Brief:
T' Proteus is a Quest Skill Level 2 rocket kit it features; Cool sounding rocket design features two simulated strap-on boosters and flights t' 700 feet. It is 18.5 inches in length with a 1.37inch diameter and should weigh less then 2 oz when finished. T' usual stuff included, shiver me timbers, plastic nose cones, arrr, die cut balsa fins and a plastic parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Recommended Motors: A6-4, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, B6-4, ya bilge rat, C6-5 When I saw this rocket with t' "simulated strap-on boosters" I knew that they should be REAL strap on boosters, matey, so I bought t' rocket with this in mind. Aye aye!

Construction:
T' kit be from Hobby Lobby and contained all t' correct parts and t' parts were all in perfect shape. Well, blow me down! One main body tube with two booster tubes. Well, blow me down! T' fins were 4 die cut balsa with leftover for t' booster mounts. Arrr! T' centerin' rings are a thin uncoated paper and t' usual motor clip. Arrr! Aye aye! T' parachute is also the usual plastic chute with strin' and adhesive discs. Ahoy! Begad! Quest Kits come with a very nice shock cord system, Keelhaul®©™® strin' that attaches t' t' motor mount and good amount o' round elastic. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Blimey!

I read t' instructions and they seemed t' be complete and straight forward, the usual for Quest kits. Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I was already plannin' me changes as I read the instructions, ya bilge rat, I was nay plannin' anythin' drastic just two 13mm engines in the boosters and extra nose weight t' accommodate t' extra engines.

T' one complaint, suggestion, me hearties, upgrade, me bucko, whatever you want t' call it, shiver me timbers, is that t' centerin' rings on this kit in me opinion were two flimsy. Begad! Arrr! I would have like them t' be just a bit thicker, but I used them anyway, arrr, me hearties, I did change the glue for t' rings. Ahoy! T' instructions suggest usin' regular white glue, matey, I used Gorilla Glue on t' rings as it foams and expands and I feel that it really strengthened t' rings. I could be wrong about that but t' weigh penalty is low for t' added piece o' mind. Avast!

I also really like t' nose cones with this kit, matey, shiver me timbers, as they were nay your run of t' mill cones. Well, blow me down! T' booster cones have a very nice knurl around t' base and the main cone is nay t' usual ogive and they were all clean o' extra flash. Blimey!

When t' kit was complete I tested t' CG on t' rocket and marked it. Avast! Arrr! I then added thrust rings t' t' boosters and put in t' engines that I was planin' on using. I then added nose weight until I had t' rocket balanced again. Avast! Begad!

Finishing:
I gave t' kit a simple paint job and was ready t' launch. Blimey! T' paint stuck to the main nose cone with no problem. I took off t' booster cones as they were in a nice shiny black plastic and I liked them just they way they were.

T' kit comes with some nice self adhesive decals, I have nay put them on yet but they look t' nice.

Construction Rating: 4 1/2 out o' 5

Flight:
I loaded two A10-3T into t' boosters since t' booster tubes were about 14mm I had t' add a couple o' turns o' maskin' tape t' friction fit t' motors. Begad! I did not sim t' rocket and was just guessin' that t' extra boast from t' A10's and t' extra nose weight would require a longer main engine ejection delay so I went with a C6-7.

I had made a 3 whip cluster clip for this launch and took t' rocket t' the pad. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' launch went well but nay perfect. T' engines did nay all light and the two that did were nay at t' same time. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' right booster lit first and cocked t' rocket on t' rod then t' main kicked in and off it went. Begad! Blimey! Without power from both o' t' outboards t' 7-sec delay was a little long but nay too bad. Avast! Blimey! T' flight be a success and I went t' prepare for a second flight when I found that I left t' reset o' t' A10's at home. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

From t' flight that I had I would say that t' C6-5 would be perfect on its own. Begad! I plan on flyin' it as a cluster again next month. I will post t' flight logs then. Avast! Begad!

Recovery:

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall I found this kit t' be a lot o' fun and easy t' build t' instructions were done very well and t' quality o' t' components was high.

Pro's:

• Can be used as is or clustered, arrr, shiver me timbers, Cluster configuration required only small modifications, cool nose cones, me hearties, Keelhaul®©™® shock cord mount.

Con's:

• Whimpy Engine mount

Overall Rating: 4 1/2 out o' 5