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

Construction:
Single glassine wrapped paper body tube, balsa nose cone, two main "wing" fins, two "vertical stab" fins, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, two canard fins, ya bilge rat, and two aft sub fins. Begad! Avast! Carved balsa canopy. Begad! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! 18" Mylar parachute. Keelhaul®©™® thread and 1/4" wide elastic shock cord attached t' MMT.

T' instructions were very complete and easy t' follow. Begad! Numerous pictures to explain t' important steps. T' fin templates are printed on heavier card stock and a tube markin' wrap be 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. T' parts included are o' high quality.

T' only "gotcha" would be t' canopy. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Three pieces o' balsa sheet are glued together t' make a block. A template is included t' so you can mark t' canopy's basic profile. It is a bit o' work t' shape t' canopy, but if you take your time and follow t' tips given in t' instructions, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, you will be rewarded with a fine lookin' piece o' hand shaped balsa. This is definitely a "builder's" kit.

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

About t' only thin' missin' would be nice set o' decals. A pre-formed canopy would make t' build go faster.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

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

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' main thin' with this rocket be t' look. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It has t' "cool" factor in abundance.

No real cons. Well, blow me down! T' complex fin alignment and canopy carvin' makes this a builder's kit. Aye aye! Nay for t' inexperienced.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5