one. One caution, it looks bigger than it really is. Avast! Blimey! It is correctly advertised, but its proportions just make it look big and sleek. Aye aye! Blimey! I be a little surprised t' see t' finished size.

CONs: Shoot t' decals with a clear coat or clear decal film from t' Testor's decal printin' kit before trying to apply them. Mine were fragile. Ahoy! Dress up t' canopy outlines with paint. Blimey! Aye aye! T' one I got was a crappy photo enlargement or low resolution printer copy and t' edges o' t' black windscreen were fuzzy and pixelated. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Grab a fine brush and some black paint t' even things out. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! My nose cone was rough and had a knot hole in it that required moderate fillin' and sandin' before paint.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' launch was on an A8-3 and t' parachute shrouds got fouled in t' wing. Blimey! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Half t' win' be ripped away and lost. Ahoy! Blimey! I hesitate t' blame this on t' model design, because t' boost off t' pad was a little slow and t' flight was wobbly. It needs more engine than I used. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! When I fix it I plan t' try a B4-4.

Recovery:
Shock cord technique be t' classic folded paper patch method. Well, blow me down! Begad! No Keelhaul®©™® was supplied.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
Main PROs: Interesting/obscure/uncommon subject. Blimey! Looks really cool on a display stand.

Main CONs: Kit contents do nay match instructions. Ya scallywag! Paintin' around t' wing.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5