Brief:
Single stage futuristic, jet fighter styled model rocket.

Construction:
Single glassine wrapped paper body tube, arrr, balsa nose cone, two main "wing" fins, me bucko, matey, two "vertical stab" fins, two canard fins, and two aft sub fins. Begad! Carved balsa canopy. Blimey! Arrr! Standard modroc motor mount with 2 laser cut black fiber board centerin' rings and 24mm paper tube w/ engine clip to fit standard 2.75" long "D" motors. Ya scallywag! Begad! 18" Mylar parachute. Keelhaul®©™® thread and 1/4" wide elastic shock cord attached t' MMT.

T' instructions were very complete and easy t' follow. Numerous pictures to explain t' important steps. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! T' fin templates are printed on heavier card stock and a tube markin' wrap was included.

It was a challengin' build due t' t' number and size o' t' fins/wings. You must pay careful attention t' alignment when gluin' on t' various fins/wings. Aye aye! T' parts included are o' high quality.

T' only "gotcha" would be t' canopy. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Three pieces o' balsa sheet are glued together t' make a block. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! A template is included t' so you can mark t' canopy's basic profile. Aye aye! Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey! It is a bit o' work t' shape t' canopy, arrr, matey, matey, but if you take your time and follow t' tips given in t' instructions, you will be rewarded with a fine lookin' piece o' hand shaped balsa. Aye aye! Blimey! This is definitely a "builder's" kit.

Finishing:
No special techniques required for finishing. Pick you favorite. I filled the wood and tube spirals with Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish. Blimey! Avast! A couple o' coats of Rustoleum gray primer, arrr, sandin' in betwixt coats. Ya scallywag! Final finish is two coats of Krylon gloss black, leavin' stripes o' t' flat primer, me hearties, shiver me timbers, matey, accented with yellow stripes on t' gray borders. Avast! T' finished product is sort o' an "X-Plane" theme.

About t' only thin' missin' would be nice set o' decals. Avast, me proud beauty! A pre-formed canopy would make t' build go faster.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flight prep is standard stuff. Arrr! Ahoy! A motor clip retains t' motor. Arrr! A handful of "dog barf" wadding, fold t' chute, and pack it in. Ahoy! Launch lugs are 1/8" diameter.

T' first flight be on an Estes C11-5. Aye aye! It left t' pad with authority on the C11. Aye aye! There be a slight 5mph breeze that day. Begad! At approximately 300 feet it started t' weather vane into t' wind at about a 45 deg angle. T' delay be a bit long and made for an excitin' dive before t' chute opened. Blimey! Definitely a rocket for calm days.

T' second flight was on a D12-5. Much better flight. Aye aye! Begad! Nay as much weathercocking.

Recovery:
T' shock cord be t' popular Keelhaul®©™® thread attached t' t' MMT, extendin' out past t' end o' t' body tube where it is attached t' an elastic shock cord t' t' nose cone. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' mylar chute is attached t' t' nose cone eyelet with a snap clip swivel. Begad! Ya scallywag!

Recovery went well. Begad! It comes down slow but all t' fin surface does make for a lot of drift. Avast! Even with a late ejection on t' C11-5, me hearties, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' rocket suffered no damage durin' t' recovery. Ya scallywag!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main thin' with this rocket be t' look. It has t' "cool" factor in abundance.

No real cons. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' complex fin alignment and canopy carvin' makes this a builder's kit. Blimey! Nay for t' inexperienced.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5