Brief:
This is a semi-scale model o' t' Jupiter C. Aye aye! Dr. Ya scallywag! Begad! Zooch has coined t' phrase "Ant Scale" t' describe his models. Ya scallywag! This rocket easily fits that description. Avast! Well, blow me down! T' rocket is propelled by 18mm motors and comes with t' standard "trash bag" parachute. Aye aye! Don't be fooled by t' scale appearance. Begad! Often, arrr, scale kits sacrifice performance for good looks, arrr, but that's nay t' case with this kit. Well, blow me down! Reaches dizzyin' heights on C motors.

Construction:
Parts list:

• 1 BT-50
• 1 BT-20 engine tube
• 1 Explorer I Jupiter C spacecraft balsa core
• 1 snap swivel
• 1 screw eye
• 1 engine clip
• 1 CR205P engine block
• 1 launch lug
• 2 CR35P centerin' rings
• 1 piece 1/8" dowel
• 1 short piece BT-5
• 2 CR2050P centerin' rings
• 1 sheet balsa fin stock
• 1 accessory and cut out wrap sheet
• Recovery package includin' one parachute, shroud lines, me bucko, matey, Keelhaul®©™ cord, elastic shock cord, and sticky rings.

Dr. Avast! Zooch is a fellow MDRA club member who asked if I would beta test this kit for him. Without hesitation I accepted t' request. Ahoy! There was in a bit o' a time crunch t' get this kit tested and released, so I began workin' on it as soon as it arrived via Priority Mail.

I read through t' instructions before buildin' since this this fits into t' whole Zooch experience! I wanted t' be thorough as this be me first time beta testin' for anyone. Avast! Begad! T' sarcastic humor and well illustrated instructions make t' steps go by very smartly once you get started.

Dr.Zooch has you begin with t' Explorer I spacecraft. Begad! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' balsa transition, me hearties, t' two smallest centerin' rings, shiver me timbers, wood dowel, shiver me timbers, and short BT-5 get used here. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! An emery board is required t' carefully shape t' upper part o' t' transition. Avast! Blimey! This be nay very difficult at all, me hearties, shiver me timbers, although I must admit, arrr, me bucko, I was a little nervous about shapin' me own balsa. Arrr! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! There be no need t' be.

T' balsa spacecraft has a dowel shaped protrusion that extends from t' top. Avast, me proud beauty! T' small centerin' rings are supposed t' slide over it and get glued into place. Begad! This was a very tight fit, so I removed a layer o' paper from t' inside o' each rin' and they fit perfectly. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' BT-5 slides over t' rings and completes t' "canister" part o' t' spacecraft. T' Explorer rocket on top o' t' spacecraft is simulated with t' 1/8" dowel. Arrr! Begad! You need t' make a provision for t' dowel by usin' your own drill bit t' make a small depression in t' balsa core. Very easy t' do.

After t' glue had dried, I filled t' balsa with Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish and set it aside t' dry.

T' motor mount was a standard 18mm assembly. Arrr! While that be drying, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I cut out and applied t' body tube wrap.

Finishing:
There is no paintin' required for t' main tube, ya bilge rat, however, me bucko, it's good idea t' clear spray t' wrap with Krylon Crystal Clear or similar. Arrr! Blimey! This protects t' wrap from dirt and smudges as your applyin' it t' t' body tube. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! Follow t' instructions when applyin' t' wrap. Aye aye! Blimey! T' technique described in t' instructions works so avoid t' temptation t' deviate.

T' fin assemblies are next. Avast, me proud beauty! Each fin is comprised o' two pieces that get glued together. Set them on wax paper while they are drying. Ahoy! Once t' glue be dry, I filled and painted t' fins separately but masked t' root edge. Avast! Ahoy! This will give a better gluin' surface later on.

While t' paint on t' fins dried, I sanded t' Explorer spacecraft, primed, and painted. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This took very little time and came out great.

After t' fins dried, I cut a slot in t' wrap so t' fins could glue directly t' t' body tube. I used white glue t' attach t' fins and made small fillets as well. Aye aye! Follow t' diagrams in t' instructions t' apply black paint t' t' appropriate fin. I used regular Testor's gloss black enamel t' hand paint t' black areas on t' fins and very tip o' t' spacecraft.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
My initial test were on B6 motors. These are ideal for this rocket. Anymore than that and you take a chance at nay gettin' it back.

Durin' flight testin' we realized t' engine mount needed t' be moved aft just a fraction o' an inch t' prevent scorchin' t' fins. Dr. Booty immediately made adjustments t' his own prototype and flew his t' next day and t' problem be solved. Begad! Ya scallywag! Despite movin' t' motor mount location, shiver me timbers, t' rocket was super stable and flew like a champ. Ahoy! After hearin' how well t' flight tests went on a B, Dr. Begad! Well, blow me down! Zooch prompted me t' use a C motor. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Holy cow!

Usin' t' RockSim program, it shows gettin' close t' 1500' on a C motor, and I believe it gets every inch o' that in reality. Very impressive flights from this little monster.

Recovery:
Fortunately on t' first C flight I opted t' put a streamer on it considerin' t' diminutive nature o' t' rocket and light t' moderate winds that day. Arrr! That turned out t' be a good choice. Begad! Had I used a chute, I'm nay sure I would have gotten it back. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' little dowel on top o' t' spacecraft got jarred out o' t' hole slightly but be easily fixed on t' spot with some CA. Avast, me proud beauty! You can't even tell it was damaged.

T' plastic chute that came with t' kit partially melted on t' first flight. Ahoy! Ahoy! It still deployed well enough t' slow it down with no sustained damage. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' only hitch I have found with t' Zooch kits would be t' parachute. Blimey! Despite tryin' different waddin' techniques, shiver me timbers, they seem t' be susceptible t' melting. Aye aye! I've got enough homemade chutes and spare plastic chutes that it's really a non-issue for me. Avast, me proud beauty! He'll tell ya straight up, ya bilge rat, me bucko, me hearties, they are cut from trash bags. Avast! Avast! Worst case, you grab a new trash bag from under t' kitchen scuttle and cut yourself a new parachute.

Some Keelhaul®©™® strin' is included as a leader for t' elastic shock cord. Arrr! Dr. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Zooch recommends anchorin' t' Keelhaul®©™® with t' popular tri-fold method. Begad! Ya scallywag! I used CA for this and it has held up just fine. Avast! T' leader shows a little wear after several flights but is still intact.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I be very happy with t' way this kit turned out. Avast, me proud beauty! Hard t' believe this was a beta kit. There were only very minor adjustments needed before it was released. Ahoy! Anyone buildin' and flyin' this kit will be in for a treat.

Only con was t' chute.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5